Spirits & Cocktails

Beefeater launches #MyLondon campaign

13-Nov-2012 By Jessica Harvey

Pernod Ricard has launched a London-focused campaign for its Beefeater gin brand to coincide with the upcoming launch of a new limited edition bottle - Beefeater #MyLondon.

Eristoff launches wolfish identity

01-Nov-2012 By Jessica Harvey

Eristoff vodka is getting a makeover which draws attention to its wolf logo as part of a new print and outdoor campaign called ‘Bring on the Night’.

Bell's launches Help for Heroes bottle

01-Nov-2012 By Jessica Harvey

Bell’s whisky has partnered with British Forces charity, Help for Heroes, to launch a Limited Edition ‘Bell’s Help for Heroes’ bottle, to raise £1 million for the charity.

Jägermeister to host ice-cold gig

01-Nov-2012 By Jessica Harvey

Jägermeister is attempting to get into the Guinness World Records by hosting the world’s coldest ever gig.

BBFB pumps £1.5m into Grey Goose

26-Oct-2012

Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands (BBFB) is ploughing £1.5m into a campaign for premium vodka Grey Goose.

WKD rolls out cocktail kettles to add the "wow factor" in pubs and bars

24-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

Tens of thousands of WKD ‘cocktail kettles’ are being rolled out across the on-trade, as brand owner SHS Group looks to capitalise on the growth in the cocktail market.

Rekorderlig aims to grow via cocktails

18-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

Swedish cider brand Rekorderlig is looking for a larger slice of the cider market by developing a range of simple cider cocktails.

MP calls for ban on liquid nitrogen cocktails following Gaby Scanlon tragedy

15-Oct-2012 By Michelle Perrett

An MP is calling on parliament to consider a ban on liquid nitrogen cocktails following the tragedy of Gaby Scanlon who had her stomach removed after drinking on her 18th birthday celebrations.

Hot Enough Vodka Company launches 'world's hottest' chilli vodka

10-Oct-2012

English chilli vodka specialist, the Hot Enough Vodka Company, has launched what it is claiming is the world’s hottest chilli vodka.

Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands in Jack Daniel's Xmas campaign for pubs

05-Oct-2012

Jack Daniel’s owner Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands is hoping to grab a bigger slice of the spirits market this Christmas with an on-trade campaign for the Tennessee whiskey.

Enterprise Inns permits tenants to buy wines and spirits ‘out of tie’ following WaverleyTBS administration

04-Oct-2012 By Adam Pescod

Enterprise Inns is allowing its tenants to purchase wine and spirits outside of the tie after WaverleyTBS went into administration earlier this week.

Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands invests in biggest campaign in five years for Southern Comfort

03-Oct-2012 By Robyn Black

A new TV ad for Southern Comfort is set to hit screens in November, as part of the biggest investment in the brand for five years.

Jim Beam Bourbon variant Devil's Cut unleashed to UK market

01-Oct-2012 By Noli Dinkovski

Maxxium has introduced a devilish new premium Jim Beam Bourbon variant to the UK.

London Distillery Company plans capital’s first whisky

18-Sep-2012

The London Distillery Company is planning to produce the capital’s first whisky.

Minimum pricing is not based on good evidence, says Diageo's Mark Baird

18-Sep-2012 By Gurjit Degun

Minimum pricing is a “solution desperately searching for a problem” that is not based on good evidence, according to Diageo head of industry affairs and alcohol policy Mark Baird.

Portman Group's Independent Complaints Panel dismisses Alcohol Concern's complaint about Absolut Vodka campaign

07-Sep-2012

The Portman Group's Independent Complaints Panel has dismissed a complaint by Alcohol Concern about a campaign for Absolut Vodka, owned by Pernod Ricard UK.

Gordon's Gin and Bottlegreen to promote Elderflower G&Ts

23-Aug-2012 By Robyn Black

Posh squash brand Bottlegreen has announced a tie-up with Gordon's Gin which will promote a new Elderflower G&T drink in the on-trade.

Jack Daniel's birthday party to be held in Devil's Arse Cave

16-Aug-2012 By Robyn Black

Preparations are already under way for Jack Daniel’s birthday celebrations this autumn.

Drinks distributor Ooberstock announces new spirits listings

01-Aug-2012 By Noli Dinkovski

Ooberstock, the new drinks distributor that claims to operate at lower cost than wholesalers, has secured listings from some of the world’s biggest spirits companies.

Admiral Vernon Old J Spiced Rum set to launch

15-Jun-2012 By Robyn Black

Disgruntled fans of the old style Sailor Jerry rum, who were left fuming when owner First Drinks changed the recipe in February 2010, are being targeted with a new rum that it is said replicates the original Sailor Jerry taste.

Euro 2012: New footy anthem from Captain Morgan's Spiced

11-May-2012 By Matthew Moggridge

Diageo has kicked-off its first ever football campaign for Captain Morgan’s Spiced rum with an unofficial Euro 2012 music anthem.

Courvoisier: demystifying the Cognac cocktail

02-May-2012 By Matthew Moggridge

Courvoisier, a leading Cognac from Maxxium UK, is collaborating with three top mixologists in the development of a major consumer cocktail event this summer.

Schweppes, Pimm's and Gordon's join forces in £3.5 million summer drinks campaign

19-Apr-2012 By Matthew Moggridge

Diageo GB and Coca Cola Enterprises (CCE) have joined forces in a £3.5 million campaign to help the on-trade maximise sales opportunities and tap into consumers’ sense of patriotism around national events this summer.

UK's first draught vodka is unveiled

15-Mar-2012 By Noli Dinkovski

The industry’s first draught vodka has been launched to speed up service and cut down on waste.

