Quintessential buys French spirits producer Lafragette & Legier

Colum Egan, master distiller at Bushmills, predicts a strong future for Irish whiskey

These are excavating times for Irish whiskey in general, and for Bushmills in particular. More than 20 distilleries have either started producing whiskey spirit or about to, the country's whiskey industry is awash with overseas money, and is more vibrant and dynamic than at any time in more than century.

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Diageo is launching a 'smart bottle' that will enable it to send personalised marketing message to its consumers after purchase.

Diageo harnesses mobile technology with new 'smart' whisky bottle

Diageo is launching a 'smart bottle' that will enable it to send personalised marketing message to its consumers after purchase.

Doctors call for the duty escalator to be reintroduced

Doctors and alcohol charities are calling on the government to reinstate the alcohol duty escalator in the Budget in March.

Now or never call by WSTA's Miles Beale for trade to back Drop the Duty campaign

With less than three weeks to go before the Budget, Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, has made an empassioned appeal to the industry to act now and get fully behind its campaign to persuade the Chancellor to cut alcohol duty by 2% in his March Budget.

Conviviality Retail signs franchise deal for GT stores to push its c-store off-licence model

Conviviality Retail has signed a 10-year franchise agreement with award winning East Anglian-based convenience retailer, Jonathan James to run 35 franchise stores. 

Hospitality and off-licence sectors throw weight behind Drop the Duty campaign

The hospitality and multiple off-licence sectors are throwing their support behind the trade's Drop The Duty campaign, as new research from CGA highlights the importance of wine and spirit sales to the UK on-trade.

George Clooney hopes to make a star out of his Casamigos premium tequila in the UK

Monkey Shoulder sets off in search of the Ultimate Bartender

Scotch whisky brand, Monkey Shoulder, is launching a new competition to find the "Ulitmate Bartender" in the UK with a series of regional trials with the overall winner getting the chance to run their own pop up bar during London Cocktail Week.

Diageo's Johnnie Walker unveils limited edition whisky to coincide with Chinese New Year

Diageo's John Walker & Sons King George V whisky has released an art deco inspired limited edition pack in time for Chinese New Year.

World expert John Gauntner introduces us to sake

John Gauntner is renowned as being one of the English-speaking world's foremost experts on sake. Here he explains how he got into sake, and what's happening in the industry now.

Calling on wine and spirits producers around the world to back Drop the Duty campaign

Today Harpers is calling on wine and spirits producers around the world concerned about the high alcohol duty levels in the UK to get involved in the Drop the Duty campaign and have their voice heard by the Chancellor, George Osborne.

Pernod Ricard celebrates strong UK half-year performance

Pernod Ricard's UK chief says the market is now in "full recovery" as its brands, in particular those at the top end of the scale, outperform the market.

Cold weather fails to dampen eating out sales in January

Restaurants and managed pubs saw like-for-like sales grow 1.4% in January, despite the snow and cold weather.

Senior industry figures toast positive reception from Treasury over proposed 2% duty cut

Senior representatives from the drinks industry met with Treasury officials yesterday to present evidence in support of the proposed 2% duty cut on alcohol, describing the discussions as "constructive".

WSTA meets Treasury to call for 2% alcohol duty cut

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association is today meeting with the Treasury to present its 2015 Budget submission calling for a 2% cut in wine and spirits duty.

Scotch Whisky Association goes to Westminster asking government to support trade and drop duty

The Scotch Whisky Association argued this week at Westminster that as a £5 billion industry and a vital part of the UK economy the government should implement measures that support the sector and cut duty by 2%

Portman Group hits back against 'misleading' calls for alcohol advertising ban

The Portman Group has branded research from Alcohol Concern which calls for restrictions on alcohol advertising and sponsorship "weak and misleading".

Glenrothes releases a 1968 edition to its Extraordinary Cask Collection

Berry Bros & Rudd has unearthed another rare single cask it is releasing to become the third editon in its Extradordinary Cask Collection series.