Whisky and sherry have long worked in harmony when it comes to cask ageing, but that relationship is being threatened. By Shay Waterworth
Sparkling Rioja: The forgotten fizz
Cava is dominante in Spain, but Shay Waterworth looks at the potential for sparkling Rioja both domestically and overseas.
UK whisky distillers making the case for rye
Some UK distilleries are starting to embrace rye as their consumers seek new profiles. Eleanor Yates reports
Age statement whiskey and the tariffs dilema
Age statement American whiskeys have finally caught up on demand, but is the timing unfortunate? Shay Waterworth find out.
Bringing Jamaican rum home
Producers are keen to protect their spirit and define what makes it belong to Jamaica with agreed changes to the GI – but some are seeking to fight the move. Eleanor Yates reports
UK whisky and gin producers will be cheering after last month’s landmark agreement between the two countries, but what does this blockbuster deal mean for India’s growing airport retail business? Joe Bates investigates
Schweppes Pioneers launches worldwide
The mixer brand has recruited a star-studded line-up of bartenders to take the message of its advocacy programme to bars around the world. Oli Dodd reports
Chile bucks wine trends
Shay Waterworth finds that, with export volume and value growth up, Chile stands out as a positive in the current global wine story
Penfolds’ chief winemaker Peter Gago tells Shay Waterworth how having the ability to experiment has allowed the brand to produce wines that ‘push the limits of possibility’.
Optimism for New Zealand wine amid export woes
Sustainability is the key to future-proofing New Zealand wine, according to a new report. Shay Waterworth has the details
Về Để Đi : Vietnam’s entry into New World whisky
“I had always wanted to make whisky and ended up in Vietnam, and realised there wasn’t a whisky distillery here,” Dr Michael Rosen, co-founder of Hanoi-based distillery Về Để Đi, told Drinks International.
As political and economic volatility rages, travel retail industry eyes turn to this month’s TFWA Asia Pacific Exhibition in Singapore, writes Joe Bates
Cognac’s tariffs crisis
With its two main export markets putting up barriers to trade, cognac and the thousands who rely on it for their livelihood face tough times. Oli Dodd analyses the situation for the country’s spirit powerhouse
ISC at 30: Whisky's oldest tasting competition
As the International Spirits Challenge hits a milestone, Oli Dodd asks some of the most respected whisky judges for their thoughts on how the competition has evolved and why it is so important.
The battle of the wine expos
Vinexpo has stolen a march on competitor Prowein by creating a Paris-based event that many visitors find more pocket-friendly, finds Shay Waterworth
How Bols is building after 450 years
With new expressions and an ongoing search for acquisitions, the Netherlands-based liqueurs company is not resting on tradition. Eleanor Yates catches up with chief executive-elect Frank Cocx.
Major threats to global wine production
Annual report highlights worrying trends across wine production, but a united front is urged as the way forward. Shay Waterworth reports
The cocktail bitters pushing flavour boundaries
Cocktail bitters may have been around for a long time, but now they are really coming into their own as flavour imparters in the cocktail canon thanks to innovation and new producers. Shay Waterworth reports
Championing craft spirits in India
Indian single malt whisky is receiving heavy investment from the industry’s major players, with an eye on the country’s burgeoning middle class.
How to harness the versatility of pisco
The grape brandy is more versatile than many give it credit for, and there are plenty of ways to harness that adaptability, finds Oli Dodd
Tonic water seeks new partners
Whether a new standalone flavour or as a mixer with spirits, tonic is finding matches well outside its traditional heartlands. Eleanor Yates reports
Cognac’s duty free dilemma in China-EU dispute
Cognac houses have been caught up in a high-stakes trade dispute which has blocked their access to one of the most lucrative markets, writes Joe Bates
The post-Soviet cocktail revival
Budapest resident Alia Akkam explores how cocktail culture in eastern Europe was reborn after the Cold War and collapse of Soviet Russia
The bar victims of Putin’s war
Hospitality venues in both Ukraine and Russia have been casualties of the ongoing invasion, yet bars on both sides continue the fight to safeguard their futures. By Shay Waterworth
Del Maguey: family matters
As Steve Olson steps away from operations at Del Maguey, he tells Oli Dodd how the ‘family’ he has created through the brand will continue to thrive under Pernod Ricard
India’s once-banned spirit is making a comeback
India’s mahua has had a chequered history but is now enjoying a solid revival, as Eleanor Yates discovers.
