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

Digital platforms that can predict your favourite cocktail, sustainable socialising and the rise of at-home mixologists will reshape the drinks industry, according to Diageo.

Diageo shareholders were toasting chief executive Ivan Menezes after he said they can expect to receive billions of pounds in share buybacks or special dividends. The Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker and Guinness producer announced that organic profit should grow by at least 14% in the year to 30 June.

Diageo North America has announced Pronghorn, an economic initiative to drive diversity, equity, and inclusion in the spirits industry.

Diageo stock increased by 4% this morning after it announced an improved profit growth forecast for the 2021 fiscal year.

Diageo has maintained its acquisition drive by snapping up the firm that produces the Lone River Ranch Water hard seltzer brand.

Diageo has completed the acquisition of Herefordshire-based craft spirits firm Chase Distillery for an undisclosed fee.

Diageo has launched a 0.0% abv version of its Tanqueray gin brand in a bid to capitalise upon soaring demand for alcohol-free drinks.

Tanqueray has kicked off a raft of innovation by launching a Blackcurrant Royale variant made with French blackcurrants, vanilla and black orchid.

Diageo managed to grow organic sales by 1% in the six months to December 31 despite suffering from restrictions on the on-trade and travel retail.

Diageo’s Don Julio has topped the bestselling tequila list for the sixth year in a row. The brand accounted for 15% of our bars’ first-choice tequilas and 18% of the top-three pours in the world’s best venues.

Vodka is the fourth most used spirit in the bars we poll. These days, bartenders want vodkas that can stand up to bold flavours (think the Espresso Martini) and against a wider trend towards flavour, the days of insipid neutral spirits are behind us.

Diageo is rolling out voluntary enhanced health warnings on bottles of Smirnoff, Gordon’s, Baileys and Captain Morgan as part of its broader responsible drinking campaign.

Diageo has launched an Instagram filter that encourages social media users to moderate alcohol consumption by switching to water instead.

Diageo has unveiled a 10-year action plan designed to achieve net zero carbon emissions across all direct operations and boost ethnic diversity in the leadership team.

Diageo has issued a product recall notice for Guinness 0.0 after revealing that a microbiological contamination may have left cans “unsafe to consume”.

Diageo stock enjoyed its best session since March after chief executive Ivan Menezes issued a positive trading update ahead of the firm’s annual meeting.

Three bartenders have surged through to the British regional final of Diageo’s World Class mixology competition after impressing judges with their portable cocktail creations.

Diageo will purchase Aviation Gin and several sister brands in a deal worth up to $610 million.

Diageo has announced a $100 million support package to help the global bar trade get back on its feet as the coronavirus lockdown ends.

Diageo Australia is giving away 130,000 free drinks to help bars across the country get back on their feet following the coronavirus lockdown.

Diageo has suspended share buybacks for the rest of the year as a result of financial uncertainty sparked by the coronavirus outbreak.

Guinness producer Diageo has launched a £1m St Patrick’s Day fund to help bars pay their staff during these difficult times.

Diageo has reported increased profits for the six months ended 31 December 2019 with a 4.2% rise in reported net sales.

Bannie Kang from Singapore was named Diageo World Class Bartender of the Year 2019 at the global finals in Glasgow on Thursday, 26 September.

Strike action has been halted at Diageo’s Scottish distilleries after GMB Scotland and Unite unions settled with the spirits company.

Earlier this summer trade union Unite Scotland said it would ballot members working for Diageo in Scotland for strike action following a dispute over pay.

Bulleit Bourbon founder Tom Bulleit has been made to step down from his role as brand ambassador by Diageo following claims of sex abuse by his daughter.

Diageo has entered into the Cuban rum industry with a joint venture between its European subsidiary and rum producer Corporación Cuba Ron SA.

Diageo has announced the acquisition of a significant majority shareholding in Seedlip, which is claimed to be the world’s first distilled, non-alcoholic, spirits brand.

Diageo has announced that it is moving its global headquarters from Park Royal, north west London, to Soho in London in 2021.

Diageo, the world’s largest premium drinks company has reported net sales of £12.9bn, increased 5.8% with organic growth partially offset by acquisitions and disposals.

Johnnie Walker master blender Dr Jim Beveridge has been awarded an OBE in the Queen’s Birthday Honours List for services to the scotch whisky industry.

Diageo has submitted plans to transform one of Edinburgh’s landmark buildings into a global visitor experience for Johnnie Walker, the world’s leading scotch whisky brand

Diageo’s president global supply and procurement is comfortable the company’s stock levels and supply chain, ahead of the UK leaving the European Union.

Diageo, the world’s largest premium drinks company, has reported net sales of 5.8% and an operating profit of £2.4bn, up 11.0%, driven by organic growth.

Diageo has announced that next year’s World Class Bartender of the Year awards will be in Glasgow.

Diageo has agreed the sale of 19 brands to Sazerac for an aggregate consideration of $550m, due for completion in early 2019.

World Class champion Orlando Marzo has told Drinks International that he wants to open a bar in Melbourne in late 2019.

Brewdog has appointed David Gates as managing director of Brewdog distilling after nearly 30 years working with Diageo.

Former head of Reserve Brands at Diageo, Nick Temperley, has joined Edrington-Beam Suntory UK as general manager for London.

The rise of single malt scotch has dominated whisky conversations on the back of the craft explosion, but blended malts have just as interesting a story to tell, says Shay Waterworth

Bar Convent Berlin director Petra Lassahn insists that the schedule clash with Diageo World Class is “an enrichment” to the trade show.

Diageo has reported net sales of more than £12bn and increased operating profit in its preliminary results for the year ending 30 June 2018.

Diageo has said it would be "premature to speculate" over rumours it is looking to relocate its global headquarters from Park Royal to a more central, west London location.

Former Diageo Reserve World Class GB champion Jamie Jones has backed this year’s winner, Daniel Warren to flourish in the global final in Berlin later this year.

Daniel Warren from the Last Chance bar in Nottingham was last night (June 19) crowned Diageo Reserve’s World Class Bartender of the Year 2018 GB.

David Gosnell, the executive chairman of Bushmills Irish Whiskey, has been awarded the OBE (Officer of the Order of the British Empire), in the Queen’s Birthday 2018 Honours List. 

Diageo Reserve has announced this year’s 10 World Class GB finalists, following the semi-final heats in London on May 16.

Diageo has announced a £150m investment over three years to transform its Scotch whisky visitor experiences.