The UK government has announced a second consecutive duty freeze on spirits, wine, beer and cider.

More than 31 million bottles of the I Heart wine brand were sold in 2020 after it enjoyed significant growth in several international markets.

French distributor BBC Spirits has bolstered its portfolio with several UK spirits brands as it bids to drive growth in 2021.

GreatDrams has been named a winner at the Lloyds Bank Small Business of 2020 awards through the success of its virtual tastings.

Daddy Rack, an original Tennessee straight small batch whiskey, has launched in Scotland with plans for a wider UK roll out in March.

A new non-alcoholic drink that taps into growing consumer trend for enjoying “aperitivo hour” has launched in the UK and international markets.

Alcohol free wine brand Eisberg is set to be acquired by Schloss Wachenheim AG (SWA) from Halewood Artisanal Spirits.

Hard seltzer brand White Claw has launched its Mango variety in the UK through supermarket chain Tesco.

Moët Hennessy has launched Cuban rum brand Eminente in the UK, France, Germany and the Czech Republic.

Port sales in the UK saw impressive category growth throughout 2020, with the largest volume of off-trade sales since 2015.

A new premium cocktail delivery service called Canvas has launched across the UK this February in partnership with a series of top end bartenders.

Class Bar Magazine has launched a new website which will provide the latest news and insights into the UK bar industry.

Pernod Ricard sales for H1 FY21 have shown an organic decline of -3.9% on the previous year largely due to the ongoing struggles of travel retail.

Australian vermouth brand Regal Rogue has launched a new bartender training initiative in collaboration with The Liana Collection, the brand’s newly appointed UK distributor in 2021.

Natural and organic ecommerce wine shop, Lucy’s Wine, has launched in the UK.

Avallen has announced a global partnership with UK-based Charter Brands to drive new routes to market beyond Europe, Hong Kong & Australia.

New HMRC figures show that a record number of distilleries were registered in the UK in 2020, growing by more than 100 in 12 months to surpass 560.

Diddy, David Beckham and Ryan Reynolds have donated $1 million to several organisations that support the bartending community.

Martin Miller’s Gin has unveiled a new ad campaign that tells the story of the brand’s “transformation from a mad idea to a genius gin”.

The UK hard seltzer market is expected to reach a value of £75m by 2023 according to a report commissioned by DRTY.

Freixenet Copestick cemented its status as the UK’s leading supplier of sparkling wine by increasing sales 21% over the Christmas trading period.

JW Filshill, the Glasgow-based wholesaler, has acquired Eldorado Tonic Wine as part of its purchase of KB Agencies for an undisclosed sum.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka has appointed new distributors for two of its European markets in Switzerland and Cyprus.

Premium rosé, ecommerce and innovation in packaging will form the bedrock of Foncalieu’s strategy as it bids to enjoy a strong commercial performance in 2021.

The latest edition of the UKHospitality and CGA Quarterly Tracker has revealed a 54% drop in sales for 2020 from £133.5bn in 2019 to £61.7bn.

The tequila industry enjoyed record levels of production and exports in 2020, according to the Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT).

Remy Cointreau has reported 25.1% sales growth for the final three months of 2020.

Michter’s has released its US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Rye 2020 in the UK.

Drinks producers will be forced to close their doors and lay off staff after the U.S. ramped up its tariff war with the EU, trade associations have warned.

Premixed cocktail specialist World of Zing managed to sell more than 650,000 drinks in 2020 after successfully pivoting towards the at-home market.

Three-quarters of Brits say they prefer to drink at home, the Big Gin Report, an annual study conducted by Craft Gin Club, has found.

The alcoholic drinks category led the charge as UK supermarkets enjoyed their strongest ever Christmas trading period, according to Nielsen till scan data.

Non-alcoholic spirit brand Ceder's has announced a digital programme designed to promote health and wellness.

Ecommerce has broken into markets that barely knew it existed pre-pandemic - and forcasts for the alcohholic drinks sector are very positive. Martin Green reports.

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.

Kingfisher has launched a 6x33cl can format in time for the festive trading period as it bids to ramp up off-trade sales.

The US spirits industry has applauded the UK’s decision to suspend retaliatory tariffs on American rum, brandy and vodka once it leaves the EU on January 1.

Boutique producer Churchill’s has launched a direct-to-consumer port club targeting the UK market.

The Portman Group has announced that Matt Lambert will replace John Timothy as chief executive in January 2021.

China has slapped a 212% tariff on Australian wine as diplomatic tensions between the two nations continue to mount.

British national treasure Captain Sir Tom Moore has teamed up with Otterbeck Distillery in Yorkshire to launch a gin.

Drinks International caught up with Martin Miller’s new brand ambassador to learn more about the brand’s new seasonal gin.

Drinks International caught up with Naked Wines’ chief financial officer James Crawford to discuss the firm’s impressive H1 results.

BrewDog has responded to the Advertising Standards Authority with characteristic derision, telling the ad watchdog they “can go fuck themselves”, after receiving its second ban in under a year.

Naked Wines enjoyed 79.6% revenue growth in the six months to September 28 after demand for online wine purchases soared during the lockdown.

The former managing directors of Greene King and Ei Group have invested in Hofmeister after growing excited by its potential to take the world beer category by storm.

UK-based cigar and whisky merchant C.Gars has become the exclusive importer and distributor for Key West First Legal Rum for the UK and EU.

Leading gin producer Quintessential Brands has promoted James Lousada to the role of chief executive.

Chivas Brothers has released a single malt collection featuring 48 single cask expressions from across its 13 Scotch whisky distilleries.

An award-winning distiller has tipped the non-alcoholic spirits category to enjoy strong future growth thanks to a raft of innovation in the years ahead.