Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Spirits specialist joins Berry Bros. & Rudd

Published: 09 January, 2024

Berry Bros. & Rudd has appointed a spirits curator to oversee its growing portfolio, which now includes a soon to be opened new spirits shop.

Nick Gillett: Predicting the big Christmas spirits trends

Published: 16 October, 2023

When it comes to this point of the year, customers start turning their thoughts towards Christmas. I know we say this every year, but Christmas 2023 really is going to be one of the most important festive seasons of the last ten years. While a great season won’t solve the various problems put upon the industry by government (duty hikes, rail strikes, and soaring energy costs, to name but a few) it’ll certainly go some way to protecting against the inevitable quiet months in early 2024.

Cask Whisky Association aims to protect whisky

Published: 22 September, 2023

The brand-new Cask Whisky Association (CWA) has been launched with the aim of protecting the overall reputation of Scotch whisky, while creating a ‘safe environment’ for whisky enthusiasts and customers to buy and sell casks.

New BSI guidelines will improve quality of UK and Irish whisky

Published: 11 September, 2023

The Scottish, Welsh, English and Irish whisky industries have agreed on a consistent method of production to ensure quality is consistent across the entire category.

Berry Bros. & Rudd champions sustainability pioneers with new Collective

Published: 11 September, 2023

Historic London-based merchant Berry Bros. & Rudd is revamping its spirits portfolio, with the launch of The Collective, a new annual release of spirits, which brings together a group of like-minded distillers.

Co-op spirits buyer receives whisky nod

Published: 24 May, 2023

Co-op spirits buyer, Jonny Grey, has been honoured with the prestigious award of ‘Keeper of the Quaich’, following on from his work in helping to drive the category forward.

Mangrove Global expands into Middle Eastern spirits

Published: 05 April, 2023

One of the UK's leading distributors has welcomed Israel's first whisky brand into its growing family of premium spirits.

Berry Bros. & Rudd acquires interest in The Cotswolds Distillery

Published: 05 April, 2023

Britain’s oldest wine & spirits merchant has purchased a minority stake in The Cotswolds Distillery, a producer of super-premium spirits based in Stourton, Warwickshire. As a result of the investment, Emma Fox, CEO of Berry Bros. & Rudd, will join the board this year.

Nick Gillett: The world is our whisky tumbler

Published: 13 March, 2023

Mention whisky and dated images come to mind. Crystal tumblers. Whisky of a specific provenance – normally Scotch. Then think of whisky producers and certain countries will come up: the US, Ireland, Canada, Japan and Scotland, naturally.

The ‘Dram Queen’ and other whisky leaders at the heart of International Women’s Day

Published: 03 March, 2023

The globally known Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival is returning in spring 2023, with many of the industry’s top female leaders and whisky-makers at the heart of the event.

Friday read: Why whisky is bouncing back from the pandemic

Published: 01 July, 2022

Alan Hamilton, director of corporate finance at Johnston Carmichael, explains why whisky’s fortunes are on the rise in the global stage.

Soapbox: Rum colonisation has to stop

Published: 22 March, 2022

Ian Burrell, the co-founder of African and Caribbean rum brand Equiano, makes the case for protecting Caribbean rum as a local and authentically made protect

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society celebrates its 150th distillery release

Published: 14 March, 2022

The Scotch Malt Whisky Society (SMWS) presents its landmark 150th distillery bottling this month – and it’s not a Scotch.

Andrea Montague appointed head of advocacy at Edrington UK

Published: 09 March, 2022

The UK’s number one whisky distributor, Edrington UK, has announced Andrea Montague as its head of advocacy in a newly created role for the business.

Lad culture called out for continuing to sideline women in whisky

Published: 21 February, 2022

The whisky industry is still suffering from a prevailing “laddish culture” by some consumers and members of the trade who see female employees as a “novelty”, the head of Penderyn’s distillery operations has said.

Scotch whisky exports on road to recovery after growth in 2021

Published: 14 February, 2022

Global exports of Scotch whisky grew to £4.51bn during 2021, according to figures released today by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA), as the industry continues to recover from the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic and US tariffs.

Pernod Ricard UK expands portfolio with new super-premium US whisky

Published: 02 February, 2022

Pernod Ricard has announced plans to distribute American whisky Rabbit Hole in the UK – the first European market to receive allocations of the brand.

Cotswolds Distillery announces plans for 'major expansion'

Published: 01 February, 2022

Leading craft spirit producer Cotswolds Distillery has unveiled plans to construct a new dedicated distillery for its whisky, allowing the firm to dramatically increase production.