International Beverage Holdings is celebrating 49 awards in various international drinks competitions, including 13 awards in the International Spirits Challenge.

The Glenglassaugh Distillery Company has launched a range of “Spirit Drink” products. The aim is to give malt whisky fans the opportunity to sample the evolution of the spirit that will eventually become whisky.

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) is urging the drinks trade to be ready for new rules requiring all licensed premises to have an age verification policy in place and offer small drink measures to their customers.

The not-for-profit Amarula Trust has committed to a further three years of financial support to the Amarula Elephant Research Project (AERP) under Prof Rob Slotow of the University of KwaZulu-Natal.

UK: Hornitos tequila is to launch a limited edition bottle in the on-trade. Maxxium UK has this year been working on a campaign for Hornitos, specifically to “target and interact with a niche audience of culturally creative consumers”.

Glenmorangie has launched a new whisky in its Private Edition range. The Glenmorangie Finealta, pronounced ‘Finalta’, is Scottish Gaelic for ‘elegant’. It is a recreation of Glenmorangie based on a recipe dating back to 1903.

Diageo has announced the appointment of Lord Mervyn Davies of Abersoch to its board, effective September 1 2010. He is to be appointed as a non-executive director and his responsibilities will include membership of the audit, the nomination and the remuneration committees.

Australia: Former police chief commissioner Christine Nixon has stepped down from the Foster’s Group board.

A new wine agency has launched in the UK with a focus on biodynamic and organic wines. Carte Blanche aims to supply independent retailers and restaurants.

Heaven Hill Distilleries has announced that current director of North American sales Steve Feller has been elected as a vice president.

Russia: Moscow is to ban sales of vodka between 10pm and 10am, according to reports.

Bushmills master distiller Colum Egan has announced the names of the nine contenders who will represent their countries in the international finals of its competition.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine is to push its Maker’s Mark brand in travel retail. A new campaign, created to enhance the travel experience, aims to raise awareness for Maker’s Mark amongst passengers and encompass advertising, in-store education, secondary displays and exclusive travel retail gift packs.

Bacardi Limited has appointed Stefan Bomhard to the role of regional president of Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA). He is to be responsible for this area’s commercial operations.

Heaven Hill Distilleries has appointed Robert F. Rubinstein to the newly created role of national sales operations manager.  He is to report to and work with Heaven Hill director of North American sales Steve Feller to “optimise the company’s growing sales infrastructure”.

Carlton & United Breweries and Asahi Breweries have extended a long-term exclusive licence for Carlton to sell and market Asahi Super Dry in Australia.

US: Gemini Spirits & Wine is to distribute Coole Swan cream liqueur in the US, from September 1.

UK: Constellation Europe’s Banrock Station brand is to launch special edition wines to help preserve the British bee population.

Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur is kicking off the brand’s annual bartender competition in the US. This year’s contest invites national bartenders as well as amateurs to submit cocktails using Bärenjäger Honey Liqueur.

New Zealand/UK: NZ based ready to serve cocktail company VnC is to launch in the UK. The company has signed a distribution deal with Whyte & Mackay to launch into the UK market.

UK: Brand Phoenix, which owns First Cape Wines, has appointed Michael Hansen to the position of logistics controller.

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust has appointed Graham Cox as UK sales director. Cox will join WSET on September 27.

Highland Park has launched the third bottling from the distillery’s Orcadian Vintage Series - a 1970 Vintage.

UK: Russian Standard Vodka has launched an on-pack music promotion. Consumers will have the chance to win free tickets to music gigs as part of the Russian Standard Vodka Originals brand campaign.

Islay: Bruichladdich distillery has started to produce gin. The Islay distillery, usually associated with peaty whisky, began making its first batch of gin today (3 August).

Mount Gay rum has launched a new 'rare cask selection', called 1703.

An attempt by AB InBev  to register the Budweiser trademark  as a Community Trade Mark within the EU has been rejected by the European Court of Justice.

Stock Spirits has launched a 21 year old  single malt Czech whisky. The company believes it to be the only Bohemian single malt in the world.

