Spirits & Cocktails

Welsh Whisky Co goes malt

19-Feb-2004

The Welsh Whisky Company is launching Wales' only single malt whisky to coincide with St David's Day. The company hopes the release of Penderyn, a...

Baileys Glides into pub arena

13-Feb-2004

Diageo GB is looking to strengthen its grip on the cream liqueur category with the on-trade launch of its Baileys Glide concept.Glide, which is a...

Allied invests £1m in sherry

06-Feb-2004

Allied Domecq has added weight to talk of a sherry revival with a £1m investment in its leading Harveys brand.The spirits giant is looking to...

Bar for the course

04-Feb-2004

With service standards a key issue, beer, wine and spirits are taking staff training to the next level. Ben McFarland explains.What with it being...

Let's keep whisky pure and single

18-Dec-2003

Diageo and the Scotch whisky trade will need to work hard in the wake of the Cardhu row to solve single malt's identity crisis, says Andrew Jefford...

Diageo and SWA settle row over pure' Cardhu

11-Dec-2003

by John Harrington A compromise has been reached between the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) and Diageo in the row over the "pure malt" marketing of...

Malibu signs Shaggy

11-Dec-2003

Reggae singer Shaggy is set to be the new face of Malibu. It is expected the star will appear in ads for the coconut-flavoured rum next year, under...

LVA chairman admits spirit substitution

20-Nov-2003

by MA reporter A Licensed Victuallers Association chairman has been found substituting spirit for a second time. Derek Haworth, landlord of the Fox...

Shooting stars

19-Nov-2003

Everyone has an opinion about shots and shooters but never mind the puritans, says Ben McFarland, just think of the soaring profits.They may not be...

Whisky industry fires warning shot in battle with Diageo

19-Nov-2003

The scotch whisky industry has united against Diageo in an attempt to prevent it pushing ahead with its Cardhu pure malt brand.In a crisis that has...

Diageo defends 'foolish' decision to change whisky

13-Nov-2003

Diageo has hit back at claims that it has undermined the whisky industry by changing its Cardhu single malt brand.The drinks giant's decision to stop...

Fine and brandy

12-Nov-2003

Brandy is synonymous with Christmas but there's more to the spirit than that. Ben McFarland looks at how cognac is driving the sector.Just like cute...

Diageo to raise profile of second string spirits

12-Nov-2003

Diageo GB has streamlined its spirits portfolio in response to an increased demand among pub-goers for premium brands.A bespoke sales and marketing...

Martell ends Grand National sponsorship

11-Nov-2003

Next year's Grand National will be the last sponsored by Martell Cognac.Owner Pernod Ricard, which took over control of both the brand and the...

Scots pub ban on spirits 'upselling'

06-Nov-2003

The routine pub practice of asking customers if they want a double measure when they order spirits has been outlawed by a Scottish licensing...

Stocking up for Christmas: Spirits, Soft Drinks & RTDs

22-Oct-2003

Christmas 'spirit' can boost tradeWith more cash in their pockets, your customers like to get into the Christmas spirit - literally. The advice to...

Rum's the word

17-Oct-2003

Rum's all white in the pub but the amber, golden and aged varieties are tickling the fancy in top-end bars. Ben McFarland samples a tot or two.For a...

First Drinks spices up Noilly Prat label

16-Oct-2003

Independent drinks supplier First Drinks Brands has a new look for its premium French vermouth Noilly Prat, which it hopes will attract new drinkers...

A rum with a view

30-Sep-2003

It may not be in Wetherspoons, but Bacardi has its sights firmly set on the number one spot in the white spirits sector. Ben McFarland reports.There...

Japanese whisky gets UK launch

29-Sep-2003

A whisky from the land of the rising sun is broadening its horizons by launching in the UK.Hakushu, a 12-year-old single malt whisky distilled in the...

Tequila's Mex appeal

23-Sep-2003

There's far more to Mexico's most famous export than simply salt, lemon and slamming. Ben McFarland dons his sombrero and 'tastes' some tequila.While...

Plymouth Gin

18-Sep-2003

by John Harrington Who are they? Plymouth Gin was the product of two very British institutions: navy and empire. Established by general merchant Mr...

Whyte & Mackay to invest £50m in flagship brands

11-Sep-2003

Whyte and Mackay, the spirits company formerly known as Kyndal, has unveiled plans for its flagship brands, Vladivar vodka and Whyte and Mackay...

Gin's tonic

10-Sep-2003

After years of languishing in the shade, gin is finding its way back on to the trendiest cocktail menus. Ben McFarland looks at its...

Spirit car clamping defeat forces rethink

04-Sep-2003

by Claire Hu Spirit Group is looking at its policy on pub car parking control after being sued by a group of parents whose cars were clamped by an...

