Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

World Class: Norwegian bartender Felice Capasso crowned global winner

Published: 06 October, 2025

Norway’s Felice Capasso has won the title of World Class Global Bartender of the Year 2025 at the Toronto-hosted annual ceremony.

Catching up with World Class GB 2025’s deserved winner

Published: 10 July, 2025

Having competed in the past three years of World Class GB, 2025’s winner Emanuele Mensah has some perspective on how Diageo’s bartender competition is evolving, and how it reflects broader industry trends.

Nick Gillett: Vermouth's underappreciated charm

Published: 09 June, 2025

I do so enjoy punctuating my usual grumbly opinion pieces with love letters to spirits. And this month, it’s the turn of vermouth. An historic fortified wine infused with various botanical flavours, it’s a firm favourite all over Europe, in the United States, and perhaps unexpectedly, in South America. It conjures romantic images of shaded al fresco drinking spots, on sunny European streets, and it’s bloody delicious to boot. So why isn’t it a staple in our booze cupboards at home? Here’s my reasoning for why it should be.

Driving trends: the symbiotic relationship between brands and cocktails

Published: 27 May, 2025

If it wasn’t for the Aviation – love it or hate it – Créme de Violette may not exist. For much of this century-old classic cocktail’s existence, bartenders couldn’t get their hands on the violet-flavoured liqueur that gave the drink its distinctive colour and floral notes, and it was frequently omitted. But in the early 2000s, the craft cocktail movement brought enough demand for this near-forgotten ingredient that it reappeared; today there are more than a few to choose from. And the Aviation continues to be found on cocktail lists around the world in its original form.

Riviera Drinks acquires Soho Street Cocktails in B2C entry

Published: 14 April, 2025

Colchester-headquartered independent drinks manufacturer and distributor Riviera Drinks has announced the acquisition of Soho Street Cocktails, a ready-made cocktail brand.

3’6 Bar at Fortnum & Mason

Published: 29 May, 2023

181 Piccadilly, St James’s, London W1A 1ER

Florattica

Published: 24 January, 2023

Canopy by Hilton London City, London EC3N 1AX

Nick Gillett: Don’t listen to the snobs – RTDs have a lot to offer

Published: 21 November, 2022

You’ll not find many in the spirits industry praising the rise from the grave of the humble RTD – and to those who are disparaging of ready to drink products, I say, get over yourself.

Pernod predicts return to form for Christmas spirit(s)

Published: 30 September, 2022

Pernod Ricard is banking on the return of a pre-pandemic Christmas atmosphere this year, with its festive campaigns revealing a heavy focus on leveraging treating behaviours amid a tense economy, bouyed by the world cup.

The Tent (At The End Of The Universe)

Published: 09 September, 2022

17 Little Portland Street, London W1W 8BP

Nightjar gears up for a second round with Soho launch

Published: 11 March, 2022

Nightjar, the landmark speakeasy on Old Street is preparing to open its doors to a second site in Soho.

Five minutes with Paul Scarratt, BlackFish Brands

Published: 01 March, 2022

The purveyor of bar-quality pouches of popular cocktails talks to Andrew Catchpole about the explosive growth in ready-to-drink.

From ‘demonised’ White Lyan to international entrepreneur – how Ryan Chet grew an empire

Published: 28 February, 2022

Ryan Chetiyawardana, better known by alias Mr Lyan, says his first launch, White Lyan, was branded as a heretical concept by his peers and ‘demonised’ when it launched back in 2013 for its left-field approach to cocktails. Fast forward nine years, and the British entrepreneur is on the cusp of launching Seed Library, which sees him come full circle to where it all began in East London.

The world’s best bars to receive Michelin-style 3-star rating system

Published: 24 February, 2022

A brand new recognition system for the world’s best bars has been announced – set to become one of the bar industry’s most respected accolades of excellence.

Ex-Accolade alumni Ade McKeon joins Blackfish Brands

Published: 19 January, 2022

Blackfish brands have welcome former Accolade Wines boss, Ade McKeon, into their governing board as non-executive director.

Symington taps into rebellious side for Port-inspired speakeasy

Published: 13 December, 2021

With the mantra of “not your grandfather’s port club”, Symington Family Estates has teamed up with Rebel Port Club to launch a speakeasy style pop-up experience in London aimed at initiating a new generation of port drinkers.

Soho Street Cocktails signs exclusive distribution deal with Vindependents

Published: 13 October, 2021

Soho Street Cocktails, the ready-to-drink premium cocktail brand, has signed an exclusive distribution deal with Vindependents, the independent merchant buying group.

Ready-made cocktails take off

Published: 06 September, 2021

Pre-batched cocktails hit the spot when it comes to consistency, reducing waste and prep time, according to their advocates, as Lisa Riley reports.

Cocktails: Cans win for on-the-move

Published: 02 September, 2021

Ready-to-drink cocktails continue to grow in popularity despite the reopening of the on-trade. Lisa Riley reports.

Seaside pop-ups for Cockburn’s Port

Published: 23 August, 2021

Cockburn’s Port is hoping to encourage more “unexpected ways” of drinking Port with two seaside-themed pop-up bars this summer, one in Brighton and one in Falmouth.