Bacardi has announced two new board directors, Francisco V Carrera-Justiz and Theodore C Walker, who were elected at the company’s AGM in Hamilton, Bermuda.

UK: Constellation Europe is launching a new wine to join the varietal range (VR) portfolio of its flagship wine brand Hardys.

UK: Three drinks companies have reached the final of the National Business Awards.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine, the premium spirits business of Fortune Brands has announced plans to divest three of its German-market local brands. Kuemmerling bitters, Fûrst Bismarck korn/schnapps and Jacobi 1880 brandy are to be sold to Henkell & Co, the second largest distributor of wine and spirits in Germany.

UK: The home secretary has set out plans to change the face of the on and off trade.

Graham Beck, the name behind one of South Africa’s best-known wine brands, has died aged 80.

Diageo has signed up rock band Killers frontman Brandon Flowers to help celebrate Guinness’s Arthur’s Day.

US: Heaven Hill Distilleries is to release two new sizes of Evan Williams Honey Reserve Kentucky Liqueur. The product was first launched in Autumn 2009 and it marries extra-aged Evan Williams bourbon with natural honey. Bottled at 70 proof, and previously available in only a 750ml and 50ml size, Evan Williams Honey Reserve will now be available in a 1.75 litre and a 750ml carry-pack bottle.

Beam Global Spirits & Wine is to extend its agreement for the  Republic National Distributing Co. (RNDC) to distribute its products in the state of Indiana. For the past 37 years, National Wine & Spirits has distributed Beam Global spirits products in Indiana, but in March 2010, RNDC agreed to acquire certain Indiana assets of National Wine & Spirits. RNDC is the second largest distributor of spirits and wines in the US.

Pernod Ricard has created a new brand company for its wines and made several organisational changes to its overall structure.

The Alliance des Crus Bourgeois du Médoc in Bordeaux is to release the official list of new properties classified as ‘Cru Bourgeois’ on Sept 15.

A team of divers has discovered an underwater cache of very old champagne in a shipwreck they were exploring at the bottom of the Baltic Sea off the coast of Finland.

LVMH has appointed a new CEO for Maison Moet et Chandon.

Pernod Ricard has announced the disposal, by its subsidiary Domecq Bodegas, of Spanish wine brands Marqués de Arienzo and Viña Eguίa. The sale also includes the related Bodega and 358 hectares of vineyards and lands.

As part of a previously-announced review of its wine operations, Diageo Chateau & Estate Wines has announced that it has sold its Barton & Guestier Bordeaux business to French Wine concern Castel Freres SAS. The sale includes brands, inventory and land, including Chateau Magnol.  The terms of the transaction were not disclosed.

A collaboration between Peter Oberleithner (design, photography) and Karl Mayer of the Education and Research Centre for Viticulture and Pomology (technical texts), this new book is a detailed and beautifully photographed examination of how a wine is produced, beginning with the propagation of a vine and ending with bottling.

Diageo has announced the winner of its global bartender competition World Class. Erik Lorincz from the Connaught Bar at The Connaught, London, was crowned champion at a ceremony in Athens, Greece.

Not content with adding one new whisky to an award winning range, Angus Dundee Distillers has released three new expressions of its Glencadam Highland Single Malt.

South African premium winery Journey’s End has seen a huge upturn in sales in the first half of 2010, reporting sales growth of 500% over the period.

July 13, London: Dom Pérignon chef de cave Richard Geoffroy has presented the champagne’s latest vintage, from the much-heralded 2002 harvest, alongside the new Oenothèque Collection 1996 Dom Pérignon release.

UK: Rosé sales are up by 20% in value in the on-trade, according to a new report.

Travel Retail: Pernod Ricard has revamped the packaging for its Ballantine’s blended Scotch whiskies. The revised prestige range first appeared on shelf in Asia Duty Free and includes Ballantine’s 17 Year Old, Ballantine’s 21 Year Old and Ballantine’s 30 Year Old.

Travel Retail: Beam Global Spirits & Wine has launched a premium expression of its bourbon whiskey, Jim Beam, exclusive to travel retail.

