Pick of the Launches

19 February, 2018

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

Flight of reality

08 February, 2018

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

The no-low science bit

08 February, 2018

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.

New shoots

08 February, 2018

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.

India comes in from the cold

02 February, 2018

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.

The Fixer

02 February, 2018

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.

Pick of the Launches

25 January, 2018

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

Pick of the Launches

21 December, 2017

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

Life of Riley

14 December, 2017

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

Natural Causes

07 December, 2017

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

Generation Wine

07 December, 2017

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

Feeling Blue

01 December, 2017

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

Mixers up their game

01 December, 2017

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?

Seeds of change

13 November, 2017

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

Pick of the Launches

13 November, 2017

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

Well travelled

23 October, 2017

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.

True Craft

30 August, 2017

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

On trend

30 August, 2017

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.

Sensory perception

21 August, 2017

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

Pick of the Launches

14 August, 2017

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

Lauren Mote: Wordly Wise

08 August, 2017

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

Singular quality

01 August, 2017

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

Indian summer

31 July, 2017

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

Back to basics

17 July, 2017

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

Last call

10 July, 2017

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

Connoisseur

03 July, 2017

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

Pick of the Launches

03 July, 2017

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

Marlborough on a mission

29 June, 2017

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

Baijiu big spenders

28 June, 2017

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

Bourbon back in business

28 June, 2017

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

Americanisation is over

28 June, 2017

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

It’s all in the game

20 June, 2017

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

Pick of the Launches

12 June, 2017

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.

ISC Awards- Whiskies

05 June, 2017

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.

Old meets new

30 May, 2017

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.

Just in case

22 May, 2017

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

Globally local

19 May, 2017

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

An age-old question

10 May, 2017

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

Fighting talk

04 May, 2017

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

Pick of the Launches

26 April, 2017

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

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La'Mel Clarke

Service isn’t servitude: the skill of hosting

La’Mel Clarke, front of house at London’s Seed Library, looks at the forgotten art of hosting and why it deserves the same respect as bartending.

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