A luxury online wine retailer has enjoyed a surge in demand after the value of Bitcoin increased by around 1,000% between March 2020 and January 2021.

Ardbeg 25 Years Old has become the oldest expression to join the Islay distillery’s permanent range.

Ibiza-based mobile bar company Southside Bars is now offering online cocktail masterclasses.

Remy Cointreau has reported 25.1% sales growth for the final three months of 2020.

A new hospitality support initiative has launched called A Shot In Time, which seeks to raise essential funding for the UK hospitality industry which has struggled financially since last March.

The Portman Group has warned the trade not to stock a CBD infused gin from Silent Pool called Colorado High.

Pernod Ricard has ramped up its focus on the low-alcohol category by launching 20% abv variants of Ballantine’s Scotch whisky and Beefeater gin.

The Drinks Trust has appointed Troy Christensen as its new chair of the Board of Trustees as well as three new patrons in Ian Burrell, Becky Paskin and Jaega Wise.

Walsh Whiskey has appointed six new distributors in Eastern Europe in a bid to capitalise upon strong growth in the region.

Global drinks industry data provider IWSR has purchased consumer insights firm Wine Intelligence for an undisclosed sum.

Fever-Tree has been named the number one tonic brand for the seventh year running and after a flurry of arrivals in recent years, the category is looking a little more settled. It’s always been the one mixer a bar can’t do without and in 2020, true to type, every bar polled stocked tonic water.

Women of the Vine & Spirits (WOTVS), an organisation dedicated to empowering and advancing women in the industry, has launched an online hub called Badass Bartender.

U.S. online retailer Wine.com has revealed that revenue increased 119% year-on-year to reach $329 million during 2020.

Miami-based wine and spirits distributor Webb Banks has appointed industry veteran Jose Castellvi to the newly created role of vice president for travel retail and spirits.

Drinks producers will be forced to close their doors and lay off staff after the U.S. ramped up its tariff war with the EU, trade associations have warned.

Premixed cocktail specialist World of Zing managed to sell more than 650,000 drinks in 2020 after successfully pivoting towards the at-home market.

Somerset brewery Yonder has launched two seasonal beers featuring ingredients foraged in the local area.

Cocktail bar owners Allison Crawbuck and Rhys Everett have launched London’s first absinthe distillery in the heart of the East End.

Three-quarters of Brits say they prefer to drink at home, the Big Gin Report, an annual study conducted by Craft Gin Club, has found.

Hollywood star Mads Mikkelsen has resumed the role of a cycling philosopher in a new ad for Carlsberg 0.0.

The alcoholic drinks category led the charge as UK supermarkets enjoyed their strongest ever Christmas trading period, according to Nielsen till scan data.

Whyte & Mackay master distiller Richard Paterson was awarded an OBE in the New Year’s Honours list for services to the Scotch whisky industry.

Turkey has increased its special consumption tax on alcoholic beverages by 17.1%, according to Istanbul daily Habertürk.

Fever-Tree has been named the number one tonic brand for the seventh year running and after a flurry of arrivals in recent years, the category is looking a little more settled. It’s always been the one mixer a bar can’t do without and in 2020, true to type, every bar polled stocked tonic water.

The Drinks International Annual Brands Report 2021 has launched.

Non-alcoholic spirit brand Ceder's has announced a digital programme designed to promote health and wellness.

Liverpool captain Jordan Henderson, former NBA star Dwyane Wade and UFC legend Georges St-Pierre are among the athletes promoting Budweiser Zero this month.

In 2020, The Drinks Trust provided support to nearly 5,000 beneficiaries through both wellness services and financial aid which surpassed £1m in total.

Renowned bartender and vermouth producer Giancarlo Mancino has created the world’s first Vermouth Day to celebrate the fortified wine.

Diageo is rolling out voluntary enhanced health warnings on bottles of Smirnoff, Gordon’s, Baileys and Captain Morgan as part of its broader responsible drinking campaign.

Glenmorangie has reimagined six everyday experiences as wonderful moments for a new campaign shot by celebrated photographer Miles Aldridge.

Heineken has unveiled plans to make Amstel one of the bestselling beer brands in the Chinese market.

Kingfisher has launched a 6x33cl can format in time for the festive trading period as it bids to ramp up off-trade sales.

Online retailer Master of Malt has unveiled its first own-label spirits range comprising a gin, vodka, rum and blended Scotch.

Edrington Beam Suntory has launched a range of premixed cocktails designed to bring high-quality on-trade experiences into shoppers’ homes.

The US spirits industry has applauded the UK’s decision to suspend retaliatory tariffs on American rum, brandy and vodka once it leaves the EU on January 1.

Tullamore DEW brand ambassador John Quinn has been named the new chairman of trade group Drinks Ireland | Irish Whiskey Association.

Equal Measures and The Mixing Class have come together on a project aimed at increasing the diversity of the UK hospitality industry.

Campari Group has revealed that some of its personal and business data has been compromised after it suffered a targeted ransomware attack.

Boutique producer Churchill’s has launched a direct-to-consumer port club targeting the UK market.

Diageo has launched an Instagram filter that encourages social media users to moderate alcohol consumption by switching to water instead.

The Portman Group has announced that Matt Lambert will replace John Timothy as chief executive in January 2021.

The Welsh hospitality industry is to face tougher restrictions on trade with a ban on the sale of alcohol and its curfew brought forward to 6pm.

According to new research released by IWSR Drinks Market Analysis, the value of alcohol ecommerce is forecast to increase by 42% this year, across 10 core markets, to reach US$24bn.

Tequila and mezcal bar 400 Rabbits in Nottingham, England has applied for its business to become a religion in order to stay open during lockdown.

China has slapped a 212% tariff on Australian wine as diplomatic tensions between the two nations continue to mount.

Drinks International caught up with Anne Le Naour, executive director at CA Grands Crus, to find out how the business has adapted to the challenging trading conditions of 2020.

Kojima Sohonten, the 13th oldest existing sake brewery founded in 1597, has changed its entire range to junmai (pure rice) sake.

British national treasure Captain Sir Tom Moore has teamed up with Otterbeck Distillery in Yorkshire to launch a gin.

A new app called ‘Bring Your Bar Home’ has launched as the UK’s first cocktail takeaway and delivery guide which is personalised to your location.