US: Beam Global Spirits & Wine and Cruzan rum have launched a spiced rum called Cruzan 9. It will begin shipping to distributors in July and available to consumers at retail in August.

An arbitration panel has said that the combination of Anheuser-Busch and InBev did not violate the investment agreement between Anheuser-Busch and Mexican drinks giant Grupo Modelo.

US: Diageo has launched two new flavours for its Smirnoff vodka brand – mango and peach.

US: Distribution company Glazer's has changed its senior management line-up.

Following a 2009 announcement that it would be moving its non-vintage and vintage cuvées to brown bottles, Roederer has started to roll out Brut Premier in brown bottles.

Diageo has appointed Gavin Pike to the role of global brand director for Johnnie Walker. Pike is currently marketing and innovation director, with Diageo’s venture, Brandhouse Beverages, in South Africa.

UK: Denbies Wine Estate has made a new appointment. Brendan Seal is to take on the role of vintage wine maker and viticulturist. He is currently winemaker at Mount Edward Winery, New Zealand.

The Napa Valley Grapegrowers (NVG) board of directors has elected a new president - David Beckstoffer.

Central European Distribution Corporation (CEDC) has announced that it has decided not to pursue the acquisition of Ukrainian vodka company Nemiroff.

Carlsberg UK (CUK) has sold its 30 millionth pint of Tuborg since the brand launched in the UK in 2007.

The makers of Sheep Dip whisky have launched a gin.

UK: Alcohol awareness organisation AIM (Alcohol in Moderation) has created a new educational programme to help children learn about alcohol. The programme is supported by Constellation Wines Europe.

Spain/Portugal/Italy: Diageo has launched two ready to serve cocktails. The J&B Manhattan is to sell for €9.99 (70cl) and will roll out across Spain’s off-trade this month.  J&B blended scotch whisky is mixed with cherry and cranberry flavours as well as citrus and the product has an ABV of 14.9%.

David Stewart, The Balvenie malt master, has crafted a 40 year old single malt scotch whisky, aged in sherry casks and refill hogsheads. A batch of 150, hand numbered bottles of The Balvenie Forty will be available at selected travel retail outlets in the world’s leading airports, from July 2010.

Chivas Brothers is relaunching its Aberlour Highland Single Malt Scotch Whisky range, upgrading packaging to bring a consistent premium look to the 12, 16 and 18 Year Old bottlings, alongside top-end A’bunadh.

US: Diageo has launched a range of brightly coloured flavoured vodkas called Ursus. The products feature a label that changes from white to blue when chilled in a freezer.

Diageo has redesigned its Smirnoff 21 packaging. The new bottles have launched in the UK and will roll out across the world from August.

UK: Alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware has found that more than half (53%) of parents who plan to provide their 16 and 17 year olds with alcohol for a week long summer holiday with friends will give them five or more bottles of spirits or wine.

The southern Rhône village of Rasteau has been granted its own appellation contrôlée (AOC), backdated to include the 2009 vintage.

Dutch beer Grolsch has announced a partnership with British Airways and has opened a bar in one of the airline’s lounges in Terminal 5.

The 2010 Drinks International Millionaires research has been compiled. Based on sales volumes for 2009, this year saw a record number of brands on the list – 162.

Diageo USVI has announced that construction of its rum distillery and barrel warehouse in the US Virgin Islands is nearing completion, and is on schedule to become operational by January 2011.

US: Alcohol trade associations have written to the US House of Representatives attacking the wholesaler-backed HR 5034  - the so-called CARE Act (Comprehensive Alcohol Regulatory Effectiveness).

Heineken UK has announced the sale of drinks wholesaler WaverleyTBS (WTBS) to investment and advisory firm Manfield Partners for an undisclosed sum.

Pernod Ricard UK has launched a bartender networking and knowledge sharing website.

According to the Scotch Whisky Association more than 5 bottles of scotch are shipped to France every second.

Estonian alcohol producer AS Liviko has acquired 50% of a Japanese alcohol import and distribution company.

The UK Chancellor George Osbourne has delivered the Conservative/Liberal Democrat’s first budget, in which he did not increase tax on cigarettes or alcohol.

