It’s been a sobering quarter for hard seltzer. Sales of the canned RTD that disrupted the US alcohol market when it burst onto the scene in 2016, have for the first time, stalled.

In late 2020 the US Food & Drug Administration sent out a warning letter to Red Moon Herbs in Asheville, North Carolina, after it claimed its adaptogenic products were intended to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagnose or cure Covid-19.

Geographical Indicators (GIs) are a hot topic in the global spirits industry, particularly in the Caribbean. Shay Waterworth investigates.

The volatile symptoms of climate change are looming larger over the wine world, Oli Dodd investigates.

Israeli firm Ripples has launched a next-generation hardware device that prints selfies and logos on the tops of cocktails, beers and coffees.

Outside I’ve got a five-litre, left-hand drive Mustang. That’s right, I watched The High Chaparral, I love everything American. So to make an American whiskey was a dream come true.”

Brits love Rioja – they’re recognisable, affordable, easy to purchase, delicious to drink, and great with foods all year round. While Tempranillo is a core mainstay for Rioja, there’s so much more to the wines from this region, with winemakers working hard to develop more innovative premium wines at all price levels.

There’s a buzz about Italian spirits in many markets. Campari and Aperol are kicking up a storm in aperitif drinking occasions through spritz and other mixer serves, while amaro is getting some love on the back of the wider trend for herbal, digestif-style liqueurs.

Global alcohol consumption is expected to increase by 2.9% this year, according to new IWSR projections. Martin Green reports.

Drinks international catches up with the founder of The Emissary Prosecco, Ed Smith, to find out whether talk of a Rosé Prosecco shortage is cause for concern.

Stars continue to flock to give their endorsement to 100% agave brands, but sustainability has become an issue as consumer demand has risen.

Shay Waterworth talks to brothers Bernard and Richard d’Offay about their Takamaka rum brand as it hits the ripe age of 20.

When Stephen Davies arrived at Penderyn in 2004, the Welsh whisky industry had lain dormant for almost a century. Nowadays it’s an established category with a growing reputation for quality.

Beam Suntory marked Earth Day 2021 by announcing a $1bn investment in making the business more sustainable. Bacardi took the opportunity to introduce fully biodegradable plant polymer bottles, while Carlsberg announced that it would invest in restoring coastal biodiversity.

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

Diageo shareholders were toasting chief executive Ivan Menezes after he said they can expect to receive billions of pounds in share buybacks or special dividends. The Smirnoff, Johnnie Walker and Guinness producer announced that organic profit should grow by at least 14% in the year to 30 June.

While the pandemic has been felt universally, the unevenness of lockdown restrictions has lent wildly different experiences to bar owners and cocktail drinkers around the globe.

The global economy is now expected to grow by 6% this year after developed nations ramped up the Covid-19 vaccination drive, according to the International Monetary Fund.

“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.

Pisco has seen its share of damage throughout the pandemic, with both Peru and Chile taking a hit on harvests and exports. But there is light ahead, as Shay Waterworth reports.

A synchronised sigh of relief was heard right across the Armagnac region last year as the news broke of Donald Trump’s defeat in the US election.

Like other categories, mixers have had to look at the way they operate. Oli Dodd reports on recent trends and what’s in store ahead.

While New Zealand has managed the pandemic better than most, a lack of tourism and difficulties with shipping have taken a toll on wine sales. Martin Green reports.

Plans to protect the reputation of Japanese whisky have been unveiled, but do they go far enough? Shay Waterworth looks at the implications.

A U-turn on regulations for mezcal has left producers confused about quality control. Shay Waterworth reports.

Silent Pool distillery manager Tom Hutchings was handed the Rising Star award at the International Spirits Challenge 2020 after impressing an esteemed panel of voters.

A luxury online wine retailer has enjoyed a surge in demand after the value of Bitcoin increased by around 1,000%.

Ecommerce has broken into markets that barely knew it existed pre-pandemic - and forcasts for the alcohholic drinks sector are very positive. Martin Green reports.

Surging sales in the US and Canada will drive the global drinks industry to a better than expected performance in 2020, according to new IWSR forecasts.

Throughout the 18th and 19th century barrels of cognac were shipped across the world on huge sailing boats for months at a time to reach all corners of the Earth.

The case for Irish whiskey being the most exciting whiskey category globally gets stronger every year - and it is by no accident, says GreatDrams founder Greg Dillon.

The global alcoholic drinks industry will take at least four years to return to the level of volume sales seen before the Covid-19 pandemic, according to IWSR.

Language has immense power. It can start wars and broker peace; it can convey truth and espouse lies; it can lead to both understanding and misunderstanding. For rum, semantics is a particularly sore subject.

Mezcal is still in its infancy with consumers, so is it a good time to move to flavoured version, asks Shay Waterworth.

Following the recent International Women’s Day celebrations, one of the topics that has been highlighted is the neglect of women in the craft beer industry.

Irish whiskey is one of the most talked about spirits categories in the world – with a history dating back to the 12th century it is one of the oldest too.

Bailey Pryor, founder of The Real McCoy Rum which is produced at Foursquare Distillery in Barbados, has voiced concerns over opposition to Barbadian rum Geographic Indication proposals.

Vinexpo’s first event in the French capital is already causing a stir as visitors and exhibitors count down the days, Christian Davis reports

Champagne has been going through a period of fundamental change over the past couple of years.

Angel Brown caught up with co-creator of the Smoky Signature Mixer, Max Venning. 

Design has a big impact on what people chose to drink and Rowena Curlewis, CEO of drinks design specialist Denomination, discusses the key factors which brands must consider in order to appeal to a wider range of consumers.

In May this year The Coca-Cola Company launched a range of mixers for Europe – Coca-Cola Signature Mixers, created by five leading bartenders and specifically designed to be mixed with dark spirits. 

It’s time drinks producers woke up to the benefits of good packaging design, says Philip Duff

It must be a bit of blow for Moët-Hennessy to lose their highest profile head winemaker, Dominique Demarville so soon after the retirement of the experienced Richard Geoffroy at Dom Pérignon.

John Downe MW on how the non-drinking generations are shaping a lower-alcohol industry

There’s a huge trend in the drinks world right now: people are drinking less - and brands are investing and innovating to serve this market, Dan Hooper, co-founder at YesMore explores.

When you get an invitation to be part of the “first ever whisky tasting in a decommissioned nuclear reactor, under the city of Stockholm”, it does make you sit up and take notice.

Drinks brands looking to broaden consumer appeal and user occasions should look to other categories - Denomination's Margaret Nolan.

The Balvenie recently launched its new range of single malts called Stories, Ian Buxton explores the latest expressions.

When cocktail royalty such as Alex Kratena and Monica Berg start adopting a particular serve approach, chances are it’s going to be big. Shay waterworth reports