Pick of the Launches

05 May, 2016

Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International Magazine May edition.

The Gatekeeper

28 April, 2016

Dr Nick Morgan is Diageo’s head of whisky outreach. Who is he and what does that mean? Christian Davis meets the good doctor

Gavin D Smith explores the appeal and conflicts of the densely distillery-populated Scottish region.

Jamie Goode discovers a single varietal approach is revolutionising a wine style

Rum lightens up

21 April, 2016

It’s not all dark & stormy for rum – Holly Motion finds producers are aiming to wake up the spirit’s white side.

Got Carter

18 April, 2016

Ross Carter is the man who did the equivalent of Brexit to the London Wine Fair. He oversaw the dumping of the international element in favour of going it alone with domestic. Christian Davis meets the event director.

London Wine Fair

11 April, 2016

The London Wine Fair – now in its 36th year – will be held at London Olympia from May 3-5. Christian Davis previews the upcoming event

Vinitaly preview

04 April, 2016

How organiser Veronafiere is celebrating 50 years of Vinitaly, Italy’s leading showcase dedicated to wines and spirits, on April 10-13.

Pick of the Launches

04 April, 2016

Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International Magazine April edition.

Ready for anything

01 April, 2016

It’s not so long ago that pre-mixed cocktails were sneered at. But now it’s all about batching – and it’s all the rage. Holly Motion reports

Back up from Down Under

16 March, 2016

It may be a cliché to say that the Australian wine industry has been a victim of its own success but it does aptly sum up its situation. Christian Davis delves down under. 

The New Standard

16 March, 2016

Standard spirits sales are growing but small budgets mean its often up to the bottle to do the talking. Hamish Smith reports.

Rising to the Challenge

16 March, 2016

Joe Bates confronts some challenges facing the Americas duty free business ahead of the annual Iaddfs show.

Pick of the Launches

11 March, 2016

Here is the pick of the launches from last month, as featured in Drinks International Magazine March edition.

Jungle Juice

11 March, 2016

The liqueurs sector is like a jungle: full of different creatures. It’s a diverse environment where the one thing they have in common is a broad category classification. Christian Davis explores

The Educator

04 March, 2016

The Wine and Spirits Education Trust’s Ian Harris is a man on a mission. Disciple Christian Davis catches up with the missionary

Lowering the bar

26 February, 2016

Lower-alcohol wines are flourishing in some markets and languishing in others. Christian Davis reports

The commercialisation of craft

26 February, 2016

Craft spirits, so-called and authentic, are now ubiquitous. Hamish Smith discusses what this means for the term –  and what the term actually means

Going underground

19 February, 2016

After several years of top awards, critical acclaim and buoyant sales, Japanese whisky seems to have become a victim of its own success. Dominic Roskrow asks what’s happening next

Super Troopers

12 February, 2016

Does super-premium really earn its stripes over the spirits segments? Holly Motion investigates

Carnival Spirit

29 January, 2016

Brazil may be suffering economically, but its second sporting event in as many years is being hailed a great opportunity for its national spirit. Holly Motion reports

The rise and rise of ryes

21 January, 2016

That rye whisky is in high demand will come as news to no one. But as Dominic Roskrow reports, we ain’t seen nothing yet….

Sweet Solutions

15 January, 2016

With sugar under the cosh from the health lobby, bartenders and syrup producers are trying to find alternatives. Holly Motion catches up on the latest

Caap fits

07 January, 2016

Åsa Caap is the mastermind behind the Our/Vodka brand concept. Christian Davis Caught up with her in London to get the lowdown on how it all started

Cava fights back

07 January, 2016

Spain’s sparklers could be starting to claw their way out from under the shadow of Prosecco, reports Sarah Jane Evans MW

Time to fortify

23 December, 2015

Port is currently in good health but it needs to act now to ensure it survives warns Holly Motion  

Branded but not brandy

23 December, 2015

Many brandy producers’ entry level products are now falling into the spirit drinks category. Hamish Smith asks if this is a move in the right direction