Sake looks to reach new audiences with its premium styles
Continuing to grow its presence outside its domestic market, the Japanese rice wine is also hoping to attract more consumers to the higher end of its offering. By Shay Waterworth.
Low-alcohol wine has not attracted the same levels of interest as its counterparts in beer, but some major players in Spain are now stepping up their efforts to prove that good quality is achievable. Shay Waterworth reports
How Spiribam plans to grow agricole
Gregoire Gueden, Spiribam chief executive, tells Eleanor Yates how he plans to grow the sugarcane spirit
How South African wine is tackling a mountain of challenges
South Africa faces a particularly difficult set of issues to navigate, but it is managing to maintain quality in the vineyard while fighting back against climate issues, reports Oli Dodd
Geopolitics casts shadow over Americas travel retail market
This month’s Summit of the Americas remains a strong draw for the region’s duty free business leaders, but political tensions threaten international travel, says Joe Bates
Grand plans for Giffard liqueurs
Eleanor Yates hears about Giffard’s plans for the future from its new co-managing director
Anna Sebastian on empowering women in hospitality
Celebrate Her is a global community with over 400 members, and has been run as a non-profit organisation since 2020 to address the lack of visibility and support for women in the hospitality drinks industry.
Meet the women creating change in the hospitality industry
While drinks and hospitality can, for the most part, be a fun and exciting industry to work in, it’s not without its challenges.
Ladydragón: Female-owned tequila hits UK market
In line with International Women's Day, Drinks International caught up with the co-founders of Ladydragón Craft Tequila JC Cortez and Heather Ann.
Liqueurs are joining the low and no party
It's been a slow start for liqueurs in the low/no space, but a recent flurry of new brands has put paid to that. Shay Waterworth reports.
The mixers pushing the flavour frontier
Eleanor Yates finds consumers have a taste for unusual options to give their mixed spirits drinks added pep.
Ireland and the United States’ special bond is under threat
As president Trump wields his warnings of high tariffs on imports, Irish whiskey’s smaller producers are reassessing their position with the US. Shay Waterworth reports
The rise of Beaujolais Blanc
White wines from the Burgundy region are gaining wider recognition, and Beaujolais is well placed to capitalise on the shift, finds Eleanor Yates
Hainan’s problems signal a new era for Chinese travel shopping
As the Year of the Snake begins, Hainan’s once-thriving duty free sector faces mounting challenges, reflecting shifting consumer priorities and a rapidly evolving travel retail landscape.
Has the luxury whisky bubble burst?
While super-expensive bottles have lost some margin, there is still demand for the right offerings, as Shay Waterworth discovers.
What tariffs could mean for mezcal
Agave spirits are in Trump’s firing line in his crusade against Mexico.
Trump’s tariff war provides spirits producers with a recurring nightmare
Trump’s threat to impose tariffs on imported spirits sees history repeating itself. How might distillers be affected this time around, asks Oli Dodd.
How can travel retail cope with the global challenges of 2025?
The New Year has kicked off with multiple challenges for the travel retail sector to address. Amid these headwinds, Joe Bates asks where the industry can look for growth
How Trump tariffs are changing Irish whiskey landscape
As president Trump wields his warnings of high tariff s on imports, Irish whiskey’s smaller producers are reassessing their position with the US. Shay Waterworth reports.
How the Negroni revolutionised the herbal liqueur category
Herbal bitters are having a moment, says Eleanor Yates, largely thanks to the flexible nature of one particular cocktail
How Indian single malt is conquering its domestic market
Demand for domestically produced single malts is rapidly rising as increasingly affluent consumers discover their quality. Oli Dodd reports.
Armagnac’s underrated potential
Armagnac does have its fans, but more needs to be done to elevate its position as a cocktail ingredient, says Shay Waterworth.
Waterford Whisky: the rise and fall of a great brand
Shay Waterworth turns to Irish whiskey expert Mark McLaughlin for some insight into Waterford’s demise.
Ron Matusalem: 150 years of history
Shay Waterworth traces the story of a family company which still honours its traditions of innovating today