WSTA conference to focus on engaging consumers

The Wine & Spirit Trade Association's annual conference will focus on the role branding, innovation and digital communications play in engaging with consumers in today's wine and spirits world.

Diageo results: sales and profits slide but western Europe stabilises

Diageo released is year-end financial results ending on 30 June 2014 and show that net sales declined and operating profits took a big hit for the 2014 fiscal year.

Glenmorangie offers holidaymakers special golf trips and prizes

Price comparison site Bring A Bottle pinpoints cheapest times to buy major drinks brands

Customers should be buying and stockpiling lager in June and July, and Champagne at Christmas, according to new data from Bring A Bottle which pinpoints exactly when the biggest promotions start across a range of top-selling brands.

How a 'yes' vote from Scotland would affect alcohol taxes and logistics

Excise duty expert Alan Powell considers how Scottish independence could affect drinks firms operating both sides of the borders in terms of excise duty and logistics.

A 'yes' vote from Scotland could cripple drinks firms with duty headaches

If Scotland splits from the rest of the UK drinks firms could face potentially crippling changes to duty which would add a significant cost and administrative burden - even causing some to go out of business.

Mixologists gather in the UK to battle it out for Diageo's World Class crown

The world's best mixologist will be unveiled this week as 47 of the very best cocktail shakers and makers gather in the UK for the sixth annual Diageo Reserve World Class global final 2014.

Brown-Forman celebrates 2014 as one of the most successful years in its 144-year history

Brown-Forman shareholders celebrated yesterday the success of its 2014 financial results which it said was "one of the company's most successful years in its 144- year history."

LVMH's wine and spirits business drags down overall performance of luxury group

Louis Vutton Moët Hennessy (LVMH) stock price is taking a hit as financial markets react to the conglomerate's half yearly results announced at close of business yesterday. This morning the stock was trading 6.12% lower, down from yesertday's close €141.25 per share to €132.75 (Bloomberg).

Diageo's Captain Morgan advert once again banned by the ASA

Diageo, for the second time this year, has had a Captain Morgan advert banned by the Advetising Standards Authority (ASA) for a Facebook adve which stated that alcohol could combat boredom.

Glenmorangie in full swing for the second year of its Open golf sponsorship

As thousands of golf fans head to the Wirral on Merseyside for the Open Championship, Glenmorangie is in full swing for the second year of its high profile sponsorship of the tournament.

The Week That Was: top news, Q&As and opinion on Harpers.co.uk

In case you missed some of the headlines this week on harpers.co.uk, we have done a review of the top online news, Q&As, and opinion stories.

Glenrothes introduces a reserve edition matured in sherry casks from Jerez

The Glenrothes, the Speyside distillery, is releasing  a new expression that has been matured in specified sherry casks in Jerez, southern Spain.

Summer boosts sales of sparkling wine, says Nielsen

Fizz has fared well thanks to summer weather, with sales of sparkling wine up 18.9% on last year, according to the latest Nielsen data for the off-trade.

Special Yorkshire liqueur recreated in honour of the Brontë family

Sir James Aykroyd, former chairman of Speyside Distillers, has recreated a special liqueur in honour of the Brontë family and their home in Yorkshire.

Your chance to enter and nominate brands for the Harpers Global Design Awards

If you have seen or worked with an exciting new drinks in the last 12 months then you can now nominate them to receive special recognition in the Harpers Global Design Awards.

Pernod Ricard acquires majority stake in Avión Spirits as it targets US for growth

Pernod Ricard has made its second major acquisition this year with its almost $100 million investment to acquire an 84% stake in Avión Spirits.

David Beckham's Haig Club whisky goes on sale in Selfridges

David Beckham's exclusive new whisky, Haig Club, that he has developed with Diageo, is now exclusively on sale at Selfridges in London until the end of July before being rolled out to wider distribution.

UK spirits market is "more polarised than ever" says new William Grant & Sons report

Chiefs of the week: Glenmorangie's Dr Bill Lumsden - the McWilly Wonka of whisky

This week we tip our proverbial cap to the one and only Dr Bill Lumsden, whisky creator extraordinaire, who says his latest limited edition for Glenmorangie is his finest whisky to date.