Mount Gay master blender Allen Smith is a history buff whose own ancestorial history is hidden from him. He talks to Hamish Smith about his love for the past and how he came to rum

Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International magazine February edition

Drinks International ‘newbie’ Shay Waterworth recounts his experience of undertaking the WSET Level 2 Award in Spirits.

Low and no-alcohol wines were once horrible parodies of the real thing. not any more, writes Jamie Goode.

Drinks International’s annual Pre-Mixed Drinks Challenge reflected the fast pace at which this sector is growing. Shay Waterworth reports.

Finally getting its own craft segment, vodka is taking cues from wine and championing the terroir of its base as a flavour provider. Shay Waterworth grows the theory.

Indian whisky producers are becoming increasingly confident as drinkers recognise the spirits for their quality. now, says Dominic Roskrow, they’re set to take the next step up.

South African drinks company Distell has always seemed a bit of a sleeping giant. Christian Davis meets Fraser Thornton, the man tasked with changing that, certainly in Europe.

Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International magazine January edition

Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International magazine December edition

Christian Davis meets Martin Riley, an experienced marketer who has overseen some of the most significant spirits renaissances, including those of Jameson and Chivas Regal

Despite being in the grip of drought, South Africa’s wineries are continuing to create excitement with innovation, diversity and tourism. by Christian Davis

Kathy Chin Leong heads to Napa to discover how millennials are interacting with wine and how wineries are capitalising on their behaviour

A shortage of the plant that’s behind all tequila means the 100% agave sector faces price and quality challenges. Shay Waterworth reports

As consumers become increasingly hooked on product provenance, premium mixers are tapping into the trend. By Tracy West

Zoe Brown, head of account management at BD Network explores how drinks brands are extending summer momentum through to winter as we head towards the festive season.

There are trends pushing the popularity of 100% agave tequilas in Europe – but at what cost to the supply of agave? And does an agave-rich tequila guarantee quality or are consumers overpaying for marketing?

Ben Branson, the creator of non-alcoholic spirit seedlip talks to Hamish Smith about nature, nurture and the lure of home

Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International magazine November edition

Despite worldwide challenges, it’s been an upbeat time for champagne in duty free, reports Giles Fallowfield

Angel Brown caught up with Italian Icons MD at Gruppo Campari, Andrea Neri in the Armida Rowing Club, Turin.

With its small-scale production and insistence on traditional methods, armagnac can lay claim to truly being the original ‘craft’ spirit. Shay Waterworth visited 11 producers in gascony to find out how history is meeting modernity

Angel Brown compiles the experts’ views on what is hot and what is not in the world of bartending today

Doomsday is upon us. On August 2 this year, the human race used more resources from nature than earth can renew in a complete year. And to think the population is now 7.5bn and still increasing is terrifying. But let’s look at some positives.

A new story is unfolding for vodka as country of origin gains importance. Ian Wisniewski uncovers Poland’s unique flavour profile

Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International magazine August edition

Lauren Mote has been appointed Diageo’s first cocktailian, charged with spreading the word about cocktails to a global audience. Hamish Smith meets Canada’s finest

The Rioja Consejo has agreed to a single vineyard designation. Christian Davis reports

Despite its overall size and projected long-term growth, Indian Whisky faced difficulties last winter and this spring. Hamish Smith reports on improved prospects this summer

James Harmer of Touch packaging innovation explores the potential benefits for brands via technology-led packaging and smartphones.

It’s been a runaway success, but the craft beer movement can’t rest on its laurels. Shay Waterworth takes a look at the direction it might be heading in

Bitters were the original cocktail ingredient and, with the return to ingredients with provenance, they are reclaiming their space on the back bar. Dominic Roskrow reports

In the final leg of the annual judging, seven categories were tasted in the final marathon session. Shay Waterworth reports

Cono Sur is the star turn of chilean wine brands. Christian Davis meets its CEO and chief winemaker, Adolfo Hurtado

Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International magazine July edition

This New Zealand region is best known for its Sauvignon Blanc, but it’s now making pinot noir that justifies itself as a quality red partner. Jamie Goode reports

Former China resident and DI reporter Shay Waterworth has experienced the world’s largest spirit, baijiu, first hand. He gives us his take on this unwieldy yet mysterious category

An old spirit by any measure, bourbon is reinventing itself for the millennial generation. Ian Buxton reports

Illva Saronno, the Italian drinks producer, recently staged a business conference in China with its joint venture partner, Chinese wine producer Changyu. Christian Davis was there

Shay Waterworth teams up with veteran winemaker David Baverstock to find out what it is about Portugal that has kept him there for 35 years

Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International magazine June edition

Drinks International guest writer Helen Saunders, head of intelligence and operations at brand protection company INCOPRO, gives her insight into the counterfeiting of alcohohol in China.

Homer Simpson and Peter griffin are classic cartoon characters that have dominated TV screens for the past 20 years.

Scotch again proved the biggest winner on its home turf as a record number of whiskies from around the world lined up on the tasting table. Shay Waterworth was at Edinburgh’s scotch whisky experience for the ISC event.

It was inevitable – vermouth is the latest category to be revived through the craft movement. Jaq Bayles reports on how modern twists are making big names sit up.

The Nordic countries like their whisky. mostly scotch but also others – including now their very own. Christian Davis reports

The London Wine Fair brings producers from across the globe together under one roof. Shay Waterworth previews

Ian Buxton takes a trip around the smaller and lesser-known distilleries of Scotland’s outlying islands where producers battle the elements to make some of the country’s finest whisky

The lack of legal definitions around rum see some producers deceiving consumers with their claims, finds Holly Motion

Hamish Smith meets one of Mexican culture’s greatest proponents and finds there’s more to Tomas Estes than meets the eye