The Irish ambassador wasn’t just happy, he was positively beaming – and not just because he’d spent the previous hour sampling a range of whiskeys and other irish alcoholic drinks at the embassy in london.
Michter's retains top spot in Most Admired Whiskies 2024
Michter’s has retained its title as The World’s Most Admired Whiskey brand in the fourth edition of the annual top 50 list released by Drinks International.
Jackson Family Wines enters bourbon sector
US wine company Jackson Family Wines has entered the American whiskey category with the launch of its Stonestreet Kentucky Straight Bourbon.
American whiskey could face 50% EU tariffs from January
Distillers are calling for the permanent removal of EU imposed “debilitating tariffs” on American whiskey, which are scheduled to be reimposed and doubled to 50% on 1 January 2024.
Buffalo Trace Distillery announces London location
Buffalo Trace Distillery, distiller of brands including Buffalo Trace Bourbon and Sazerac Rye, has announced the forthcoming opening of Buffalo Trace Distillery London, an American whiskey experience in Covent Garden.
Sazerac Company named American Whiskey producer of the year
For the fourth year in a row, Buffalo Trace owner, Sazerac Company, has been named American Whiskey Producer of the Year by Drinks International’s International Spirits Challenge (ISC).
Brown-Forman announces Slovakia distribution business
American drinks group Brown-Forman has announced the launch of its own distribution business in Slovakia, bringing distribution in-house for the first time since the company entered the market.
Pernod Ricard buys majority stake in Skrewball whiskey
Pernod Ricard USA has announced the acquisition of a majority stake in peanut butter-flavored American whiskey brand Skrewball.
US spirits exports reach $2.06bn
A new report by the Distilled Spirits Council of the United States (DISCUS) has revealed that total US spirits exports reached a record $2.06bn in 2022, buoyed by the temporary halt to retaliatory tariffs, with American whiskey exports to the UK remaining lower than pre-tariff levels.
Bushmills Irish Whiskey has unveiled the tenth and final release from its current Causeway Collection, a 33 Year Old Port Cask, to be sold exclusively in World Duty-Free’s stores at Heathrow Airport.
Shortbarrel Bourbon acquires Atlanta’s Old Fourth Distillery
Atlanta-based Shortbarrel has announced the acquisition of the Old Fourth Distillery, the oldest continuously operating distillery in Atlanta, US.
Fercullen Irish Whiskey introduced to the US
Fercullen Irish Whiskey from the Powerscourt Estate will now be available across the US as a result of a new distribution partnership with Zamora Company USA.
Brands Report 2023: World Whiskies
Japanese brands take the big plaudits, with Nikka toppling Suntory a year after the reverse happened.
Brands Report 2023: Irish Whiskey
The revival of this category has been much talked about, but the leader is ahead by quite some margin.
Brands Report 2023: American Whiskey
There’s a return to the top spot after a three-year hiatus, but the brands remain largely unchanged from last year.
Campari Group acquires a stake in Howler Head whiskey
Campari Group has acquired an initial 15% interest in Howler Head Kentucky straight bourbon whiskey, after the signing and closing of an agreement with Catalyst Spirits.
Jack Daniels launches two new whiskey expressions
The Jack Daniel Distillery has introduced two additions to its core range, Jack Daniel’s Bonded and Jack Daniel’s Triple Mash.
Sazerac Company acquires Lough Gill Distillery
Hazelwood Demesne Limited, owner of the Lough Gill Distillery in Sligo, has announced its acquisition by the Sazerac Company to develop the historical site.
Building Whiskey Bridges
Trade disputes resulting in crippling tariffs have been lifted after four years, but will America and its export countries find a permanent peace?
The Dubliner Irish Whiskey has announced the launch of a new cinnamon and chilli flavoured whiskey liqueur variant.
The Irishman Whiskey announces bottle redesign with the release of new range of single malts
Walsh Whiskey has announced the release of new additions to The Irishman’s range of Irish single malt whiskey, featuring a new bottle design.
Pernod Ricard UK has expanded its American whiskey portfolio with Rabbit Hole making the UK the first European market to launch the brand.
Brands Report 2022: Irish whiskey
If you had to bet your house on one brand topping a list, it would probably be Jameson in the Irish whiskey category.
