Spirits & Cocktails

Yes they can: Franklin & Sons' new can format

Franklin & Sons’ new cans

By Nicholas Robinson

Soft drinks maker Franklin & Sons has extended its mixers range with new cans in response to increased consumer demand for spirits.

Gin exports will hit £500m by summer 2017

Gin exports will hit £500m this summer

By Nikkie Sutton

Overseas sales of British gin were worth almost half a billion pounds last year and the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) has predicted exports of the tipple will hit £500m by this summer.

The gin boom: make way for Tequila?

2017 drinks trends: what to stock

By Nicholas Robinson

Gin will give way to Tequila and more consumers will seek to buy only locally-made alcoholic drinks, including craft beer and spirits.

Duty request: the WSTA wants a cut in wine and spirit duty

BBPA rebukes calls for wine and spirit duty cut

By Liam Coleman

The British Beer & Pub Association (BBPA) has dismissed the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA)'s calls for a cut in wine and spirit duty at the upcoming Budget and reiterated its own call for cuts to beer duty.

Whiskey or whisky? It's a new day

Whiskey or whisky? It's a new day

By Nicholas Robinson

Whether it’s malt whisky, an American Bourbon or an Irish whiskey, the whisk(e)y category is vast and hugely diverse. Blended Scotch may be the biggest player in the sector, but interest is piquing in other areas and will not play second fiddle to white...

MA Drinks List sparks national bingo comp with Oxford accountants

The Drinks List: Top 100 Brands

MA Drinks List sparks national bingo competition

By Nikkie Sutton

The Morning Advertiser’s Drinks List: Top 100 Brands has formed the basis of an Oxford accountants’ internal bingo-style competition for staff.

Off the wagon: men aren't supportive of women's choice to drink less

Health

Men push women off #DryJanuary wagon

By Nicholas Robinson

Men are more likely to push their female partners off the #DryJanuary wagon, goad them into breaking healthy drinking plans and consume more alcohol than the other way round.

Drinks trends for 2017

Drinks predictions

What 2017 has in store for the drinks category

By Nikkie Sutton

Last year was a mixed bag for the pub trade, from the shockwaves following the ‘Leave’ vote of the EU referendum, to the heavily delayed pubs code and the anguish at the appointment of the US president-elect Donald Trump.

The Apprentice jumps on the gin bandwagon

Gin

The Apprentice jumps on the gin bandwagon

By Nikkie Sutton

BBC television programme The Apprentice centred its latest episode, aired last night (Thursday 8 December) around the production and marketing of gin.

Competition: be in with a chance to win up to £2,500 worth of Pernod Ricard stock

Competition in association with Pernod Ricard UK

Win up to £2,500 worth of Pernod Ricard UK stock

By Nicholas Robinson

Pubs and bars have the opportunity to win up to £2,500 worth of premium alcohol products in an exclusive, festive Pernod Ricard UK competition in association with The Morning Advertiser.

The Drinks List: Top 100 Brands

The Drinks List: Top 100 Brands

By Nicholas Robinson

Drinking habits are changing as consumers are faced with more choice than ever, but in The Morning Advertiser's Drinks List: Top 100 Brands, there is a positive story showing a healthy mix of the long-established mainstream brands sitting alongside...

Rare: only 52 Benromach Heritage 1973 bottles will be released

spirits

Benromach releases rare whisky

By James Evison

An extremely rare single cask malt whisky has been added to Benromach Distillery Company's range.

Drinks Trends: big categories this year and what is to come

Drinks trends

Drinks Trends: what was big in 2016 and what is to come

By Nikkie Sutton

We all know that gin and craft beer are the big movers and shakers in drinks trends right now. But what else is making the ground move for licensees, and what’s around the corner?

Master distiller: Jeff Arnett on the future of JD

Whiskey

Jack Daniel’s master distiller on marijuana, Brexit and Trump

By Nicholas Robinson

Brexit and Trump are not big business concerns for Jack Daniel’s (JD), which is to grow its understanding of pub culture in the brand’s largest export market the UK. However, further legalisation of marijuana in the US could pose an issue.