In its 250th anniversary year, Champagne Lanson is changing its corporate identity in the UK, renaming its operations Lanson International UK.

United Wineries has appointed a new commercial director to its UK team. The company plans to bolster its Spanish and Italian imports.

The Edrington Group has appointed Matthew Turner as brand controller for Highland Park.

The results of the English & Welsh Wine of the Year Competition are in. 

A record number of medals were awarded across the style categories by a judging panel of five Masters of Wine, chaired by Susan McCraith MW.  According to the organisers, results showed the quality of the 2009 vintage, particularly in the dry white and still rosé categories. Sparkling wines were consistently impressive.

The 2010 New Zealand grape harvest totalled 266,000 tonnes, 19,000 tonnes smaller than the 2009 crop and in line with the pre-harvest forecast.

US: Foster's Wine Estates has announced long-term distribution agreements with Southern Wine & Spirits in three US markets.

South Africa-based wine company Origin Wine has announced growth in Holland, and Denmark for its brands Stormhoek and Fairhills.

UK: Alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware has appointed three new trustees to its board.

Around 16,000 road-traffic injuries and 170 deaths could be prevented in the first year if the government lowers the blood alcohol limit for drivers, according to a new study of the drink-drive laws.

Bombay Sapphire gin is to launch a global digital campaign, aimed at the social media market.

The Charmer Sunbelt Group (CSG) has announced appointments at their executive offices and across their network, effective July 1, 2010.

UK: A complaint made by Cellar Trends against Hi Spirits' sambuca adverts has not been upheld by the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).

E&J Gallo has announced staff changes within the European sales team.

US: Heaven Hill Distilleries has launched the 21^st flavour of its Burnett’s flavoured vodka brand.

UK alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware’s World Cup campaign Hoof It attracted more than 17,000 visits in one day. This is up from the previous record of 11,000 visitors on one single day in December 2009.

Carlsberg UK has announced a four year partnership between its beer brand Tuborg and UK music giant Live Nation. The deal is to ensure the continuation of the brand's status as the official beer for their music festivals and key venues.

UK: Constellation is ramping up tasting opportunities for its Australian wine brand Hardys and its Nottage Hill FreshCase.

The Isle of Arran distillery is to double production to meet rising demand. Production in 2008 was 150,000LPA (litres of pure alcohol) and 130,000 in 2009. During 2010, the distillery aims to double the 2009 total.

Belgium: The European Spirits Organisation CEPS and The European Forum for Responsible Drinking (EFRD) have teamed up with the Belgian Federation of Wine and Spirits to launch a responsible drinking campaign during the World Cup.

Travel retail: Bacardi has launched a limited edition bottling of Bénédictine liqueur.

UK: The Bar Show is less than a week away. The annual trade show is to feature the London Cocktail Summit, a round-up of drinks experts, bartenders and cocktail trends.

UK: Carling lager has achieved a Red Tractor certification for its barley.

Russian Standard has launched Russian Standard Gold into the travel retail market. The company launched the brand at TFWA Asia Pacific in Singapore.

Diageo has announced the return of its Arthur’s Day celebrations for stout brand Guinness.

Diageo has unveiled a new ad campaign for its ultra premium vodka Cîroc.

Stolichnaya vodka is to team up with cocktail guru Salvatore Calabrese to host 15 international trade cocktail masterclasses.

Diageo has announced changes to its global marketing department following a review of its structure.

US: Hennessy is rolling out its Hennessy Black cognac in the US market. According to Hennessy, the roll-out marks the company's first major product introduction in the United States in nearly 50 years.

UK wine and spirit distributor Cellar Trends has restructured the brand management and sales teams across its wine and spirits portfolio.

UK: The drinks trade has expressed concern over the NICE guidance, saying the guidelines don’t tackle the “root cause”. Trade bodies have also said minimum pricing is “probably illegal”.

A new study has revealed that Scotch whisky is worth £4 billion a year in added value to the Scottish economy - with the industry spending in excess of £1.1 billion annually on supplies produced in Scotland.

