Nine in ten parliamentary candidates in winnable seats believe pubs are an important part of the British way of life and more should be done to support them, according to a new poll released today by ComRes on behalf of the British Beer & Pub Association.

Cuba: Havana Club rum sales fell by 3.5% in 2009, compared to 2008.

The Tomatin distillery, Inverness-shire, has released three new whiskies - two single cask and one limited edition bottling.

Global exports of scotch whisky reached record levels in 2009 despite the economic downturn in some major markets, according to annual figures published by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

Australia: Foster’s has appointed a former police officer to its board of directors.

Chivas Brothers has launched a private tour and gin-making experience for its Plymouth gin brand.

United Closures & Plastics (UCP) has developed a new ‘combined aluminium and plastic tamper evident snap-on security closure’, called Orchid.

Amsterdam: Heineken has announced a new 10-year sustainability agenda.

Maxxium Travel Retail is to launch a campaign for its Brugal rum in Heathrow terminal 5.

William Grant & Sons has launched Grant’s 25 year old, a blended scotch whisky. The product will initially be exclusive to travel retail.

US: Pernod Ricard and Russian Standard Vodka have reached a settlement of claims brought by Russian Standard against Pernod Ricard. According to Pernod Ricard, the dispute revolved mainly around the allegations brought by Russian Standard Vodka and Roust Trading Limited pursuant to which promoting Stolichnaya as "Russian vodka" resulted in false advertising.

Diageo is to launch the third batch of its single malt collection whiskies – The Managers’ Choice.

India: United Spirits has crossed the milestone of 100 million cases for the fiscal year ended March 31, 2010.

Maker’s Mark has won a trademark infringement case against Cuervo tequila. A judgment has confirmed that the whiskey’s free-form red wax seal coating is a well-known and valid trademark.

Off trade wine supplier Off Piste has appointed a new chairman. Jerry Lockspeiser, who founded Bottle Green in 1990, is to help guide the business’s strategic development.

UK: Bacardi has launched a new advertising campaign, called ‘Island’. The campaign is part of a £20million marketing spend.

Marian Kopp has been appointed managing director/president of Niederkirchener Weinmacher  – a German wine cooperative located in the Pfalz region - effective April 1, 2010.

Bacardi and Brown-Forman have mutually agreed on distribution arrangements in Europe.

Travel Retail: Pernod Ricard has opened a Martell experience boutique at Hong Kong International Airport.

Gruppo Campari has redesigned its Cinzano range of three aperitif/cocktail wines . The aim of the redesign is to ‘revitalise brand image and create a more contemporary and approachable positioning’.

US: Diageo’s Jose Cuervo has launched CuervoGames, an experiential marketing campaign.

France: Hine is to roll our its new Antique XO Premier Cru cognac to markets around the world.

Absolut vodka has teamed up with hip hop star Jay-Z to bring consumers a 14 minute documentary about the music star.

Russian Standard is to launch its luxury Russian Standard Gold into the UK market.

UK wine retailer Naked Wines has launched a new service that allows UK wine drinkers to buy wines for less than they cost at the cellar door.

The Forum Oenologie association has announced the results of this year’s Chardonnay du Monde competition, held at Château des Ravatys in Saint-Lager, Burgundy.

Highland Park has released four new whiskies exclusive to global travel retail.

Australia: Wine exporter Beelgara has appointed Jaap Sonnemans as its new European market manager.

France: Champagne Lanson is to put disgorgement dates on the back labels of all 75cl bottles of Lanson Black, Rose and Ivory Label NV imported into the UK.

Scotland: The Glenglassaugh distillery has appointed a new customer account manager. Ronnie Routledge will take the post from April 6.

March 16 2010. The champagne generic body CIVC today announced the launch of a new lighter weight champagne bottle.

UK: J Wray & Nephew has appointed two new employees to its sales and marketing team.

Confusion reigns in South Africa as new reports suggest mining applications in the winelands have not been withdrawn.

France: Fitou cooperative Mont Tauch is to place the ‘Winegrowers for Sustainable Development’ logo on every bottle of its wine sold in the UK.

Spain’s Gran Orden de Caballeros del Vino invested its two latest members at its 26^th annual ceremony held in London, early March.

Moët Hennessy has released two new Dom Pérignon Rosé cuvées from the 2000 and 1990 vintages.

Australia: Diageo has announced it will secure the marketing and distribution rights to tequila brand Jose Cuervo in Australia, officially effective April 1 2010.

Scotland: Gordon & MacPhail has released a 70 year old single malt whisky.

Members of Romanian Winegrowers are to undergo a benchmarking initiative, designed to identify a ‘Hero Selection’ of wines.

Denmark: Carlsberg has launched Vintage 3 – the third in an exclusive beer trilogy.

Chile: The Asociación de Viñas de Colchagua and the Colchagua Valley Wine Route have estimated a loss of 25 million litres of wine as a result of the earthquake.

UK: Brewer Molson Coors has become the first to be a founding signatory of WRAP’s Courtauld Commitment 2.

Coinciding with the eyecatching relaunch of Black Tower’s Classic range, brand owner Reh Kendermann has also announced a premium extension to the market leading German range.

Leading German wine exporter Reh Kendermann has unveiled radical new looks for its iconic global brand Black Tower.

Portugal: Boutique port producer Andresen has released a 100 year old port.

Scottish Government plans to introduce alcohol minimum pricing have suffered a further setback, according to the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

Millésime Bio has reported record numbers at its organic wine trade fair, held in Montpellier, France this January 25-27.

UK: Coors has launched a cold-activated can for its Coors Light brand.

Chile: Vinos de Chile has assessed earthquake damage and reported limited damage, though this amounts to a loss US$250 million.

The Miguel Torres Chile winery has been affected by the earthquake that has shaken the country.