Scandi Spirit

04 December, 2015

Whisky has survived choppy waters in scandinavia, and sales are holding up when compared to some other european markets. Dominic Roskrow reports

Rum’s got punch

24 November, 2015

Not for the first time, a growing number of retailers, distributors and drinks experts are predicting a bright future for premium rum in the United States. Dominic Roskrow asked a panel of experts for their thoughts

David Wondrich: Wonder Man

20 November, 2015

Hamish Smith drinks in some pearls of wisdom from the cocktail world’s top historian

Just the tonic

13 November, 2015

It’s reputedly the UK’s fastest growing soft drink and its pairing with the cool kid of craft – gin – has done it no harm whatsoever. So why is the drink that makes up three quarters of a G&T such a hard sell Stateside?

Mezcal: Freeing the spirit

11 November, 2015

Mezcal is a spirit steeped in the rituals of mexico’s ancients. Hamish smith discovers how it is finding its way in the modern world.

The South African wine industry has reached a crucial moment, according to the chairman of Wines  of South Africa. Christian Davis got a tip off and was there

Ethical Concept: Craft Vodka

22 October, 2015

Consumers love ‘craft’, but are producers abusing the notion? Holly Hotion investigates

Prickly subject

19 October, 2015

Fears of an agave shortage seem to be having no effect on tequila production as new markets open up and premium products find favour. Holly Motion reports

Washington state is a north American wine success story. But it is a wine region with a bit of an image problem of its own creation, finds Jamie Goode

Travel retail is a natural window to showcase champagne to the global community, says Giles Fallowfield

Highway to Heaven

15 October, 2015

Hamish smith talks to ‘Mr Mezcal’ Ron Cooper about art, smuggling and improving life in the Zapotec villages.

Dr Bill

25 September, 2015

Glenmorangie’s Bill Lumsden is to scotch whisky what Dr Who is to the BBC. Christian Davis travels to Ardbeg to meet the man who makes Glenmorangie and Ardbeg

Flavoured whisky: Honey Trap?

18 September, 2015

Is it a bird? Is it a plane? No, it’s just the latest spirit drink which we can’t call flavoured whisky but which prominently bears a major whisky brand on its label. Confused? Dominic Roskrow says you will be

New Zealand looks incapable of putting a foot wrong when it comes to its wines. And, with 2015 being hailed a near-perfect vintage, it is in a solid position to raise its already high prices globally as well as sell all its stocks. Jamie Goode reports

Liqueurs report: Packaging

27 August, 2015

Experts from design specialist Seymourpowell look at how aesthetics can drive sales

Whisky in the Eurozone

21 August, 2015

Europe’s single malt producers are demanding a place at whisky’s top table. But, as Dominic Roskrow reports, this is just the tip of a very large iceberg

Rum: Join the Dark Side

17 August, 2015

The dark rum category is benefiting from some tender loving care. Dominic Roskrow looks at how it’s targeting whisky and brandy as a premium spirit

While trading conditions in key markets are far from ideal, leading liqueur brands are stepping up their focus on travel retail, as Joe Bates reports

Cognac: Changing China

07 August, 2015

Cognac’s fall from grace amid China’s anti-austerity measures looks to now be in reverse. Richard Woodard reports

Profile: Neil Hirst

07 August, 2015

Christian Davis meets Neil Hirst, design director of 3D branding for packaging design specialists Seymourpowell

Rioja: Simple success

07 August, 2015

Rioja has never had it so good, says Adam Lechmere, and its producers plan to keep it that way by upping its image

Indian whisky

07 August, 2015

Slowly – very slowly – but surely, the various strands that make up the Indian whisky market are coming together. Could the sub-continent make a significant contribution to world whisky? asks Dominic Roskrow

Glass in hand, Fleur Disney sets off around London on a quest to track down evidence of the merging trend in exclusive vintage vodkas

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