Beam Global has created a new marketing position for its Maker’s Mark brand. Kelly Doss has been appointed vice president global marketing. She will report directly to Maker’s Mark president Bill Samuels.

UK: The National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE) has called for a minimum price for alcohol.

Despite problems in some major markets, Austria’s wine exports defied all expectations in 2009, rising by 5.3% in value and 16% in volume.

Travel Retail: The Famous Grouse has launched a taste challenge to introduce consumers to the ‘Famous Family’ and encourage them to choose their favourite Grouse. The challenge includes the darker character of The Black Grouse alongside The Snow Grouse, a lighter and sweeter blend, as well as core offering The Famous Grouse.

UK: Alcohol awareness charity Drinkaware has launched a programme to help fans stay safe and drink responsibly throughout the World Cup this summer, whether they’re travelling to South Africa or watching from the UK.

UK: Moët Hennessy’s has launched a pink grapefruit maceration of its Belvedere vodka.

Foster’s Group plans to create separate stock exchange listings for its beer and wine divisions.

US popularity and universal appeal have kept the Irish whiskey market buoyant, according to business analyst Datamonitor.

Carlsberg Group is to sponsor the UEFA Euro 2012. It is the first UEFA Euro ever to be hosted in Eastern Europe. Carlsberg considers the UEFA European Championship its most successful marketing activity for the Carlsberg brand.

Islay malt whisky, Ardbeg is to launch a second edition of Ardbeg Supernova – SN2010 – to be released on May 31 2010. This limited edition release is 40% more peaty than the distillery’s already heavily peated flagship Ardbeg ten years old.

Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum has been awarded a Gold OBIE award by the Outdoor Advertising Association of America (OAAA) for its 2009 Sip Up campaign.

An Austrian bio-dynamic winemaker has produced a wine from the 2009 harvest by fermenting grapes in clay amphorae buried underground.

US Virgin Islands: Diageo USVI has announced the construction of its rum distillery and barrel warehouse has passed the halfway stage, and is on schedule to become operational by January 2011. The company also announced the appointment of US Virgin Islanders to four positions at the distillery.

The new coalition government has outlined its alcohol policy. The policy includes plans to ‘ban the sale of alcohol below cost price’ and ‘review alcohol taxation and pricing to ensure it tackles binge drinking without unfairly penalising responsible drinkers, pubs, and important local industries’.

Research commissioned by the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) in the UK, has shown a further shift to the off-trade in terms of wine consumption.

A UK supermarket wine buyer has called for an industry wide labelling system to indicate the amount of residual sugar in rosé wines.

US: Foster's Wine Estates has appointed master sommelier Fred Dame as vice president, luxury sales. He will report to Mike Holden, SVP sales. Dame will head-up the selling division for brands including Beringer, Penfolds, Chateau St Jean, Stags' Leap Winery, Etude and St. Clement.

UK: Maxxium is to launch a consumer campaign to raise awareness of its bourbon brand Maker’s Mark. This is part of a £1.5million investment in the brand this year.

Diageo has announced that as part of a review of its wine business in the US, it will make some fundamental changes its US wines business, Diageo Chateau & Estate wines.  Plans include job cuts and potential asset sales.

A major scientific study into the storage of wine in different forms of packaging has revealed that the bag-in-box, single-layer PET and small multi-layer PET altered the character of white wines when stored over six months, with oxidation clearly noticeable.

The 2010 global Tax Stamp Forum is to take place in London in June.

UK: Cider company Aspall is celebrating its best year yet in the on-trade.

The Edrington Group has appointed a new area director for global travel retail.

Alcohol can still be sold in test-tubes following an inquiry under the Portman Group Code into whether this packaging causes people to drink rapidly.

UK: Drinks company Global Brands has acquired Inspirit Brands.

Diageo’s chief financial officer is to step down. Nick Rose will stand down from the board at the company’s AGM on 14 October 2010.

A 56% increase in exports confirmed Scotch whisky’s growing popularity in Brazil in 2009, according to new figures published by the UK-based Scotch Whisky Association (SWA).

