Harpers Wine & Spirit Trade News

Vodka Emporium opens door to first retail store

Published: 07 November, 2012

Online drinks specialist Vodka Emporium has opened its first retail store in Colchester in partnership with indie wine merchant The Wine Company.

Mike Matthews opens his mind to whiskey at Balcones tasting

Published: 06 November, 2012

I'll make no bones about this, spirits aren't really my thing. Anyone who knows me will tell you, I'm all about the grape and not the grain. So imagine my surprise when I was invited to a whiskey tasting.

Rental record for new Whisky Shop on Piccadilly

Published: 05 November, 2012

A branch of the Whisky Shop is forking out a new rental record for its latest store, which is scheduled to opposite the Ritz in London.

Douglas Blyde on the Suntory Japanese whisky tastings taking place at Roast

Published: 02 November, 2012

Zoran Peric of Cellar Trends hosted a tasting of Japanese whiskies from Suntory as part of a series of masterclasses being held at London's Roast restaurant in the eaves of Borough Market. The tasting began with a pretty, tart "Shard Sour" invented by bar manager, Sebastien Guesdon. "Every barman wants to leave behind a legacy which survives them," said Guesdon, dispensing the subtly smoky Suntory Hakushu (pronounced "pronounced ?Hack-shoo") 12 year-old single malt blended with lemon juice, egg white, and cherry, which represents Japan's most celebrated blossom.

Blavod enjoys a 23% UK sales uplift

Published: 01 November, 2012

Drinks distributor and manufacturer Blavod has grown its UK sales by 23% and has a new focus following its £1.2 million refinancing deal.

Absolut revamps Drinkspiration app

Published: 25 October, 2012

Pernod Ricard-owned vodka brand Absolut has revamped its Drinkspiration iPhone app to provide personalised drink recommendations and fresh cocktail ideas for the new iPhone 5.

Spirits shoppers ignore ingredient claims, says research

Published: 24 October, 2012

Drinkers aren't influenced by ingredient claims when it comes to buying spirits, says new research.

Chivas Brothers plans new Speyside distillery

Published: 24 October, 2012

Pernod Ricard-owned Chivas Brothers has begun the planning process for its new Speyside whisky distillery on the site of the disused Imperial Distillery, acquired by Chivas Brothers in 2005.

Glen Scotia plans packaging revamp to appeal to global market

Published: 22 October, 2012

The Glen Scotia Distillery in Cambeltown has included new packaging as part of its major investment plans to expand its global operation.

Golden Rum Barrel Award winners announced

Published: 19 October, 2012

The winners of the third annual Golden Rum Barrel Awards have been announced as part of the UK RumFest celebrations.

Port producers can learn lessons from whisky industry

Published: 12 October, 2012

Port producers should look to the whisky industry for packaging and marketing inspiration in order to safeguard the Douro's future.

Restaurateurs begin pulling back on two-for-one deals

Published: 12 October, 2012

Restaurateurs are pulling back on two-for-one deals and money-off vouchers because they risk eroding the value of a restaurant's brand image, according to foodservice consultancy Horizons.

Smirnoff vodka gets £7m nightlife boost

Published: 03 October, 2012

Diageo has announced a £7 million marketing boost for its Smirnoff vodka brand.

Scotch whisky exports rise globally but slump in France

Published: 03 October, 2012

Scotch whisky exports increased in value by 12% in the 12 months to the end of June 2012, according to figures published by the Scotch Whisky Association.

Smirnoff launches World's Best Drinks campaign

Published: 01 October, 2012

Smirnoff has launched multimedia campaign World's Best Drinks, in a bid to inspire consumers to experience new tastes across the vodka category.

The Glenrothes introduces the Extraordinary Cask Collection

Published: 21 September, 2012

Berry Bros & Rudd's single malt whisky brand, The Glenrothes, is releasing the first in what will be a series of single cask bottlings going back to the late 1960s.

FSA issues warning on Czech spirits

Published: 19 September, 2012

The Food Standards Agency is advising travellers to or from the Czech Republic to avoid drinking locally-produced hard spirits following a spate of alcohol-related deaths.