Japanese whisky continues to go from strength to strength as shochu producers turn to the category to make their mark in international markets.

To mark the halfway point of its consultancy phase, The Pinnacle Guide’s founders are hosting its next round table personally, as they continue to gather information on what makes a great bar.

Bladnoch Distillery has announced its newest expression, a 30-year-old single malt Scotch whisky with a limited release of 950 bottles.

Dancing, writing and making drinks are just some of the artistic elements to Seed Library’s La’Mel Clarke, whose reputation as one of the industry’s up and coming stars is gathering pace. Earlier this year the Londoner was nominated for Emerging Bartender of the Year at the annual Class Bar Awards.

The annual list of The World’s 50 Best Bars will this year be unveiled at a live ceremony in Barcelona on Tuesday 4 October.

The Wine Intelligence Global Wine Brand Power Index 2022 has reported that Yellow Tail is again the world’s most powerful wine brand with Casillero del Diablo meaning an unchanged top two.

Speyside whisky brand The Balvenie has announced the launch of French Oak 16 Year Old, marking the first use of French oak in the distillery’s 129-year history.

Spanish producer Familia Torres has retained its crown as The World’s Most Admired Wine Brand after topping the list for 2022.

Viña Concha y Toro has reported that profits rose by 26.7% in 2021 with sales of premium wines accounting for more than half of company revenues for the first time.

Drinks International has announced the appointment of Shay Waterworth as its new editor to replace the outgoing Martin Green from April onwards.

South African Wine Rebounds

17 February, 2022

Strong demand from the UK, the US and China helped South African wine exports increase by 12.1% in value to R10.2bn in 2021.

Surging demand for premium spirits powered Pernod Ricard’s 17% year-on-year sales growth in the six months to December 31, 2021.

The Macallan has launched its oldest ever singe malt called The Reach which was distilled during the Second World War.

Brands Report 2022: Vodka

06 January, 2022

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

Brands Report 2022: Gin

05 January, 2022

Topping gin for seven of the last nine years, Tanqueray is once again king gin. The Diageo brand, famed for its juniper forward Tanqueray London Dry and Tanqueray No. Ten gins, was the house choice in 25% of the world’s best bars.

Brands Report editor Hamish Smith explains the methodolgy behind the report's polling system.

Sales in the first nine months of 2021 of sparkling wines made under the protection of the DO Cava have increased by 16.45% on the same period in 2020.

Royal Salute master blender Sandy Hyslop has declared its new 51-year-old a “one-of-a-kind” blend.

Brown-Forman has raised its full-year sales outlook in anticipation of supply chain disruption easing in the months ahead.

AB InBev has signed a 20-year deal to replace Heineken as the main beer supplier to UK pub giant JD Wetherspoon.

Lucas Bols has announced a return of revenues to pre-Covid times for the first half of the 2021/22 financial year.

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.

Logistics companies within the global drinks industry have been battered by an unprecedented confluence of headwinds during the past 18 months.

Central banks are coming under increasing pressure to hike interest rates after inflation soared across the globe.

Two Schmucks 2.0

26 October, 2021

Taking over the reigns of The World’s 50 Best Bars would be a daunting experience for many, but not French duo Pom Modeste and Juliette Larrouy.

Buffalo Trace Distillery will not release a George T. Stagg expression this year after deciding that the 15-year-old barrels do not meet the right taste standards.

Irish whiskey producer Bushmills has unveiled a collection of 12 rare single malts aged in a variety of casks.

UK craft brewer Vocation has invested in a redesign for its entire range.

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”.

Diageo’s drinks accelerator arm Distil Ventures has made a minority investment in Japanese single malt producer Komasa Kanosuke Distillery.

South African wine and spirits producer Distell has withheld its dividend for 2021 financial year amid ongoing takeover talks with Heineken.

Carlsberg has upgraded its full-year profit guidance after reporting that sales volumes have now exceeded pre-pandemic levels.

The recent launch of Martinez members’ cocktail bar on Soho’s Greek Street struck a chord with me.

Leading Chilean wine producer Concha y Toro increased consolidated sales by 9.1% in the three months to June 30.

Andrew Carter is set to take over from Frazer Thompson as CEO of Chapel Down winery from September this year.

Diageo has outperformed analysts’ expectations by reporting organic net sales growth of 16% for the year to June 30.

It’s been a sobering quarter for hard seltzer. Sales of the canned RTD that disrupted the US alcohol market when it burst onto the scene in 2016, have for the first time, stalled.

Campari Group has reported that organic sales increased 37.1% year-on-year during the first half of 2021.

Rioja is on a roll

21 July, 2021

Brits love Rioja – they’re recognisable, affordable, easy to purchase, delicious to drink, and great with foods all year round. While Tempranillo is a core mainstay for Rioja, there’s so much more to the wines from this region, with winemakers working hard to develop more innovative premium wines at all price levels.

Online retailer Master of Malt has unveiled three key trends that could define the spirits industry during the next year.

The Last Drop has made its first foray into spirits creation with the release of its 50 Year Old Signature Blended Scotch Whisky.

Foursquare Distillery in Barbados has won the coveted International Spirits Challenge 2021 Supreme Champion award for its Redoubtable 14 Year Old rum.

Global alcohol consumption is expected to increase by 2.9% this year, according to new IWSR projections. Martin Green reports.

Praphakorn Konglee from Thailand’s Find the Locker Room bar has won the Bacardí Legacy Cocktail Competition 2021 with is drink ‘Out of Sight’.

Edrington has reported that pre-tax profit decreased 21% year-on-year to £178.4 million for the year ending 31 March 2021.

Drinks international catches up with the founder of The Emissary Prosecco, Ed Smith, to find out whether talk of a Rosé Prosecco shortage is cause for concern.

Sales of beers, wines and spirits have finally started to decline in the UK off-trade after bars were permitted to open their doors once again.

South American wine producer VSPT Wine Group posted a 27.6% sales increase during the first quarter of 2021 in spite of poor exchange rates.

Naked Wines stock decreased by 3% this morning after the online retailer posted an annual pre-tax loss of £10.7 million.

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.

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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.

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