Drinks brands receive 'cool' stamp of approval

27-Aug-2003

A number of drinks brands have been officially declared "cool" as part of an initiative undertaken by the Brand Council.Three lagers - Red Stripe,...

Russian Revolution

26-Aug-2003

Trendiness and versatility are two of the main reasons for vodka being the fastest-growing spirit in the UK. Ben McFarland quizzes the 'vodka...

New Baileys offshoot on the Glide

19-Aug-2003

Diageo has refrained from launching its new Baileys Glide into the on-trade despite a full scale launch into the take home sector.The new Baileys...

I could have told Diageo: it won't win

14-Aug-2003

The 10 July edition of the Morning Advertiser carried the headline "Diageo tackles binge drinking". Tony Mair was hoping that Diageo's advertisements...

Bacardi bows to Bridget

07-Aug-2003

By John Harrington Bacardi-Martini has introduced a new wine-based spritzer to the on-trade in a bid to appeal to the "slighter older" female drinker...

Pleisure gets in the spirit

23-Jul-2003

Pleisure Pub Company believes the pub is as good a place as any to sell spirits. By Ben McFarland.Nick Griffin is a man on a mission. The managing...

Diageo juggernaut rolls on despite tricky times

17-Jul-2003

Profits at Diageo may be under intense pressure, but the £20bn drinks colossus continues to outshine most of its much smaller rivals. It seems to...

Diageo hits the screen with responsible drinking message

10-Jul-2003

Diageo has unveiled its first ever-national TV campaign to promote responsible drinking.In the face of mounting pressure from anti-alcohol...

DIAGEO tackles binge drinking

10-Jul-2003

by Claire Hu Diageo is breaking new ground by launching the first national television campaign promoting responsible drinking. The company's...

Bacardi and Coke unite for pub push

07-Jul-2003

Bacardi-Brown Forman brands (BBF) and Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) have joined forces to promote a new spirit and mixer drink to UK pubs and bars.As...

Crehan looks to the Court of Appeal

01-Jul-2003

The long-running court action by ex-Inntrepreneur lessee Bernie Crehan is set to move to the Court of Appeal after both sides claimed a partial...

Havana Club to align itself with new Auf Wiedersehen series

23-Jun-2003

Havana Club is moving its publicity through the gears in preparation for a forthcoming series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet, which will be set in Cuba.The...

Raising Spirits

16-Jun-2003

The Publican is embarking on a crusade to raise the profile and profits of spirits in UK pubs and bars. So get ready."Raising Spirits" is not...

Maxxium hits the road with cocktail mix tour

16-Jun-2003

Maxxium UK has embarked on a drinking and driving initiative with a difference in its crusade to raise the standards of mixed drinks in UK pubs and...

Wetherspoon to stock premium spirit brands

12-Jun-2003

Pub-goers may not be able to swear in a Wetherspoon pub anymore, but they can now get their laughing gear round some b****y good spirits!In a move...

ScotCo's absinthe concept blasted by critics

11-Jun-2003

It's sparked the kind of controversy that Oscar Wilde would have been proud of.The attempt by Scottish Courage to rekindle the mood of 19th century...

Bulmers gets shot of Sidekick

10-Jun-2003

The "everything must go" sale at Bulmers has begun with the sale of Sidekick to Halewood International.As predicted on thePublican.com on 8 May,...

Bacardi-Martini launches bid to tackle hosts passing off'

05-Jun-2003

by Claire Hu Bacardi-Martini has launched an initiative with Trading Standards officers to crack down on its flagship rum being "passed off" with...

Diageo parts company with digital arm

28-May-2003

Diageo has sold off Translucis, its on-trade digital media network. Avanti, a broadband specialist with a strong presence in the retail sector, has...

Flagship Vodka on course for UK's premium market

22-May-2003

by Claire Hu A new vodka brand, which claims to be based on a recipe from the time of Russian Tsar Peter the Great, some 300 years ago, is this week...

Portman Group bans Fcuk Spirit

21-May-2003

The Portman Group has ordered the withdrawal of Fcuk Spirit after its independent complaints panel upheld a complaint against the premium packaged...

Diageo scraps Guinness FastPour system

15-May-2003

Diageo's bid to launch a quick-pouring Guinness has flopped after a three-month test in 30 busy outlets proved that drinkers and barstaff prefer the...

Smirnoff laser pen promotion attacked

15-May-2003

A licensee has refused to run a Smirnoff promotion that offers drinkers free laser pens for fear that they can damage people's eyesight.Diageo's "If...

Bacardi breaks 141-year-old family tie

15-May-2003

The possibility of another huge spirits shake-up increased last week when the Bacardi family took the first step towards sacrificing total control of...