Accolade Wines has launched a low alcohol wine under the Stowells brand. Stowells Light is 5.5% abv and a 125ml glass contains one unit of alcohol and 56 calories.

StarBev has announced ‘significant investments’ in its Staropramen brand, as it eyes international expansion.

UK spirits and liqueur agency, Mangrove, has announced plans for expansion into the Middle East and south Asia.

Liqueurs de France has rolled out the launch of its Enigma absinthe range to the UK, in a bid to change consumer perceptions of the spirit.

UK: Glenfiddich has launched the 2011 Glenfiddich Malt Mastermind competition. The aim of the game is to find the “trade’s most passionate malt enthusiasts”.

Africa: Diageo’s Guinness Nigeria has committed £225million (NGN 55 billion) to expand its brewing operations. The company has said this will create 200 permanent jobs for Nigerians.

Premiumisation is driving UK spirits volume and value growth in the on and off-trade, according to findings by First Drinks.

Bacardi Brown Forman Brands has launched a new vodka under the Eristoff brand.

Owners of traditional products such as champagne and cognac need to show some humility in their dealings with new emerging markets, according to the president and CEO of Groupe Renaud Cointreau.

Monin has launched Sweet and Sour, a cocktail syrup for the on-trade.

The Glenmorangie Company has released a £2,500 whisky matured in Chateau d’Yquem sauternes casks.

Pernod Ricard brand Olmeca has announced a partnership with tequila ambassador and Mexican restaurant-bar owner Tomas Estes.

Diageo has launched a £15m global campaign for its Tanqueray gin brand.

Czech lager brand Pilsner Urquell poured an estimated 90,000 litres of beer during the 2011 Open Championship in Kent, UK.

UK: Pernod Ricard has launched a range of pre-mixed serves for its coconut rum brand Malibu.

Campari's Italian aperitif brand Aperol is going from strength to strength according to its owners.

Absolut vodka has launched a global creative campaign called Absolut Blank. The campaign involves 'blank' bottles that have been turned into pieces of art by 18 different artists.

Scotch whisky Auchentoshan is looking for entries to The Auchentoshan Switch, a cocktail competition that offers bartenders transatlantic internships.

The UK heat of the Gin Mare cocktail Competition took place this week at the Imbibe show in London.

The Vinho Verde Wine Commission (CVRVV), in Portugal, has invested €5m on a three-year global promotion.

Ian Macleod Distillers has purchased the Tamdhu distillery in Speyside, from the Edrington Group.

Costellation Wines Australia and Europe has officially become Accolade Wines - as of June 27. Accolade brands include Hardy’s and Echo Falls.

Budweiser has signed a three-year agreement with The Football Association to become the ‘lead partner’ of The FA Cup.

UK cider producer Aspall is to restructure its business and invest £4m following “40% volume growth” last year.

Australian winery Brown Brothers has appointed Rachel Herrig as brand manager to “drive the brand’s development in the UK and Ireland”.

Belgiun beer Duvel Green has been renamed Duvel Single Fermentation, in a bid to ease consumer understanding.

Chivas Brothers has launched a new special edition Beefeater gin. Developed by master distiller Desmond Payne, Beefeater London Market Gin will be available for a limited period from June 2011 in key global markets, including Spain, UK, Turkey and Bulgaria.

The Snow Grouse and The Naked Grouse have launched to the UK, as part of The Famous Grouse’s range of blended scotch whiskies.

The Isle of Jura Distillery has opened a £100,000 visitor centre.

Stella Artois’ seven-month quest to find its “draught master” has begun with the launch of the Quality Draught Masters Programme.

Lanson International has launched a website to educate trade and consumers about champagne, called L‟Académie de Lanson.

Drinks International has announced the category winners of the 18^th annual Cocktail Challenge.

The International Wine and Spirits Institute (IWSI), based in Bordeaux, is to open an eight-week spirits training programme in London next year.

Bacardi has crowned the winner of the first Superior Rum Global Legacy Cocktail Competition, in Barcelona.

The absinthe ban in France has been lifted, according to absinthe brand La Fée.

Two of London’s bartenders drew swords in San Francisco in the final of the No. 209 Gin Duel.

Jim Beam has launched its Red Stag bourbon-based drink in the UK market and in travel retail outlets across Europe.

Ian Macleod Distillers has appointed Danielle Murphy as business development manager at its Scotland-based sales team.

Stock Spirits recorded double-digit organic revenue growth and profit growth in 2010.

Prowein organiser Messe Düsseldorf has announced record attendance figures for the show held this week, 27-29 March 2011.

South African winery Linton Park has announced the launch of The Rhino of Linton Park range.

Swedish vodka brand DQ has re-launched to the UK, following the restructuring of parent company Nordic Spirit.

The owners of the Mediterranean gin brand, Gin Mare, have launched a bartender competition that culminates in a grand final on the island of Ibiza in September with a winner’s purse of £6,000.

Cork producer Amorim recorded double-digit volume growth in 2010.

Havana Club grew by 15% in 2010, following strong performances in Cuba, Germany, France and the UK.

AB InBev’s buoyant Asia-Pacific and Latin America markets have offset negative growth in North America and Europe, to spur overall revenue growth.

UK gin distiller G&J Greenall has celebrated its 250th birthday by redesigning its Original London Dry Gin.

Clink! Wines, distributors to the UK and mainland Europe, has appointed Mariola Martinez as operations manager.

The Stock Spirits Group has announced double digit organic volume growth with total sales volumes of 162.4 million litres in 2010.

UK spirits group Ian Macleod Distillers has recorded a 41% profit, buoyed by the growth of Glengoyne single malt whisky.