Carlsberg, the official beer of the England football team, has launched its new TV advert in the build-up to this year’s World Cup.

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.

US: Diageo has appointed a control states executive. Lynn Walding will take up the post of executive director control states effective immediately. Walding has recently stepped down as administrator of the Iowa Alcoholic Beverages Division.

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.

US: Gemini Spirits & Wine has acquired the global production, distribution and marketing rights for Margaritaville Holdings. This includes tequila, flavoured tequilas, rum, ready to drink margaritas and mojitos.

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.

Russian Standard vodka has announced the launch of Russian Standard vodka originals, a music and film brand experiential campaign for 2010. The first stage of the campaign live performances from the Noisettes in London and Edinburgh in May.

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

UK drinkers are opting for quality, rather than quantity, according to new Datamonitor research.

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.

Maxxium UK is launching a new podcast to inform retailers about the quality of blended Scotch whisky, as part of its Teacher’s School of Whisky campaign.

UK: Disaronno liqueur is to enjoy a £3million marketing push.  The national advertising campaign will include summer TV advertising and the platform is called Open the Possibilities. Doubling its annual media spend, the campaign will focus on Disaronno’s style credentials and also promote its versatility.

UK: Drinks manufacturer and distributor Halewood International is set to continue its bartender education programme in the on trade with the continuation of its Lamb’s spiced rum tour this May.

The WSTA is issuing fresh advice to consumers over the checks they should make before investing in wine.  The checklist is designed to protect buyers from the risk of wine fraud.

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

UK: Maxxium, the sales and distribution alliance for The Edrington Group and Beam Global Spirits & Wine, has announced the addition of Cutty Sark blended scotch whisky into its portfolio.

US: The Distilled Spirits Council (DISCUS) has urged the Obama Administration to mark Alcohol Awareness Month by passing new alcohol labelling requirements to include basic dietary information on the labels of all beverage alcohol products.

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 CEPS and EFRD, the representatives of the European spirits industry.

UK distributor and manufacturer Halewood International has launched a campaign centred around its Lambrini brand, to coincide with the British General Election.

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.

Sales of New Zealand wine in the UK off-trade have now overtaken Germany when expressed as a ‘country of origin’ percentage share.

Tuborg is to launch a £2m “Urban Blitz” across the UK on-trade as a prelude to the upcoming festival season.

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.

Carlsberg has launched the second half of its World Cup advertising campaign by unveiling the stars of its latest in-store packaging: England manager Fabio Capello, England captain Rio Ferdinand as well as players Steven Gerrard, David James and Jermaine Defoe.

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.

Dooley’s Original toffee & vodka has launched a consumer lifestyle magazine to help promote the drink.

US: Sobieski vodka sales have smashed the brand’s record – with sales of 580,000 cases during 2009.

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.

Beam Global Spirits has made two new appointments. Drew Munro is now the general manager of the Bourbon US category business team (CBT) and  Jay Mathew is to be general manager of the Classics US CBT.

UK: Constellation Europe has renewed its Hardys and Echo Falls sponsorship of Channel 4 TV show ‘Come Dine With Me’, for a second year.

Moët & Chandon champagne is to sponsor the Edinburgh International Film Festival.

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.

Bacardi has launched a new rum in the US. Bacardi Torched Cherry combines the taste of Barbados cherries with the Torch plant aloe.

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

Following the pre-election political deal to axe the ten per cent cider tax rise announced in the Budget, the British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has today sent an open letter to chancellor Alistair Darling and would-be chancellors George Osborne and Vince Cable saying there is a compelling case to do the same with beer tax, in order to save jobs and community pubs.

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

US: Pernod Ricard has lost a court case to stop Bacardi from using the name Havana Club for its rum.

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.

UK: Luxardo sambuca has launched a bartender competition in an attempt to further move the drink away from shots.

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: New figures from the Campaign for Real Ale (Camra) have revealed that twice as many women now drink cask ale as did two years ago.

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.

Maison Jacquart, part of the Alliance Champagne group, has appointed Gonzalez Byass UK to distribute its products from April 1.  

