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. 

Torres Brandy has revealed its first smoked brandy, the Torres 10 Smoked Barrel, a limited edition that will only be available for a short time. 

New Zealand spirits brand Scapegrace has announced the launch of a limited-edition range of single malts, the first whisky released by the brand.

The Spirit of Manchester Distillery has launched its first ever members’ club to give experimental drinkers and whisky enthusiasts the chance to follow the journey of the City’s first single malt English whisky, One Point Six, from cask to glass.

Bladnoch Distillery has announced the newest addition to its ‘Classic Collection’ of Lowland single malt scotch whiskies, Liora.

Both Jura and Jäegermeister have been crowned Supreme Champions at Drinks International’s Travel Retail Awards 2022.

The World’s 50 Best Bars has announced the 51-100 list ahead of next week’s ceremony in Barcelona.

Over the last few years, Kuala Lumpur has emerged as a cocktail city to watch. Drinks International caught up with Divyesh Chauhan, co-founder and director of JungleBird, one of the bars putting Malaysia’s capital on the bartending map.

WSET (the Wine & Spirit Education Trust) is to hold its first ‘virtual open house’ event on October 19 - 20 2022 as part of an ongoing drive to raise awareness of its qualifications within the global drinks trade. 

White Peak Distillery from Derbyshire, UK, is offering the last opportunity to own a bottle of its sell-out inaugural release of Wire Works Whisky via auction site Whisky Auctioneer.

Diablo, created by South American wine company Concha y Toro, has announced the arrival of two new wines to its portfolio.

The world’s number one selling spirit brand Jinro soju has announced it will be sponsoring Luno presents All Points East festival this month, the first time a Korean spirit brand has supported a major UK festival, making history for the global drinks market.

A strong performance in key markets saw Beam Suntory’s net sales increase by 13% year-on-year in the first half of 2022, a 25% increase on the pre-pandemic period in 2019.

Domaine Tariquet Pure Folle Blanche 15 ans has been named the Supreme Champion at the International Spirits Challenge 2022, becoming the first armagnac in ISC history to do so.

Mount Gay has announced its Mount Gay Silver blend is the first rum to be Bonsucro certified in Barbados.

Award-winning Parisian cocktail bar Le Syndicat has announced a series of takeovers by London’s Silverleaf and Mexico City’s Hanky Panky to coincide with the Cocktail Spirits show.

Diageo has announced a two-year partnership with Queer Britain in London, the UK’s first national LGBTQ+ museum.

Few drinks categories have seen as much start-up activity as alcohol-free spirits in recent times. Lyre’s chief executive Mark Livings concedes his brand was beaten to the market by the likes of Seedlip and others, but he’s convinced that rapid scaling, rather than being early to the game, holds the key to success.

Surging demand for premium spirits powered Pernod Ricard’s 17% year-on-year sales growth in the six months to December 31, 2021.

The world’s leading premium mixer brand, Fever-Tree, has become available in South Korea for the first time.

Our brandy category takes into account any brandy outside the Cognac region and embraces a hugely diverse collection of spirits.

Ahead of New Years Eve celebrations, South Africa ended restrictions on the sale of alcohol that have been in place since 27 March 2020.

Sales in the first nine months of 2021 of sparkling wines made under the protection of the DO Cava have increased by 16.45% on the same period in 2020.

Pernod Ricard has unveiled its new $150m malt whisky distillery called The Chuan in Emeishan, China.

Alcohol-free beer brand Lucky Saint plans to train hundreds of professionals across the hospitality and retail industry in Mental Health First Aid.

The Port of Leith Distillery company has launched a new white port alongside its Portuguese partner Martha’s Wines.

VSPT Wine Group has seen an 11% increase in sales for Q2 to maintain its number one spot in the Chilean market.

Campari Group has reported that organic sales increased 37.1% year-on-year during the first half of 2021.

Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson's Teremana Tequila has revealed the “Mana Mobile”, a tour bus set to embark on “The Great American Mana Mobile Road Trip” across the United States.

Nick Strangeway on the pros and cons for bartenders taking on an ambassadorial role in post-Covid times.

Diageo has become the first ever official spirits sponsor of the NFL.

Nick Strangeway looks at how travel restrictions have left a permanent impression on the global bar trade.

California is the latest major wine-producing region to struggle with Mother Nature after a drought emergency gripped the Golden State.

Pernod Ricard’s global sales have seen a 1.7% organic growth for the first nine months of FY21 which totalled €6,941m.

The Savoy in London has partnered with Bowmore single malt scotch whisky to launch the hotel’s first ever pop up terrace called Solas.

Beam Suntory has announced a £6m investment in the Glen Garioch distillery in Oldmeldrum, which will see the reintroduction of floor matings and installation of direct-fired heating.

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

Cocktail bar owners Allison Crawbuck and Rhys Everett have launched London’s first absinthe distillery in the heart of the East End.

Renowned bartender and vermouth producer Giancarlo Mancino has created the world’s first Vermouth Day to celebrate the fortified wine.

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.

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.

Bacardi has unveiled plans to put the world’s first 100% degradable spirits bottles on shelves and back bars by 2023.

Chivas Brothers has donated its digital advertising slot at Old Trafford to a motor neurone disease charity for the upcoming clash between Man Utd and Sheff Utd.

Bars have reopened across Italy after the government eased lockdown restrictions that have paralysed the economy over the past 10 weeks.

Danish brewer Carlsberg has reported its first quarterly sales decline in two years as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Hendrick’s Lunar Gin is the second limited edition release from master distiller Lesley Gracie’s Cabinet of Curiosities at the Hendrick’s Gin Palace, launching in the UK first. 

The new £2.5m Lakes Distillery will become the first whisky operation in the Lake District in more than 100 years, when it opens in December.