Breaking bread with Altamura
Frank Grillo created his Altamura vodka to showcase the flavour of the special wheat that is its base.
Troy Arquiza: tradition and innovation
Troy Arquiza outlines how, as global master blender for Bacardi, he has access to a wealth of historical knowledge to help shape rum’s future.
The bartending renaissance of amaro
Oli Dodd looks at the long tradition of amaro and how bartenders the world over are modernising and expanding the category.
A new nation of rum distillers
A growing band of rum makers are putting Britain on the map – with a remit to steer the category into exciting new waters.
Steady recovery gives hope for 2024
How will the travel retail drinks sector remember 2023? Joe Bates reviews the highs and lows of an eventful 12 months.
The rise of African rum
Tyler Zielinski discovers a whole new world of production across the continent.
A new nation of rum distillers
A growing band of rum makers are putting Britain on the map – with a remit to steer the category into exciting new waters.
Jassil Villanueva Quintana: a world of flavour
Oli Dodd hears how Brugal maestra ronera Jassil Villanueva Quintana perfected a new process of aromatic cask toasting.
What’s brewing in world beer
Eleanor Yates finds that, while it’s not without its challenges, beer globally is generating some interesting reasons for optimism.
How vermouth became versatile
The craft drinks movement has brought excitement and quality into the fortified, aromatised wine sector.
American zest for limoncello
Italian producers don’t see California’s offerings as a threat, but Americans are embracing home-grown versions of the lemon liqueur.
Aquavit: spirit of the Nordics
Shay Waterworth dives into Norway’s aquavit pool and finds producers striking out to gain greater global recognition.
Spanish brandy: forward-thinking brands hit the mark
Spanish brandy is a big hitter despite a history lacking in marketing. But Shay Waterworth finds a sector that’s brimming with innovation today.
Italy battles vineyard challenges
Italian wine output is dropping, but producers are finding ways to mitigate the damage caused by climate change and fungal disease in the vineyards.
Regenerating French brandy
St-Rémy master blender Cécile Roudaut is on a mission to modernise a well-known but misunderstood category.
Growth slows for RTDs
As the rate of growth declines, premiumisation and cocktails take the lead in a still-healthy sector. Eleanor Yates reports.
Widespread response to tackle climate change
Across the drinks world, producers are instigating regenerative and sustainable farming practices. Shay Waterworth reports on some of the vital initiatives taking place.
Duty free back with a bang at upbeat Cannes show
With more exhibitor space, buyers and landlords than ever before, last month’s TFWA World Exhibition showed an industry with renewed momentum.
Marc Álvarez: Sipping the best
His bar may have been named the World’s Best, but Sips co-owner Marc Álvarez is not languishing. He shares with Oli Dodd how he plans to keep pursuing his dreams.
Alexander Stein on shaking up Armagnac
At the end of 2021 Alexander Stein, founder of Monkey 47, acquired a majority stake in Société des Produits d’Armagnac from Pernod Ricard with the aim of restoring Marquis de Montesquiou to its former glory.
Michele Mariotti on high life in the Highlands
Managing 11 outlets across a single estate is no mean feat, and factoring in sustainability and locality adds to the enormity of the task. Gleneagles head of bars Michele Mariotti talks Oli Dodd through the job.
An analysis of The World's 50 Best Bars 2023
Hamish Smith provides the annual analysis of how this year’s World’s 50 Best Bars list has panned out.
Whisky: should beauty come before age?
The whisky sector could be missing out on some fine liquids by sticking to current age regulations.
Slow China bounce back fails to stall duty free recovery
The duty free drinks sector has continued to recover and premiumise after Covid despite the slow recovery of Chinese international travel.
RTDs take off in travel environment
Pre-mixed drinks have come a long way since their sugary-sweet inception, and their journey continues as demand soars among voyagers.
Port under pressure in biggest market
Taylor’s Port boss Adrian Bridge talks Oli Dodd through the ramifications of the recent UK duty hikes for the fortified wine.
Weather blesses champagne harvest
While extremes of heat and plentiful rain have caused disasters around the world, producers of champagne are celebrating a bumper harvest.
GN Chan on winning Altos Bartenders’ Bartender 2023
GN Chan, co-founder of New York’s Double Chicken Please has been named the winner of Altos Bartenders’ Bartender Award 2023 ahead of The World’s 50 Best Bars announcement next month in Singapore.
New World rye strikes a chord
The American whiskey style has seen a boost in its fortunes in the US, and now it’s catching the eye of distillers across the globe.
Mixers think pink
Producers are innovating in mixers as they attempt to tap into new drinking trends. Eleanor Yates rounds up the latest additions.
Amaretto: beyond the Sour
Clinton Cawood finds producers are pushing forward with new and innovative serves for classic Italian liqueur amaretto.
Britain’s white rum revival
Rum tends to be associated with the Caribbean, but UK-made spirit has a long history and is now being revived.
New takes on cachaça
Sorrel Moseley-Williams finds bartenders experimenting to expand the use of Brazil’s national spirit beyond the Caipirinha.
Has the UK gin bubble burst?
The huge boom in UK gin sales is levelling off, with even the big-name brands experiencing sales slumps.
English wine: the new Champagne?
Investment, improved equipment, a warming climate – much has happened in recent years to elevate the quality and profile of English wine, particularly its fizz.
Bruichladdich: swimming against the tide
Bruichladdich’s packaging has undergone a radical overhaul, driven by environmental concerns. Global marketing director Gareth Brown discusses with Oli Dodd the unique challenges of an island such as Islay.
Why can’t Northern Ireland benefit from duty free bonanza?
Belfast International Airport has not been able to cash in on the return of duty free after Brexit but elsewhere the summer travel season was a soaraway success.
Neal Bodenheimer on taking Tales from the brink to the world
Hamish Smith speaks to Neal Bodenheimer, board member and co-resurrector of Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans.
Global inflation hinders GTR recovery
Macroeconomic forces are slowing the recovery of the travel retail drinks business, leading brands to rethink their strategies towards the channel.
The juicy story of cane juice rums
Matt Pietrek explores the intricate and fascinating world of molasses-alternative rums.
Athens cocktail culture: Acropolis now
The capital of Greece may be best known for its historical ruins, but the thriving bar scene has brought it bang up to date in the cocktail pantheon.
Rye whiskey’s revival
Recently on the verge of disappearing, rye whiskey is back winning hearts and minds thanks largely to the cocktail culture revival.
Prosecco: a sparkler of distinction
Eleanor Yates looks at how prosecco producers are working to differentiate their wines from other bubblies.
RTD format suits vodka
As the spirit’s cache wanes – especially in the States – the ready-to-drink format is proving a positive space for its mixed offerings.
Amaro regains the spotlight
Shay Waterworth finds an ancient Italian drink style is enjoying a resurgence globally, with modernism meeting tradition as new brands emerge.
Louis XIII: creation of a lasting legacy
Luxury and sustainability are a common juxtaposition but for Louis XIII, one of the most exclusive cognac brands in the business, the two concepts are being aligned.
Tony Chvala: spreading the word
When the producers of a new mastiha brand wanted to get the word out to the right people, they called on a man with a history of doing just that – only he hadn’t worked in drinks before.
Celebrity tequila - the long term effects
While they put a focus on the spirit, some experts believe the explosion of brands backed by famous faces does the category and quality expectations no favours.
What makes a member of Bar World 100?
Hamish Smith drills down into the results and how they reflect what’s important to the bar industry.
Rémy Cointreau brings in new travel retail boss
Rémy Cointreau and Whyte & Mackay have both named new duty free heads as the peak summer travel season heralds a flurry of new exclusives.