Time to curb pre-loading

27-Feb-2012 By Peter Coulson

It is not surprising that National Pubwatch has picked up on minimum-pricing schemes in various parts of the country. I have been contacted by a number of readers questioning the manner in which they have been approached to keep prices to a certain level.

Mojito top cocktail choice for drinkers

23-Feb-2012 By Matthew Moggridge

The Mojito is the most requested cocktail in pubs, bars and clubs across the UK, according to research exclusive to the Publican’s Morning Advertiser.

Jagertee Austrian spirit from The Drinks Company

17-Feb-2012 By Matthew Moggridge

The Drinks Company has released Stroh Jagertee (40% ABV), an Austrian rum blended with spices, black tea extract, lemon and caramelised sugar developed by Sebastian Stroh in 1864.

Hi-Spirits broker a gin deal

17-Feb-2012 By Matthew Moggridge

Award-winning Broker’s London Dry Gin is now part of specialist distributor Hi-Spirits' growing drinks portfolio.

Heavy Water Vodka gets UK re-launch

07-Feb-2012 By Matthew Moggridge

Heavy Water Vodka has been re-launched in the UK after the recruitment of importer Drinks 21.

Hendricks plays matchmaker

03-Feb-2012 By Matthew Moggridge

First Drinks’ gin brand Hendrick’s is putting its weight behind a variety of leap year events in the lead-up to February 29th when the normal rules of courtship are reversed.

All change for the mismeasure of drink?

03-Feb-2012 By Phil Mellows

As the government prepares to make a major statement on alcohol policy, probably some time in February, there have been some interesting manouvrings going on.

First Drinks adds key vodka brands to portfolio

31-Jan-2012 By Noli Dinkovski

First Drinks has snapped up distribution rights for Russia’s number one vodka Green Mark and Polish vodka Zubrówka.

Fake vodka gang member jailed for two years

10-Jan-2012

A ‘chemist’ in the middle of a major counterfeit vodka manufacturing and bottling plant in Leicestershire has been jailed for two years.

Diageo offers free water to Londoners for Xmas

19-Dec-2011 By Adam Pescod

Diageo GB is handing out tens of thousands of free bottles of water at central London Tube stations throughout the festive period as part of its ongoing commitment to promoting responsible drinking.

Sambuca supplier questions rival's authenticity

06-Dec-2011 By Matthew Moggridge

The authenticity and legality of a rival drinks brand is being called into question by South West London drinks company Hi-Spirits, supplier of Antica Sambuca.

Diageo launches responsible drinking campaign

02-Dec-2011 By Gurjit Degun

Diageo GB has teamed up with Transport for London (TfL) to support free New Year’s Eve travel for the next three years as part of its Responsible Drinking campaign launched today.

Pernod Ricard and AA resume drink driving campaign

29-Nov-2011 By Adam Pescod

Pernod Ricard UK and the Automobile Association (AA) have launched the third phase of their marketing campaign to encourage drivers to ‘accept responsibility’ when it comes to drinking and driving.

Five men sentenced over fake vodka plant

28-Nov-2011 By Michelle Perrett

Five men who masterminded a major counterfeit vodka manufacturing and bottling plant in Leicestershire, were sentenced to a total of 17 years and ten months on Friday (25 November)at Hull Crown Court.

Diageo repositions Bell's

17-Nov-2011 By Jessica Harvey

Diageo is re-positioning its Bell’s blended Scotch whisky through a new £1.35m TV advertising campaign.

New lime flavour for So-Co

11-Nov-2011 By Noli Dinkovski

Bacardi Brown Forman Brands (BBFB) is to capitalise on the “daytime drinking occasion” by launching a lime-flavoured Southern Comfort to the on-trade.

Vanilla variant for Smirnoff vodka

27-Oct-2011 By Jessica Harvey

Diageo has launched a vanilla variant to its Smirnoff vodka ‘Flavours’ range.

Pernod Ricard Q1 revenue up

20-Oct-2011

Pernod Ricard, the spirits maker, has reported an increase in first quarter revenue, driven by sales in emerging markets and a good recovery in mature markets.

Jack Daniels set to launch Tennessee Honey in UK

20-Oct-2011 By Ewan Turney

Jack Daniels is set to launch a honey-based whiskey liqueur in the UK next year.

Diageo warns on global economy

19-Oct-2011

Diageo, the global drinks group, has reported a rise in sales for the three months to 30 September, but warned that the global economy remains fragile.

Jagermeister competitor hits back at 'passing off' claims

19-Oct-2011 By Adam Pescod

Herbal liqueur brand, Josef Meier’s, is encouraging greater communication in pubs and clubs which sell its product to ensure it is not passed off as its competitor on-trade product, Jagermeister.

Hi-Spirits releases whiskeys into UK

13-Oct-2011 By Noli Dinkovski

UK distributor Hi-Spirits has released five limited-edition Buffalo Trace Distillery whiskeys into the UK market.

Crabbie’s Spiced Orange unveiled

12-Oct-2011 By Jessica Harvey

Crabbie’s Spiced Orange, a new variant of the Crabbie’s Alcoholic Ginger Beer brand, has been launched by Halewood International.

Maker’s 46 set to hit the mark here

06-Oct-2011 By Jessica Harvey

The first new Maker’s Mark recipe for at least 50 years, Maker’s 46, is now available in the UK for the first time.

New distributor for Russian Standard

28-Sep-2011 By Noli Dinkovski

Russian Standard is to be distributed by Whyte & Mackay in the UK after a “comprehensive selection process” by the vodka brand.

Pernod Ricard: 62% of consumers open to upselling

23-Sep-2011 By Jessica Harvey

More than half of drinkers view more expensive spirits as almost always being better quality and are willing to pay more to trade up, according to new research from Pernod Ricard UK.