Johnnie Walker was the top selling scotch in a quarter of the 100 bars we polled in this year’s Brands Report.

Dan Townsend of Treasury Wine Estates is the new chairman of the Benevolent. 

Buckingham Schenk has announced that Craig Durham is its new managing director.

Charles Tanqueray would be proud – Diageo has done a fine job with his gin.

We might as well call the brandy category the cognac category. 

Jameson has unveiled its annual series of packaging innovations, Good Workers, Great Whiskey. 

No brand dominates Brands Report like Fever-Tree does.  

The Cotswolds Distillery has announced it will launch its flagship Dry Gin in the US after securing a deal with MHW ltd. 

A spirits portfolio is not complete without a champagne brand.  

Bacardi has announced the appointment of Dmitry “Dima” Ivanov, as Bacardi chief marketing officer and president of Bacardi Global Brands. 

The House of Ruinart says the deadline for applications for its Ateliers Ruinart programme 2015 has been extended to Friday January 23.

Accolade wines has teamed up with Two Dogs founder Dave Pahl to unveil a non-alcohol Tisane-infused sparkling drink. 

Bye Joe USA has launched its baijiu products to US travel retail.

You could flip a coin – each year since we’ve been polling the world’s best bars, the champion rum has beeneither Havana Club or Bacardi. 

When it comes to brandy South Africa does not get much of a look in. Yet its best are up there with the world’s greatest.  Christian Davis reports

Adventurous flavours are on the cards for sugar syrups in 2015, as Lucy Britner reports

Gregory Dal Piaz, editor of Snooth.com, discusses where your next great wine will come from

Panos Sarantopoulos, chief executive of Rémy Cointreau’s liqueurs and spirits division, is on a mission to get the iconic orange liqueur behind every bar. Christian Davis meets him

Brazil’s cachaça is carving out an identity for itself ahead of the 2016 Olympics, as Richard Woodard reports

Jaq Bayles finds that port may at last have found some ways to make itself attractive to a younger generation. And even the most traditional producers are at peace with it

Sandy Hyslop, Chivas Brothers’ master blender, is hands on. He’s not one for travelling long haul most of the year. Christian Davis tracks him down to where he is happiest.

Hamish Smith investigastes the resurgence of an old spirit

Despite facing a litany of challenges, the travel retail business is upbeat, as the TFWA World Exhibition proved. Joe Bates reports

It may not have the raciest of images, but sweet wine is undergoing quiet change. Jamie Goode reports

Flavoured spirits drinks are being released at a pace. But are they blurring the rules over whisky production, and are they just a passing fad? Dominic Roskrow reports

Hamish Smith meets the latest generation of the world’s most famous triple sec family

Patience Gould sees in the new year with a Sunset Boulevardier – and celebrates the latest from Chivas Regal

Patience Gould assesses what’s going on as things shake up in the tequila and Irish whiskey categories

Or does it just need to be pumped up, asks Ian Harris – CEO of WSET

American bartender Brandon Phillips was named Beefeater MIXLDN champion in London last night, prevailing from a field of 30 international contestants.

Guest writer David Read of Prestige Purchasing weighs in on whether a drink so distinctly associated with theatre can be bottled and pre-batched