Keith Motsi has carved a truly unique path through the hospitality industry. Having been born in Zimbabwe and raised in Leeds, UK, he now finds himself at the reins of one of Asia’s top luxury hotel bars.

Super-premium tequila brand Mijenta, has launched Mijenta Reposado Tequila, the second UK launch from the brand following the release of Mijenta Blanco Tequilla in June 2021.

UK-based functional drink brand Three Spirit has announced the launch of a range of non-alcoholic alternative wines, Blurred Vines.

Dublin-based online whisky store, The Single Malt Shop, has announced that they will now deliver to the UK and to celebrate the launch, delivery costs to the UK will be free until the end of May. 

Keith Motsi, head bartender at Charles H in Four Seasons Seoul, has won the Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2022.

The Old Kent Road in south London is one of the country’s oldest and most storied. The original track was paved by the Romans and used as their principal thoroughfare between old Londinium and the coast. Geoffrey Chaucer wrote about its use as a pilgrim’s way in The Canterbury Tales and later it was the route by which King Henry V and his men returned triumphant from the battle of Agincourt.

Premium vodka brand, Vodka 4 Peace, has launched in the UK pledging to donate 100% of profits until 2026 and £5 per bottle to NGOs in Ukraine.

Puerto Rican rum producer, Distillería Serrallés has launched its portfolio of aged Don Q Rums in the UK and European markets.

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.

Kenyan ultra-premium spirits producer, Procera Gin has announced a partnership with Axiom Brands to accelerate growth in the UK on- and off-trade.

Ukrainian vodka brand Dima’s has launched a fundraising initiative to support British-Ukrainian Aid and Come Back Alive, which see all proceeds from the purchase of four bottled cocktails going to charity.

Hendrick’s have launched Neptunia, a limited-edition gin using Scottish coastal botanicals and the latest release from master distiller Lesley Gracie’s Cabinet of Curiosities collection.

Cardrona Distillery has opened entries to UK bartenders to its inaugural cocktail competition, Cardrona Club.

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.

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.

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.

Pernod Ricard UK has expanded its American whiskey portfolio with Rabbit Hole making the UK the first European market to launch the brand.

Diageo is investing £73 million in a Guinness microbrewery and “culture hub” in the heart of London.

Indian hospitality and hotel brand Taj have announced the opening of a new bar and restaurant at the five-star Taj 51 Buckingham Gate in central London.

Panther M*lk, the world’s first ready to drink alcohol cocktail made from oat milk, spirits and liqueurs, has launched in the UK in two flavours.

London Wine Fair director Hannah Tovey has branded Prowein's decision to move the Dusseldorf-based show to May "a direct attack" on the UK drinks trade.

Sales of no and low alcohol beverages in 10 key global markets reached almost $10 billion in 2021 up from $7.8 billion in 2018, according to a new IWSR report.

The UK’s CBD market is now the second-largest in the world and following a period of regulatory red tape, the Association for the Cannabinoid Industry claims that the UK now has the most evolved regulatory framework for CBD in the world. Coupled with a growing consumer trend away from alcohol, CBD-infused functional beverages could be set to explode this year.

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.

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

Chancellor, Rishi Sunak, has announced measures to support England’s hospitality sector this festive period as Omicron cases rise.

Italian spirits company, Illva Saronno has launched the craft organic gin brand, Engine in the UK.

Politicians and industry groups are urging the UK government to provide financial support to firms impacted by the rising Covid cases.

Portuguese wine producer, Esporão, has announced its partnership with Hatch Mansfield as their UK distributor.

Luxury drinks company Moët Hennessy and WhistlePig have launched a full sales and marketing drive in the UK and Europe this month, following the announcement of their partnership last year.

Online sales of alcoholic beverages in 16 key global markets will increase by 66% over the next five years, according to projections from IWSR.

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

Guinness has announced the limited first release in the UK of a draught tap for homes this Christmas.

Axia spirit, the world’s first extra-dry Mastiha spirit, has been released in the UK following launches in Greece and the US.

Fok Hing Gin has fallen foul of the industry-funded UK drinks industry watchdog for using offensive language.

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.

On 1 February 2022 Spiribam, the spirit division of Groupe Bernard Hayot, will open its proprietary operations in the UK for Rhum Clément, Bounty Rum, Chairman’s Reserve and Admiral Rodney.

Manachain Monaghan from the UK has been crowned global champion of Flor de Caña Rum’s Sustainable Cocktail Challenge with his ‘Steamship’ cocktail.

Demand for ready-to-drink (RTD) products continues to grow amongst consumers, with the category expected to account for 8% of total beverage alcohol by 2025 according to a new report from IWSR Drinks Market Analysis.

New York-based media company NBTV Studios has announced the UK launch of streaming platform, Spirits Network, and is inviting UK bartenders to audition for its inaugural programme, Shake Off.

Industry charity The Drinks Trust is holding its first annual charity auction, ‘Cream of the Crop’, to raise funds for those who produce and pour drinks across the UK.

UK gin producers have called upon Chancellor Rishi Sunak to freeze duty on spirits after revealing that exports have plummeted 35% as a result of the pandemic.

Tiempo Tequila has debuted its first limited-edition batch of Reposado Cristalino Tequila in the UK.

Hatch Mansfield managing director Patrick McGrath MW is stepping up to the newly created role of chairman.

London Cocktail Week has once again been extended to the whole month of October for 2021 and the full trade schedule has been released.

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

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

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

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