The Tequila Chamber (CNIT) is working on a campaign to develop China into the category’s number two export market, now that Chinese tequila-importation laws have been relaxed.

Bar Convent Berlin, now in its seventh year, is preparing for its annual event, which is described as somewhere between a trade fair and a symposium.

The newly formed Proximo Spirits UK has set out its plan to build on Jose Cuervo’s dominance of the UK tequila market, dismissing suggestions the brand’s transition from Diageo will dent sales.

Jackson Estate’s founder John Stichbury and winemaker Matt Patterson Green have claimed Marlborough will emerge as New Zealand’s premier Pinot Noir region, on par, or even ahead of Central Otago.

Aidan Bowie from the Blythswood Square Hotel in Glasgow is the European winner of the Auchentoshan Switch – the transatlantic mixology competition.

London’s first ever winery has announced that it has rejected seven tonnes of French grapes due to their poor condition.

The Here and Now is the name of Maxxium UK’s new advertising and marketing campaign for Courvoisier Cognac.

Berry Bros & Rudd Spirits has launched a single estate XO aged rum from Mauritius, called Penny Blue.

DI understands Diageo has actively tried to expand its tequila operation, with an offer made to Centinela tequila and interest shown in the Orendaine family-owned Don Roberto distillery.

Irish Distillers has launched more Irish whiskeys, this time under the Paddy brand.

Burn Stewart Distillers has relaunched the premium blended scotch whisky, Black Bottle.

Irish Distillers has introduced a 21-year-old expression of its Redbreast single pot still whiskey.

CAMRA (the Campaign for Real Ale), is calling on British people to use pubs otherwise they will close. It claims 26 pubs close every week in Britain.

Jose Luis Leon became the first Mexican winner of the Tahona Society Cocktail Competition, having triumphed at the grand final at the Demetria Hotel in Guadalajara, Mexico, on Friday (September 27).

Patrick van Zuidam is one of the new generation of Dutch distillers for whom quality is paramount. Christian Davis visits

Spain may be Old World but it is arguably the least Old World of the major wine producing countries. Christian Davis reports

In Spain it’s treated with a reverential respect which has hitherto not been apparent in other gin strongholds – but now the G&T is under the spotlight. Patience Gould reports

Lucy Britner provides the definitive lowdown on cocktail culture

Japanese shochu is seeking broader shores, and interest from restaurants and cocktail bars outside its homeland are providing hope. Hamish Smith talks to the purveyors of this unusual distillate

Soju is little-known outside its birthplace, Korea, but Hamish Smith senses a sea-change

Hamish Smith travels to Argentina and finds that economic policy is steering the direction of the country’s wine industry

Last night I was at the London Gin Summit, which, contrary to its lofty title, was a relatively low-key meeting of drinks commentators and producers bound by a common craft, encircled by a common road (...the M25). The premise for the summit was the question: ‘should London-distilled gin be protected?’ and this is what happened... 

Steffin Oghene talks tequila at El Fortaleza, one of the distilleries visited on a tour of the region