A twist on the Pornstar Martini

In association with Diageo

Make the Wisely Wonder

By Nicholas Robinson

The Porn Star Martini has taken the UK by storm, but some long-time drinkers of the cocktail might be looking to try something a little different. Why not try this gin twist?

Diaego strike planned by employees over Christmas

Strike action

Diageo faces Christmas strikes

By Helen Gilbert

Smirnoff and Guinness owner Diageo is facing industrial action by workers in a dispute over pensions.

Around the world: UK gin is a top seller

Spirits

British gin is taking over the world

By Nicholas Robinson

Britain is the beating heart of the global gin industry, with three quarters of all exported gin coming from this island, and with Scotland accounting for two thirds of UK gin production.

The Great British Pub Awards Spirits Pub/Bar of the Year 2016 finalists

In association with Diageo

Make the Butler's Handover: gin, bourbon and plum

By Nicholas Robinson

This gin-based short drink was invented by Jess Hunter, assistant manager at the Queen Charlotte in Windsor, which was shortlisted in the Diageo-sponsored Great British Pub Awards Spirits Pub/Bar of the Year category 2016

Gin hit: inflation set to hike up the price of gin

Spirits

Gin lovers to be hit by major price hike

By Nicholas Robinson

Spirits drinkers’ pockets are expected to be hit by an inflation-induced price hike, following a similar story for wine, the Wine and Spirits Trade Association (WSTA) has warned.

New products and alternatives (l to r): Bombardier, Sharp's pale ale, Citadelle, Ciroc and Wry

New Products

Charles Wells’ new Bombardier

By Nicholas Robinson

Charles Wells has produced a new lighter variant of its classic Bombardier Burning Gold and Glorious England cask variants, in an attempt to tap into craft ale drinkers and lighter, lower-ABV beer drinking consumers.

Proposals backed: minimum unit pricing given the go ahead in Scotland

Legislation

Scotland backs minimum alcohol pricing

By Nicholas Robinson

Minimum alcohol pricing plans have been backed by the Scottish courts, to the dismay of the Association of Licensed Multiple Retailers (ALMR), which slammed the move.

Rise to the top: how Whitby rose up the ranks

In association with Diageo

The diffident bar champion

By Nicholas Robinson

He may have experienced a meteoric rise up the ranks at the New World Trading Company, and he may be in great demand as a cocktail expert, including an appearance on TV, but Nick Whitby is still truly a modest bloke, with his feet firmly on the bar-room...

Top dog: Whitby has risen to the top in fewer than five years

In association with Diageo

NWTC's Nick Whitby reveals secrets to success

By Nicholas Robinson

New World Trading Company's head of bars Nick Whitby reveals his secrets to rising to the top in one of the UK's most successful pub and bar companies.

Top cocktail: East by North East from Newcastle's Pleased to Meet You

In association with Diageo

Britain's best cocktail: East by North East

By Nicholas Robinson

Inspiration for cocktails can be close to home, as demonstrated by Pleased to Meet You’s Tom Proud with his beautiful drink East by North East

Against the grain: Beckham is just as passionate about whisky as football

Whisky

David Beckham chats pubs, whisky and football

By Nicholas Robinson

International footballing superstar, underwear model and now whisky connoisseur David Beckham loves nothing more than a quiet visit to his local pub for a traditional Sunday roast, he says over a glass of his recently launched Haig Club Clubman. Nicholas...

Inspiration is the key to 'spirits revolution'

Future Trends: Spirits

Inspiration is the key to 'spirits revolution'

By Nikkie Sutton

Spirits are becoming more popular in pubs with consumers wanting more from their drinks. But how to offer something unique can often be confusing.

East by North East: country's best pub cocktail

Future Trends: Spirits

Best pub cocktail is in Newcastle

By The MA

Newcastle is the home of Britain’s best pub cocktail, a panel of drinks experts unanimously decided at The Morning Advertiser’s (MA) Future Trends: Spirits event in London yesterday (3 October). 

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