Independent cognac house Hine has appointed SipWell to drive its travel retail presence across the UK, US and Asia.

The Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel in Mayfair has unveiled a new menu inspired by traditional fairy tales and stories.

Maison Courvoisier has announced the return of British Nigerian artist Yinka Ilori as its ‘ambassador of joy’, a role created exclusively for the artisit and designer. 

Alexandrion Group, Romania’s largest spirits producer, has announced site plan approval by the planning board of the town of Carmel for the construction of its first US distillery in Mid-Hudson, Putnam County, NY.

The Indian Ocean Company and Berry Bros. & Rudd Spirits have announced the launch of the first VSOP release from the Medine Distillery, a VSOP bottling of Penny Blue Mauritian Rum. 

Rhum Clément's Jonone VSOP edition will roll out to the UK and Japan in Q1 of 2014, following it’s launch in France, Italy and Israel duty free.

The Bureau National Interprofessionnel du Cognac (BNIC) has announced shipments of cognac have risen by 4.3%, with growth in Asia and North America off-setting a European decline.

Annual sales of cognac are worth €2 billion thanks to a surge in XO and VSOP sales in the Far East, says the Cognac Bureau (BNIC).

Rémy Martin is to introduce a new expression of its VSOP cognac for the European market. VSOP Mature Cask Finish is to replace VSOP in Europe, while the rest of the world will continue to receive the original VSOP cognac.

Bas-Armagnac Francis Darroze has launched Les Grands Assemblages, a seven-strong range of armagnacs to global markets.

Martell’s new look for its VSOP, which was recently launched in the Singapore and Malaysia domestic markets, is now being rolled out throughout the world.

Cognac has reported record-breaking shipment figures for 2010. The region reported the value of 2010 shipments to be €1.86 billion.

Les Compagnons du Cognac, a social enterprise designed to support and protect small and independent producers of VSOP and XO cognac, is about to be launched.

Hine Vintage Cognacs has developed a new “high-end” VSOP which will be exclusive to travel retail. The new cognac will be revealed at TFWA Cannes from October 18 -22.