Smirnoff has retained its position as the world’s leading alcoholic drinks brand according to The Power 100, 2010, the annual survey of the world’s leading drinks brands published by brand valuation and strategy consultancy Intangible Business.

Scottish family owned distiller William Grant & Sons has announced the formation of a new wholly owned subsidiary, William Grant & Sons Australia Pty Ltd.

Scotland: The Wemyss family has launched a small batch gin called Darnley’s View. Darnley’s View celebrates the meeting of Mary Queen of Scots and her husband Lord Darnley at the Wemyss family home, Wemyss Castle in Fife, in 1565.

Australian wine brand Wolf Blass is to launch a sparkling rosé wine at the London International Wine Fair.

Red is the most popular choice of wine for Asian women, according to new research.

The Edrington Group has appointed a new brand controller for its newly acquired scotch whisky Cutty Sark.

Ketel One vodka has introduced Ketel One Oranje, an orange flavoured vodka.

Korea: The 2010 Ballantine’s Championship golf tournament has been won by Australia’s Marcus Fraser.

Estonia: Liviko is to become the sole representative of Bacardi-Martini Group’s products in Estonia.

The Spirit of Speyside whisky festival starts this week.

Italian wine producer Guerrieri Rizzardi has announced the re-appointment of Rupert Dean, as international sales & marketing manager.

UK: Stolichnaya vodka has linked up with the Red Bull Air Race World Championship 2010, by supporting defending British champion Paul Bonhomme.

In honor of the 40th anniversaries of both Earth Day and Finlandia vodka, Finlandia is releasing limited edition charity water bottles. The bottles are to feature designs by Finnish graphic designer Klaus Haapaniemi.

Alcohol awareness charity the Drinkaware Trust has issued a response to the Eurobarometer survey on alcohol.

The European Commission’s new Eurobarometer report on attitudes to alcohol misses the bigger picture, according to CEPSand EFRD,the representatives of the European spirits industry.

Scottish beer company Innis & Gunn has received a Queen’s Award for Enterprise.

The South African wine industry has launched a new sustainability seal, as a guarantee of environmentally-sensitive production.

Consumers are returning to premium purchases, according to global drinks giant Diageo.

As part of its ‘Open the Facts’ campaign, SABMiller is encouraging women to make informed choices about drinking.

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.