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. 

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.