Brands Report 2022: American whiskey
Diageo’s Bulleit just about retained its position as the bestselling American whiskey in the World’s Best Bars.
Alex Thomas named Bushmills master blender
Bushmills has appointed Alex Thomas as master blender at The Old Bushmills Distillery working across the entire portfolio and product development.
WSTA calls for immediate end to US whiskey tariff
The Wine and Spirit Trade Association has called for the UK government to swiftly remove tariffs on US whiskies.
Diageo becomes first spirits sponsor of the NFL
Diageo has become the first ever official spirits sponsor of the NFL.
European Union suspends tariffs on American whiskey
The European Union has announced that it will temporarily suspend its tariff increase on American whiskey in an effort to reboot transatlantic relations.
Dr Jack Ó’Sé: Irish whiskey's secret gem
“There aren’t many 70 year olds that get PhDs,” says Dr Jack Ó’Sé, one of the most understated members of the Irish whiskey industry.
Buffalo Trace launches second line of Kosher whiskeys
Buffalo Trace has released its annual supply of Kosher whiskey which is set to arrive at retail in May this year.
BR Distilling gains Texas distribution deal
BR Distilling Company in Memphis, US, has gained distribution across Texas as part of its rapid domestic expansion.
Midleton Very Rare 2021 unveiled
Kevin O’Gorman has unveiled his first Midleton Very Rare expression since taking over as master distiller at Irish Distillers.
Daddy Rack whiskey gets UK distribution deal
Daddy Rack, an original Tennessee straight small batch whiskey, has launched in Scotland with plans for a wider UK roll out in March.
Michter’s has released its US*1 Toasted Barrel Finish Rye 2020 in the UK.
Walsh Whiskey expands into eight countries in Eastern Europe
Walsh Whiskey has appointed six new distributors in Eastern Europe in a bid to capitalise upon strong growth in the region.
Irish whiskey trade group names new chairman
Tullamore DEW brand ambassador John Quinn has been named the new chairman of trade group Drinks Ireland | Irish Whiskey Association.
Jack Daniel's appoints Chris Fletcher as master distiller
Jack Daniel’s has announced that Chris Fletcher will take over from the outgoing Jeff Arnett as master distiller of the Tennessee whiskey brand.
The US government has announced that the existing 25% tariffs will remain on single malt Scotch for the foreseeable future.
American whiskey exports to EU have decreased by a third since the bloc imposed a 25% retaliatory tariff in June 2018.
Budweiser and Beam come together
AB InBev and Beam Suntory have announced a marketing collaboration between their Budweiser and Jim Beam brands.
Brands Report: Irish Whiskey
The growing Irish Whiskey category gets its first page to itself this year. Hamish Smith explains why
Brands Report: American Whiskey
Diageo’s Bulleit holds both top spots for the third year running. Shay Waterworth reports
Irish whiskey maker receives €20m from UK firms
Irish company Renegade Spirits has received €20m of funding from UK banks to support production of single malt whiskey at its Waterford distillery.
Method and Madness new Irish whiskeys
Irish Distillers has launched a range of whiskeys aimed at attracting non-whisk(e)y drinkers into the category.
Pernod Ricard to invest €10m in capacity at Midleton distillery
Pernod Ricard has announced a €10.5 million investment in increasing Irish Distillers’ single pot still Irish whiskey capacity by more than 30%
Huxley Rare Genus Whiskey
Diageo’s Whiskey Union team is about to launch a third new whiskey – Huxley Rare Genus Whiskey.
Walsh whiskey opens €25m distillery
A new €25 million distillery with a capacity of 2.5m litres of pure alcohol (LPA’s) or 8m bottles/650,000 cases, has been officially opened in County Carlow, Ireland.
Helms is Brown-Forman's GTR marketing director
Brown-Forman has announced that Eric Helms has become marketing director for its Global Travel Retail division.
Balcones opens new distillery
Waco craft whisky distiller Balcones has a new distillery site, in what was formerly the old four-story Texas Fireproof Storage Building.
Bacardi buys a bourbon
Bacardi's purchase of Angel’s Envy marks the company’s entry into the bourbon category of the North American whiskey sector.