Following the success of his Champagne and rosé wines, actor Idris Elba announced the addition of Porte Noire Cognac to his growing portfolio.

Earlier this year hundreds of global industry figures gathered in Schiedam to bid farewell to De Kuyper Royal Distillers’ Mark de Witte, who retired after nine years as chief executive at the company. 

After nearly two centuries, Speyside’s Cabrach Distillery has begun distillation of its first single malt whisky at its new distillery.

The Wine and Spirit Education Trust (WSET), has announced the appointment of Regine Lee MW to its board of trustees.

The Madrid Edition is set to host a series of events throughout the duration of The World’s 50 Best Bars celebrations this October.

To celebrate its 100th anniversary, The Gleneagles Hotel in Scotland has partnered with Glenfiddich to launch a 49-year-old single malt.

La Martiniquaise’s Label 5 whisky has introduced its first flavoured spirit drink, Original Citrus.

Spanish wine brand Perelada will host the first Symposium of Mediterranean Wines on 24 March 2025.

The Pinnacle Guide has revealed the latest additions to its list of pinned bars, as it marks a milestone with the first-ever three Pin bar.

Ardbeg Distillery is reviving its 17 Years Old in a limited edition shared exclusively with the Ardbeg Committee.

RTD and hard seltzer brand, White Claw, has released its first vodka in the UK, launching nationwide next month.

Viña Concha y Toro has achieved the re-certification as a B Corporation, which recognises those companies that meet high standards of environmental, governance and social performance.

BrewDog has opened its first bar in Thailand as part of its international expansion drive having already opened venues in Perth, Rotterdam and Denver this year.

The Labour Party’s plan for UK high streets aims to replace the business rates system, cutting energy bills and giving communities the ‘right to buy’ community assets, like pubs.

Treasury Wine Estates and rapper Snoop Dogg have expanded their collaborative wine portfolio with the launch of Cali Blanc.

The first set of Pinnacle Guide ‘Pins’ have been announced with 37 bars across seven countries making it onto the initial honours list.

Label 5 blended Scotch whisky has launched its first single grain whisky which will initially roll out in the UK market.

Independent bottler Douglas Laing & Co has entered the single malt market with the launch of its non-age statement Strathearn single malt.

Having worked for three decades as head distiller of Diageo’s Don Julio, maestro tequilero Enrique de Colsa has partnered with The Lost Explorer to create its first tequila line.

Pernod Ricard reported a -3% decline of both organic sales and organic profit from recurring operations for the first half of the financial year 2024.

FoodNews Creative Marketing Agency is launching the first edition of the Spirit of Craft Awards (SOCraft Awards).

Asahi Europe and International (AEI) has announced the acquisition of Octopi Brewing, with plans to brew Asahi Super Dry in the US for the first time.

Johnnie Walker owner Diageo is expecting to see a decline in profit in the first half of fiscal 2024, due to a “weaker performance” in Latin America and Caribbean (LAC). 

BrewDog Distilling Co has released its first ever rum casks for sale as part of an annual online auction with specialist spirits auctioneer, Whisky Hammer. 

Bartender Ryan ‘Mr Lyan’ Chetiyawardana is joining forces with Whitebox Cocktails, the ready-to-pour cocktail brand founded by bartenders, to release three of his most known serves in a canned format.

Silverleaf bar at Pan Pacific London has launched its new menu, Building Blocks, the first new menu launch for the bar since opening in February 2022. 

Plantation Rum has launched ‘Sealander’, consisting of a blend of rums from Barbados, Mauritius and the Fiji Islands.

Spanish gin brand Puerto de Indias has announced its partnership for distribution in the UK with Love Drinks.

Bar Daskal, the London-based Spanish wine and cocktail bar from the team behind Barrafina, and restaurant booking platform Resy have announced the first Bar Daskal Maestros, a new series bringing guests masterclasses from maestros in the industry.

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London will partner with cocktail bar Himkok for a takeover experience on Wednesday 6 September from 7-10pm.

Desolas Mezcal has announced a new distribution partnership with Renaissance Wine Merchants to expand its footprint into Canada.

Molson Coors Beverage Company has reached an agreement to acquire Blue Run Spirits, producer of bourbon and rye whiskies.

Spiribam-UK and its fruit liqueur, eaux-de-vie and vermouth company, Joseph Cartron, have announced Daniel Seehuusen of Hotel Skansen, in Sweden as the global winner of its Unexpected Cartron Tour.

Korean soju brand Jinro has launched the first of three activations in Europe planned for 2023 after breaking 100m 9-litre cases.

Ferrari Trento has announced that Cyril Brun has joined the Italian sparkling wine brand located in Trentino, Italy, as cellar master.

This year, eight years after launching its Première Cuvée, Hambledon are releasing the first ever rosé version of this wine, its Première Cuvée Rosé. 

Drinks International can exclusively reveal that Baccarat Bar, located on the lower ground floor of Harrods, is launching its first new menu since opening its doors in July 2020. 

Elements of Islay is releasing its Beach Bonfire, a limited edition of 288 bottles which will be exclusively available at Islay’s festival Fèis Ìle on 26 May to 3 June 2023.

The South of Italy’s first-ever cocktail week is set to launch in Lecce from 15-21 May, where the city's best bars will team up with drinks brands to showcase the Leccese cocktail scene.

Mor Koral, founder of Cocktail Kitchen company in Tel Aviv, has been crowned global winner of the 2023 Patrón Perfectionists.

The annual list of The World’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will be unveiled as part of a live awards ceremony in Singapore at the Pasir Panjang power station on Tuesday, 17 October 2023.

Absolut expands its product portfolio as the company’s global NPD plans this year include two new product ranges and a new addition to its current flavour vodka range.

Five years on from its launch, Hampshire-based wine estate Black Chalk, has announced that from April it will be distributed in the US market for the first time, via Sera Wine Imports.

Irish spirits maker, The Boatyard Distillery, has announced it has earned B-Corporation certification.

Matugga Distillery has launched its private cask ownership programme, Pamoja, to the public, offering people the chance to tap into the emerging market of rum cask ownership.

Joseph Cartron is launching its first edition of the "Unexpected Cartron Tour", a cocktail competition for professional bartenders.

According to IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the first half of 2022 (H1) saw value growth of beverage alcohol reaching historic highs, driven by a combination of post-pandemic demand and price increases.

BrewDog Distilling Co, Scotland’s only carbon negative distillery, has announced its first ever whisky cask sale.

Tonic and mixer brand, Lixir, has announced its certification as a B Corporation, the first of its category in the UK to reach this status.