Spirits & Cocktails

That's the spirit: consumers spending more on home drinking

Consumers spending big on booze for home

By Nicholas Robinson

Brits, on average, are spending almost £1,500 on alcohol a year for the home, with premium spirits among their top choices, a new report has claimed.

Premiumise that: better quality drinks are driving trade

711 drinks-led pubs closed in the past 12 months

By Nicholas Robinson

Mainstream drinks-led pubs, of which 711 have closed in the past 12 months, are driving down the overall healthy performance of the spirits category, new figures claim.

What's hot? Some of the top trends from Imbibe Live 2017

Imbibe Live 2017: top trends from the show

By Nicholas Robinson

Drinks trends that operators should look out for this year include the continued rise of gin, increased interest in foreign imports and rising interest in sparkling wines, five alcoholic drinks producers told The Morning Advertiser in this video.

Plan ahead: What's going on at Imbibe Live 2017?

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Your guide to Imbibe Live 2017

By Nicholas Robinson

Plan your visit to the UK’s leading on-trade show, with our round-up of what's on, who’s there and what's happening for 2017.

On the up: there was a 135% rise in the number of UK distilleries between 2010 and 2016, according to HMRC

Tiny gin is the new big thing

By Nicholas Robinson

With gin production and sales still booming, what way will the market will go? The words small, craft and local will certainly be part of the success story.

New variant: the new 50% ABV Southern Comfort joins the original 35% ABV version

Southern Comfort unveils new branding

By James Beeson

Sazerac liqueur brand Southern Comfort has undergone a rebrand and launched a new 50% ABV variant in the UK as the company seeks to improve its whiskey credentials.

On the up: gin sales have grown more than any other spirit sold in the UK in the past year.

World Gin Day: the gin boom continues to soar

By Nikkie Sutton

Sales of gin in the UK have grown 12% in volume in the past 12 months and the category is now worth £655m, according to the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

A question of design

How to design your bar

By Nicholas Robinson

While your operation may be known for serving the best Mojito or the region’s greatest gin and tonic, there are many operational areas that could negatively impact your trade and profit.

Boost: advice on driving spirits sales in pubs

In association with Diageo

How to drive spirits sales

By Nicholas Robinson

Cocktails in pubs are on the rise, but making money from mixed drinks is not as simple as just putting a menu together. Operators must not only consider what their back bars say to customers walking through the door, but also how their online and social-media...

Attack: pubs help to keep customers safe during terror incident (image: Google Maps)

16 pubs surround London Bridge terror attack area

By Nicholas Robinson

At least 16 pubs and many more bars and restaurants surround the area where three knife-wielding terrorists unleashed a horrific attack in the capital last night (3 June), killing seven and wounding 48. Many of the pubs played a key role in keeping customers...

'Shifting the burden': the SNP manifesto pledges to conduct a review of alcohol taxation

General Election 2017

SNP pledges to ‘review alcohol tax’

By Georgina Townshend

The Scottish National Party (SNP) has promised to conduct a review of alcohol taxation, while supporting moves to introduce minimum unit pricing (MUP), in its pre-election manifesto.

Uptick: Campari sees big sales growth

Campari and Aperol sales rocket in the UK

By Nicholas Robinson

Sales of Campari and Aperol have increased dramatically for the first quarter of 2017 following a phenomenal increase in advertising spend.

Demands: CAMRA and WSTA set out general election manifestos

General election 2017

Drinks industry calls for ‘protection’ of £23.1bn pub trade

By Nicholas Robinson

Demands for a more prosperous pub and drinks industry have been set out by sector organisations the Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) and the Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) ahead of the general election.  

Make no mistake: simple steps to the perfect serve

In association with Diageo

Don’t get this wrong: how to create the perfect serve

By Nicholas Robinson

Lacklustre mixed drinks and cocktails will not do for drinkers these days, even for those who in the past would have accepted an iceless G&T served in a warm glass garnished with a sliver of limp lemon.

Following the curve: Seedlip uses botanicals in its non-alcoholic recipe

Top drinks trends revealed

By Nikkie Sutton

Drinks trends to be on the look out for this year include using nuts and seeds in beverages to create healthier serves, according to research from Mintel, which also predicts an increase in product launches.

In good spirits: Lone Wolf ready to roar

BrewDog finally launches Lone Wolf spirits

By Nicholas Robinson

Craft beer brewer and pub operator BrewDog is ready to launch its Lone Wolf spirits range on a large scale, three years after announcing plans to enter the category.

Number of distilleries up thanks to gin boom

Number of distilleries up thanks to gin boom

By Nikkie Sutton

The registration of new distilleries rose by almost a fifth (17%) last year, according to a report from the Wine & Spirit Trade Association WSTA), which is based on data from HM Revenue & Customs.

Pricey: expensive alcohol drives booze value up

Pricey booze steadies wet sales in pubs

By Nicholas Robinson

Expensive alcohol is helping pubs, bars and restaurants to increase or maintain profits from wet sales as consumers look for more premium experiences.

High-calibre offer: the City of London Distillery has five gins in its portfolio

Halewood backs City of London Distillery

By Nikkie Sutton

The City of London Distillery is set to gain new routes to the gin market thanks to 'strategic' investment from Halewood Wines & Spirits.

High five: we twist the G&T

In association with Diageo

5 twists on the classic gin and tonic

By Nicholas Robinson

Look at these five twists on the classic gin and tonic, perfect for summer cocktail menus, which can add a touch of excitement to your offer.

In the video above Draft House founder Charlie McVeigh outlines how to build a spirits offer from scratch

In association with Diageo

How to build the perfect spirits offer

By Nicholas Robinson

We have heard that spirits and cocktail sales are on the rise in pubs, but it is not a new message. Getting in on the act and making a success of the category, however, is not so simple.

Positive: CAMRA national chair Colin Valentine

CAMRA backs report on health benefits of alcohol

By Nikkie Sutton

The Campaign for Real Ale (CAMRA) has responded to a study in the British Medical Journal (BMJ) that found moderate drinkers have a lower risk of heart attack, angina and heart failure when compared to teetotallers.

WSTA warns Government over post-Brexit bootlegging

WSTA warns Government over post-Brexit bootlegging

By Georgina Townshend

The Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has warned Government that if Brexit talks do not achieve frictionless borders, delays and gridlocks at ports will “encourage the resurgence of alcohol smugglers”.

Business begins: Martin Dickie (left) and James Watt created BrewDog in 2007

A timeline: how BrewDog became what it is today

By Nikkie Thatcher

From its conception with two employees and a dog in 2007 to its global success of today, The Morning Advertiser sets out the history of BrewDog – warts and all.

Everyone can serve a pornstar: popular cocktail founder creates easy serve

Premade Pornstar Martini launched

By Nicholas Robinson

Pornstar Martini creator Douglas Ankrah has launched a premade version of his original cocktail, which has become one of this century’s best-selling drinks in pubs and bars across the UK.

Discerning drinkers: more botanicals and double-ageing in Manifest

Jägermeister ‘premiumises’ with Manifest

By Nicholas Robinson

Jägerbomb this and you’ll be in serious trouble because the launch of Jägermeister’s first super-premium herbal liqueur Manifest has been developed for the discerning drinker.

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