Suntory Spirits has won the International Spirits Challenge 2023 Supreme Champion award for The Yamazaki 25.

Premium mixer brand, Franklin & Sons has announced a partnership with hospitality support organisation So Let’s Talk for a series of educational events throughout mental health awareness week.

Diageo Reserve’s World Class bartender competition, now in its 14th year, has opened for entries in the UK. 

All-rye Finish distiller, Kyrö Distillery Company has secured a nationwide listing with UK supermarket Waitrose with the brand’s Kyrö Dairy Cream and Kyrö Ginnow available for purchase in-sotre and online.

London Essence has announced the launch of five of its mixers in the UAE, distributed by Dubai Refreshment Company.

Harrison Kenney of Sydney’s Cantina OK! has been crowned winner at the 2022 Patrón Perfectionists cocktail competition global final at Hacienda Patrón in Jalisco, Mexico.

Craft spirit producer Scapegrace Distilling Company has announced plans to develop New Zealand’s largest-ever distillery project in the Central Otago region.

Cuban rum brand Ron Santiago de Cuba has announced the appointment of Antonio Naranjo as new global brand ambassador.

Italian liqueur producer Molinari,  creator of Molinari Extra Sambuca, has agreed a distribution agreement for the Italian market with Britvic Teisseire International.

Beverage producer Curius has launched with the promise of bringing a “fashion-like perspective” to drinks brand-building and three new product launches in 2022.

Bacardi has announced that it will be extending the availability of its bottled cocktails range, Tails, to the off-trade.

Co-founder and chief exec of non-alcoholic spirit brand Lyre’s, Mark Livings, has joined the advisory board of Ful, a producer of climate-positive, sparkling spirulina drinks.

The world’s leading premium mixer brand, Fever-Tree, has become available in South Korea for the first time.

Fernet-Branca has announced that after a year’s hiatus, the Barback Games will return to London Cocktail Week for a third time, on 28th October.

Pernod Ricard UK has highlighted the consumer trends accelerated by the last 18 months and urged retailers to “capitalise on the huge opportunity within premium spirits and wines this Christmas”.

Edrington UK has announced a series of workshops and events for the London trade as part of October’s London Cocktail Week.

The London Essence Company has announced that The Essence House pop-up is returning to Covent Garden throughout October for London Cocktail Week 2021.

Diageo Australia has announced the nationwide launch of Reeftip Drinks Co., a spiced rum RTD brand that will donate 10 per cent of profits towards regenerating the Great Barrier Reef.

Martini has announced that all its Asti grape suppliers are on track to being certified sustainable by Equalitas in 2021.

Jagermeister Scholarship, a programme that traditionally gives young bartenders the chance of a three-month internship in Berlin’s bars, will be hosted digitally for the second year running.

UK mixer brand Double Dutch has announced the launch of a scholarship and mentoring programme to support aspiring female bartenders.

Global Brands has reported a second consecutive year of on-trade growth in the UK for its flagship RTD brand VK.

Chase Distillery has brought its vodka and gin portfolio under the same branding with the released of its new bottle designs for its entire range of spirits.

Brands Report 2018 launches

02 January, 2018

The Drinks International Annual Brands Report 2018 has launched in digital form.

Budweiser has been ranked 31 in the Interbrand Best Global Brands 2017 losing out to Apple in the number one position.

Kaitlyn Stewart of Canada has been crowned World Class Bartender of the Year 2017 after winning the final in Mexico City.

Campri’s Negroni Week raised $537,000 (£410,000) for a range of charities around the world.

Southern Comfort 100 Proof was launched to the UK trade yesterday at the final of the brand’s 2017 Southern Showdown cocktail competition in London.

Fentimans has launched the world’s first range of botanically brewed cans, available in the brand’s four most popular flavours.

Soft drinks brand Three Cents has launched a Gentlemen's Soda designed to accompany long drinks and aperitivo-style cocktails and is available in on and off-trade markets globally.

Berry Bros. & Rudd has announced that chairman Simon Berry will be replaced by Lizzy Rudd when he retires in December after 40 years with the business 

Fentimans has introduced six new syrups in the UK on trade market under the name House of Broughton.

Fever-Tree bosses Tim Warrillow and Charles Rolls are set to extend their mixers range, responding to “pent up demand” in the sector.

Diageo’s chief marketing officer, Syl Saller, has picked up the Marketing Society’s prestigious Marketing Leader of the Year award.

The Quintessential Brands Group has announced the appointment of former Diageo brand director Lizzy Johnson as international marketing director. 

Grey Goose announced its global partnership with Virgin Galactic at the Rose Space Center and Planetarium in New York last night. 

Abderrahim ‘Absou’ El Asfar’s bar concept – winner of the Ballantine’s entrepreneurial competition with more than 50% of the vote – opened at Le Chacha, Paris last night. 

Bacardi has announced the Bacardi Legacy Global Final 2015 will be held in Sydney. 

Diageo has completed its tender offer for a further 26% share in United Spirits. 

Concha y Toro presented the new Casillero del Diablo Devil’s Collection wines to the UK press last night in London.

Irish Distillers Pernod Ricard is looking to boost its low-key Paddy whiskey brand with the release of a single pot still centenary edition.

Brown-Forman has announced a $100m-plus investment into its Jack Daniel Distillery, despite relatively flat volume sales of its original Jack Daniel's whiskey. 

Diageo is to launch Baileys Vanilla Cinnamon liqueur in the US.

Cinnamon Smirnoff Gold

19 August, 2013

Diageo has introduced Smirnoff Gold – a blend of Smirnoff No.21 premium vodka with natural cinnamon flavouring, garnished with edible 23 carat gold leaf.

Irish Distillers has launched the latest release of its flagship blended whiskey, Midleton Very Rare.

Beam's 2 Gingers Irish whiskey has launched into nine new US states this year. 

Highland single malt scotch whisky brand Tomatin has reported 150% growth in the UK over the past three years.

Campari is to release a new expression of Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey called Wild Turkey Forgiven.

Unhappy Hour by Jamie Sims was the winner of Beefeater #MyLondon Film Fest.

Havana Club sweetens recipe

15 August, 2013

Havana Club has changed the recipe of its Añejo Especial expression to make it sweeter. 

Digital Edition

Drinks International digital edition is available ahead of the printed magazine. Don’t miss out, make sure you subscribe today to access the digital edition and all archived editions of Drinks International as part of your subscription.

Comment

La'Mel Clarke

Service isn’t servitude: the skill of hosting

La’Mel Clarke, front of house at London’s Seed Library, looks at the forgotten art of hosting and why it deserves the same respect as bartending.

Instagram

Facebook