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.

Research commissioned by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) into patterns of wine-buying has highlighted the scope for specialist retailers and independent wine merchants to boost their marketing effort.

From more than two thousand bartenders around the world, the Team USA trio of Mark Stoddard, Todd Thrasher and Sean Hoard emerged as the winners in the sixth 42 Below Cocktail World Cup.

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.

Carlsberg UK has launched a low calorie, low alcohol drink for women.

UK: Justerini & Brooks (J&B) has created a dedicated champagne development team to drive sales and distribution for the Vranken-Pommery Monopole portfolio in the UK.

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.

Distell has appointed Cellar Trends to handle UK distribution for its Amarula cream liqueur brand, starting July 1 2010.

Alcopops, or RTDs, are still the most promoted alcohol product across supermarkets, according to a survey by mysupermarket.co.uk.

The UK government is planning to give the pub industry a £4million boost. Pubs minister John Healey today announced a 12 point action plan to give practical support to community pubs up and down the country, backed by £4million in government funding.

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

UK: The five-year £100million social marketing campaign to tackle binge drinking is beginning to pay off.

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

Maxxium UK is to invest £15m in Courvoisier cognac during 2010. The idea is to ‘revolutionise the category and drive growth through innovative promotional activity and education tools’.

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.

The UK government has announced that the Budget will be held on March 24.

UK: Drinks giants Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) and Diageo Great Britain (Diageo GB) are to team up to push spirit and mixer sales.

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

US: Diageo has launched two new flavours of its 100 proof Smirnoff vodka.

Women who drink wine are less likely to gain weight, according to a new study.

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.

The Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has set up a Craft Distiller Affiliate Membership programme designed to organise the growing number of small distilled spirits producers across the nation and alert them to public policy issues affecting the industry at every level of government.

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

Californian winery and distillery Charbay has announced the 13^th generation of master distiller. Marko Karakasevic has earned the master distiller title following an apprenticeship under his father, 12^thgeneration master distiller Milorad (Miles) Karakasevic from Yogoslavia.

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.

Tetley's cask is to be brewed by Marston's in Wolverhampton. The decision to take the beer out of Yorkshire has been met with disappointment from the real ale trade body CAMRA.

The winery said it was important to show support for its 'fellow countrymen' and has postponed the opening of the Don Maximiano Icon Winery. It also said it was too soon to give an accurate assessment of the damage to homes and wineries in the south.

US: Importer and distributor Winebow has appointed a new president. Jon Moramarco will take up the post on March 30. Moramarco will report to Leonardo LoCascio, chairman and CEO of Winebow.

The UK director of Wines of Chile, the generic body representing the Chilean wine industry, has released a statement following the catastrophic earthquake in the country.

Tequila Patrón is to sponsor the American Le Mans Series. Patrón initially joined as a corporate marketing partner in 2008.

Svedka vodka has launched a new marketing campaign in the US.  "R U BOT OR NOT?" refers to Svedka’s spokes-bot, Svedka_Grl.

Veuve Clicquot has taken the uncertainty out of the process of ageing vintage champagnes with its recently launched Cave Privée Collection.

A US Federal Court has ordered a halt to the sale and production of a line of fruit-flavored rums whose bottles were alleged to be "confusingly similar" to the flavored rum - Malibu.

Europe’s spirits producers have launched a catalogue of industry-led programmes to reduce alcohol related harm.

William Grant has relaunched its Sailor Jerry rum brand with a new look and new taste.

Diageo has launched a scathing attack on Bacardi over the Captain Morgan rum, US Virgin Islands saga. Diageo has accused Bacardi of scheming to protect subsidies at the expense of the economic stability of the US Virgin Islands.  Bacardi has insisted the dispute is about the appropriate use of taxpayers’ money.

First Cape wine is launching lower-alcohol (5.5% abv) extension of its First Cape brand.

Beer should be taxed at a lower rate of duty to reflect its low-strength, UK produced product status, according to the British Beer & Pub Association.

UK: Carlsberg’s Tuborg beer is to give away five pairs of tickets to the sold-out Glastonbury Festival.