Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Jim Beam stillhouse comes to London

Published: 02 September, 2013

Maxxium UK is to open a replica of its Jim Beam stillhouse, in London.

Irish Distillers launches Paddy Centenary Edition whiskey

Published: 02 September, 2013

Pernod Ricard-owned Irish Distillers has released a single pot still whiskey to celebrate 100 years of the Paddy Irish whiskey brand.

WSTA's Miles Beale urges trade to do more following minimum pricing success

Published: 30 August, 2013

Miles Beale, the chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Asssociation, sets out a series of fresh challenges to the drinks industry on today's Harpers.co.uk following the success of its campaign to prevent the introduction of minimum unit pricing on alcohol.

Vast majority of alcoholic drinks comply with Portman Group Code, says audit body

Published: 29 August, 2013

The drinks industry has been given a boost today with an independent audit report that states the vast majority of alcohol products conform to Portman Group responsibility standards.

Illegal vodka pipeline discovered in Kyrgyzstan

Published: 28 August, 2013

Authorities in Kyrgyzstan have shut off an illegal eight inch-wide tube being used to smuggle illicit alcohol between Kazakhstan for a third of mile under the Chu River into Kyrgyzstan, according to local agency reports.

Selfridges offers Rhuby Rhubarb Liqueur

Published: 28 August, 2013

Selfridges and Coe Vintners have acquired the exclusive UK distribution rights for Rhuby, a Swedish produced, natural rhubarb liqueur created by Ylva Binder for the UK market.

Southern Comfort announces follow-up TV ad

Published: 27 August, 2013

Bacardi Brown-Forman has announced the next stage of its 'Whatever's Comfortable' ad campaign for Southern Comfort in the UK.

Searcys to open Gin Joint next month

Published: 27 August, 2013

Searcys is to launch Gin Joint, a brasserie and bar situated in the Barbican Centre, where around 40 gins will be available, including one chilled on tap.

William Grant & Sons takes New Zealand Whisky Company to court

Published: 23 August, 2013

Global Scottish whisky giant William Grant & Sons is taking Dunedin DoubleWood, part of the New Zealand Whisky Company, to court, claiming the DoubleWood name confuses consumers with its Balvenie brand's DoubleWood.

Step up to the Bénédictine challenge

Published: 23 August, 2013

Bartenders are being challenged to come up with a new Bénédictine cocktail for the Bénédictine Cocktail Challenge.

The Whisky Shop opens Manchester store

Published: 22 August, 2013

Luxury drinks retailer the Whisky Shop has opened a new 600sq ft store in Manchester which aims to provide a dedicated platform for some of the world's most exclusive whiskies.

Bartenders battle it out in Buffalo Trace competition

Published: 22 August, 2013

Scottish bartenders battled it out last week in a Buffalo Trace Barrel Aged competition to create an original cocktail using the spirit.

Cointreau to host pop-up bar at London Fashion Week

Published: 22 August, 2013

Rémy Cointreau is to launch a pop-up bar for its Cointreau brand to coincide with London Fashion Week.

Irish Distillers releases Midleton Very Rare 2013

Published: 21 August, 2013

Pernod Ricard-owned Irish Distillers has released the 2013 edition of its Midleton Very Rare Irish whiskey.

Whisky Show 2013 looks to extreme food pairings

Published: 20 August, 2013

Extreme food pairings and sonic tastings are on the cards for this year's Whisky Exchange Whisky Show.

The biggest and best alcohol brands of 2013

Published: 20 August, 2013

So what were the best-performing wine and spirits brands over the past year? Here Erin Smith presents the movers and shakers in wine and spirits taken from The Grocer's Britain's 100 Biggest Alcohol Brands 2013

Diageo launches Smirnoff Gold vodka with £4.5m campaign

Published: 19 August, 2013

Diageo is adding a bit of affordable bling to the UK vodka category with the launch of Smirnoff Gold, backed by a £4.5-million marketing campaign.

Pernod Ricard launches Jameson City Editions

Published: 16 August, 2013

Pernod Ricard-owned Irish Distillers is targeting international jet setters with a new-look range of Jameson whiskey.

Funkin signs up X Factor's Alexandra Burke

Published: 14 August, 2013

Cocktail mixer Funkin has introduced X Factor winner Alexandra Burke as the face of its new campaign "Your Bar. Your Rules".

O'Hara's Spiced Rum targets young adults in premium on-trade

Published: 14 August, 2013

New to the UK market following a soft launch in South Yorkshire, O'Hara's Spiced Rum is a mixture of unaged, three and five-year-old Guyana rums and a five-year-old Trinidad and Tobago rum.