Sotheby’s is entering a long-term partnership with Chivas Brothers to bring aged, one-off creations to auction, exclusively for Sotheby’s collectors.

Pernod Ricard has announced the acquisition of a minority stake in Almave, the non-alc blue agave-based spirit brand, co-founded by Formula One champion, Lewis Hamilton and Casa Lumbre’s Iván Saldaña. 

In what looks like a mirror movement of wine some 50 years ago, agave spirits are finding their feet in unlikely quarters, finds Shay Waterworth.

US-based whiskey brand Uncle Nearest has announced the acquisition of Square One Organic Spirits.

Beam Suntory has rebranded to become Suntory Global Spirits, as the company marks 10 years since Suntory Holdings acquired Beam Inc in 2014.

Danish whisky Stauning has launched the ‘Stauning Drinks Kollektive’, a global cocktail competition which aims to shine a light on bartenders from Denmark, Germany, France, the UK, US and Australia.

Nolet Group has agreed to acquire Lucas Bols for around €270m with all operations to remain in Amsterdam.

The Distillers’ Charity hosted its second biennial One of One Auction, in partnership with Sotheby’s, comprising a selection of ultra-rare Scotch whiskies.

Islay single malt Ardbeg has released Ardbeg Anthology: The Harpy’s Tale, the first of a new experimental series from the LVMH brand.

The new Hospitality Market Monitor from CGA by NIQ and AlixPartners has revealed that in the last 12 months, Britain has lost around one in 18 of its licensed premises, 5,736 pubs, hotels, restaurants, bars and cafes.

Penfolds has announced Nigo, the founder of Human Made and artistic director of Kenzo, as its first-ever creative partner.

Created with tequila mixology in mind, Neurita has entered the category with its Citrus and Rosa expressions.

Laphroaig Single Malt Scotch Whisky is launching The Laphroaig Market in collaboration with Michelin-starred chef Tom Aikens, forming the UK phase of ita global initiative, Taste Trailblazers.

The UKGB and Molinari have announced a joint partnership to build awareness and relationships within the UK hospitality industry.

Climate change and economic challenges are taking their toll on production of Italy's favourite digestif.

More and more bartenders are embracing the allure of exotic islands. Hamish Smith discovers why.

Kurt Schlechter and Leah van Deventer's community-based bartender training course is helping to get people back into employment while raising awareness of hospitality. Schlechter tells us how it works.

Hamish Smith puts this year’s results under the microscope to analyse how the trends are shaping up.

Taylor’s has announced the launch of VVOP, the latest in a series of limited releases and one of the oldest wines released by the producer to date.

Kenyan gin distiller Procera has launched the 2022 annual vintage of its ultra-premium Red Dot and Green Dot gin expressions both distilled using fresh Juniperus procera harvested in the nearby Kenyan highlands.

Over the last few years, Kuala Lumpur has emerged as a cocktail city to watch. Drinks International caught up with Divyesh Chauhan, co-founder and director of JungleBird, one of the bars putting Malaysia’s capital on the bartending map.

Heineken UK has announced the purchase of the remaining shares of Beavertown Brewery, having purchased a minority stake in 2018, assuming full ownership of London’s largest brewery.

VintageCellar is a member-only fine wine investment app that launched in the UK in July. Drinks International caught up with chief executive and founder Selim Bocti to talk about his mission to bring fine wine investment into the 21^st century.

A 1975 cask of Ardbeg Islay malt scotch whisky, Cask No.3, is the brand's oldest whisky ever released and was sold to a private collector in Asia for £16 million.

To celebrate Earth Month, Flor de Caña, a carbon neutral and Fair Trade certified rum, is launching a year-long, global reforestation campaign that aims to ensure a greener future for generations to come.

Several high profile bars around the world have launched initiatives to raise funds for the victims in Ukraine following its invasion by Russian troops.

The Old Hem was completely destroyed and two people were killed by Russian shelling on the Eastern Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Monday, according to reports by the Kharkiv prosecutor's office.

London Cocktail Week founders Siobhan Payne and Hannah Sharman-Cox, alongside Global Bartending’s Dan Dove, have announced the launch of the Pinnacle Guide, a new one, two and three ‘Pin’ recognition system for the world’s best bars.

The non-alcoholic spirits category debuted in last year’s report, but the sector has quickly taken root and now no drinks group’s portfolio is complete without one.

Perhaps one of the smaller categories of the Brands Report, sherry is significant nonetheless. More than three-quarters of venues we polled stock sherry behind their bar. And most of those that do have two brands, while more than half will have three or more.

High-end bars rarely allocate bar-top space to draught systems, meaning the bestselling list is a battle of the bottles.

Just as Ketel One was on the precipice of completing the perfect 10, in swoops Grey Goose to snatch the vodka crown.

Suffolk-based distillery Adnams has launched a high-strength gin distilled with ten times the botanicals to give the flavour of a full serve in a 2.5ml measure.

The usual crowd have populated this year’s bestselling rum list. In fact, nine of the 10 brands remain a constant, with the first seven in the ranking identical to the previous year. 

Tighter restrictions on hospitality venues of been introduced to curb the spread of the Omicron variant in the Republic of Ireland.

From living a borderline homeless existence in Amsterdam and handing out leaflets while living off Burger King and cheap pints, Moe Aljaff recently opened his third venue in the hipster hotspot of Barcelona’s El Raval, making him one of the hottest properties in global bartending right now.

Spain’s Salmon Guru has been announced as the winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award ahead of The World’s 50 Best Bars ceremony in December.

Tidal Rum aims to raise at least £150,000 after launching an equity crowdfunding campaign on the Seedrs platform.

Pernod Ricard has announced the acquisition of online retailer The Whisky Exchange for an undisclosed fee.

Foursquare Distillery icon Richard Seale talks about his career and recent achiements with Oli Dodd.

Simone Caporale is one of the most decorated bartenders on the planet, yet one of the most personable.

James Grant from Canada has been crowned the 12th winner of Diageo World Class following a first ever virtual event for 2021.

Stars continue to flock to give their endorsement to 100% agave brands, but sustainability has become an issue as consumer demand has risen.

For the first time, London Cocktail Week has announced a one-off Warm-Up festival, taking place 05-11 July 2021.

Pernod Ricard has claimed two double gold medals in the gin category at the International Spirits Challenge 2021.

Flor de Caña has pledged to plant more than one million trees by 2025 through its own annual reforestation program called ‘Together for a Greener Future’.

Oscar Oliveras has won the prestigious Errazuriz Wine Photographer of the Year award for this image of Semillon grapes being gathered in Saussignac, France.

Super premium brand KAH Tequila is planning large-scale global expansion in 2021 starting with China and Russia.

It’s December 2020 and I’m holding in my hands a Rioja whose vintage bears the same year. And it’s one of the brightest, freshest, easiest to drink wines I’ve had since moving to the area.