Write-down of Brugal rum value puts dent in Edrington figures

Famous Grouse producer Edrington has written down the value of its Brugal rum brand to reflect revised future expectations of the brand's performance.

Pernod Ricard ups focus on Jacob's Creek & Havana Club for summer

Pernod Ricard is ramping up activity on Jacob's Creek and launching new campaigns for Malibu and Cuban rum brand Havana Club.

Diageo puts innovation 'at the heart' of its UK commercial strategy

Diageo is stepping up its commitment to innovation as part of a commercial strategy that will see levels of npd boosted across its drinks portfolio. 

Pernod Ricard shakes up Havana Club rum's look and recipe

Christmas Report: how rum is spicing things up

Like the other spirit categories, the growth in rum is mainly driven by the premium sector. Spiced rum that is the latest big thing, with sales growing by more than 21% year on year, making it worth an annual £80m. It appears to be particularly popular in Scotland, where it accounts for over 21% of value sales, and at the younger end of the market, while well-aged rums are finding favour with a more discerning, 30-plus audience. Helen Arnold reports.

Chief of the week: Ian Burrell - the world's rum ambassador

As job titles go global rum ambassador is one to brag about with your mates down the pub. Really? Your job is to go around the world talking about and tasing and drinking rum?

RumFest attracts industry's biggest names to London's two day event

Diageo's Parrot Bay rum ad 'appeals to children' says ASA

Diageo's latest TV ad for rum brand Parrot Bay has fallen foul of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which deemed it to be irresponsible as it appealed to children and breached the code. The advert must not appear again in its current form.

RumFest aims to break rum tasting world record

RumFest in London is aiming to break the record for the world's biggest ever rum tasting with over 700 people tasting a selection of six rums on October 9.

On-trade hit by decline in spirits sales across all venues

Declining year-on-year spirits sales in the on-trade will have brand owners hoping for a substantial pick up in the last few months of the year leading up to Christmas.

William Grant toasts successful 2013 as sales and profits rise

William Grant & Sons boosted operating profits by 10% to £138 million in 2013 while turnover rose by 5.2% to £1.12 billion.

Boutique RumFest returns to London with over 400 rums on show

RumFest is set to return to London for its eighth year next month and will include the trade only Boutique RumFest that takes place on October 10at London's ILEC Centre.

Bacardi produces cult graphic novel to tell its story of Cuban history

Bacardi has teamed up with cult writer Warren Ellis and artist Michael Allred to produce its very own graphic novel - The Spirit of Bacardi - that tells the stories behind the famous rum, the Bacardi family and its origins in Cuba.

Authentic Caribbean Rum Marque expands to 18 members with three new recruits

Three new rums have been granted approval to carry the Authentic Caribbean Rum (ACR) Marque as the initiative widens its portfolio and presence in its key international markets including the UK.

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.

The rum doctor: Dr Frank Ward of WIRSPA

Harpers.co.uk caught up with Dr. Frank Ward of the West Indies Rum and Spirits Producers' Association (WIRSPA) to find out what the association is currently doing to raise the profile of Caribbean rum in the UK.

Miguel Smith on why life is so much better with a Mount Gay rum in your hand

Douglas Blyde meets the UK and international brand ambassador for Mount Gay rum who oversees the brand's maturation facility in Barbados' parish of St Lucy. Miguel Smith joined the business in 1991, and was instrumental in the development of the award-winning Extra Old blend.

Berry Bros switches distribution of King's Ginger and Pink Pigeon rum to Mangrove

Berry Bros & Rudd has decided to switch the UK distribution of The King's Ginger liqueur and Pink Pigeon Mauritian rum from Cask Liquid Marketing to Mangrove, the specialist spirits company. The brands move over on June 1.

Merchant House to open specialist gin and rum bar in London

The London Bar Consultants are opening Merchant House in the City, which will stock super premium and rare rums as well as 250 different gins.

US approval of powdered alcohol in doubt

Approvals for sale of powdered alcohol in the US were issued in error, a federal representative has stated.