Spirits & Cocktails

International Women's Day: Bartenders

International Women’s Day

The women bartenders who are shaking things up

By Nikkie Sutton

Great skills on the bar are coveted by any cocktail outlet worth its salt. Here five top women bartenders in the trade tell their stories, how they got to where they are and what's next.

New gin: Chapel Down launches pinot noir gin made from grape skins

Chapel Down launches pinot noir gin

By Nicholas Robinson

One of England’s biggest vineyards has launched what is believed to be the first gin made from pinot noir grapes.

In the pink: Spanish gin producer Puerto de Indias is bringing its Strawberry Gin to the UK

Puerto de Indias launches Strawberry Gin in the UK

By Robert Mann

With pink gins taking the drinks category by storm, Sevillian brand Puerto de Indias has officially launched its renowned strawberry gin to be distributed by Indie Brands in the UK this month.

Bottled it: Irish distillers are using their surroundings as inspiration in their gin

Focus on Irish gin

Irish, the new thing in gin?

By Nicholas Robinson

‘Irish’ and ‘gin’, it is fair to say, are two words rarely seen in the same sentence. With that said, some may be surprised to learn that the Emerald Isle has been quietly distilling breathtaking gins and brands with substantial success for some years...

Put the Ketel on: Diageo Reserve’s vodka Ketel One has launched three lower ABV spirits

Ketel One launches lower ABV spirit range

By Robert Mann

Diageo Reserve’s vodka Ketel One has launched a collection of fruit-infused spirits, in an effort to satisfy health-conscious consumers’ demand for lower-alcohol spirits.

Spirited changes: the choice of spirits available today has come so far from years ago

MA AT 225

A brief history of spirits and the ways we drink them

By Helen Gilbert

It wasn’t such a long time ago in pubs when customers had a choice of one brand when it came to ordering their favourite spirit. How times have changed – now we’re spoilt for choice. Industry experts assess the major changes on the top shelf

Think pink: sales of flavoured and pink gin on the up

Pink gin’s on-trade value rockets

By Nicholas Robinson

Pink gin generated record sales across the UK last year, as punters fill their glasses to the brim with the fruity liquid.

Lifted spirits: drinks giant Diageo revealed that its net sales increased by 5.8% in the second half of 2018

‘Gin boom’ continues to drive growth for Diageo

By Stuart Stone

Spirits maker Diageo, which owns brands Smirnoff, Guinness and Johnnie Walker, has revealed that continued growth in gin sales helped the drinks mogul achieve a 5.8% net sales increase in the second half of 2018.

Alcohol-free: here's how to make a non-alcoholic G&T

In association with Ceder’s

How to make an alcohol-free gin and tonic

By Nicholas Robinson

For those not wanting to compromise on taste, but not yet ready to get back into the saddle of alcohol, a CEDER’S Stinger may be the ideal solution.

Rising up: this year saw 66m more bottles of gin sold in the UK – a 41% increase on the previous year

Gin sales ‘almost double’ in two years

By Nikkie Sutton

Sales of gin in the UK have reached another record-breaking high boosted by this summer’s heatwave, World Cup fever and by Millennials discovering their love for pink and flavoured gins, new research has revealed.

Just the tonic: finding the right mix is key to making a great drink

Finding the right solution to demand for great mixers

By Nicholas Robinson

When you add a tonic or soft drink to a spirit, the majority of the beverage is now the mixer so it makes sense to use the best that is available. It’s been a good year for mixers and there is no end to the innovation taking place.

Alcohol-free spirit: Stryyk launches Not Vodka

Alcohol-free vodka launched by Stryyk

By Nicholas Robinson

Alcohol-free spirit brand Stryyk has added a third variant to its portfolio, which now consists of Not Rum, Not Gin and new addition Not Vodka.

Tops: The biggest-selling brands in the UK on-trade

The Drinks List: Top Brands to Stock 2019

By Nicholas Robinson

With so much conflicting research in the market and varying opinions from analysts, The Morning Advertiser’s Drinks List 2019 reveals exactly what is going on with sales at the bar.

Rear window: what should the back bar look like?

What should the back bar look like?

By Emma Eversham

The back bar is a pub or bar’s shop window, where a well-thought-out display can really add to the bottom line. So what does a licensee need to think about when deciding what to put there?

Raising the bar: the opportunity to change the on-trade team attracted Yorke to the role

Diageo's Yorke focuses on diversity in the trade

By Nicholas Robinson

Despite studying for a law degree, Melissa Yorke decided her career may lie in a different direction. Now at drinks giant Diageo, she has helped change the on-trade team and is vocal on diversity within the industry as a whole.

Budget opportunity: the on-trade is making an appeal to Chancellor Philip Hammond

TAX EQUALITY

Supermarket vodka sold at less than 50p per measure

By Stuart Stone

Research by The Morning Advertiser and figures from CGA Insight detailing average on-trade pricing have revealed that supermarket vodka is being sold at the equivalent of less than 50p per single measure.

Tax freeze: the Wine & Spirit Trade Association is calling on the Government to stop a rise in duty (image credit: puhhha/gettyimages.co.uk)

Tax Equality

Gin costs 514% more in pubs than in supermarkets

By Nikkie Sutton

The average cost of a 25ml measure of ‘standard’ gin costs over 500% more in the on-trade than it is in the off-trade due to significant financial pressures, according to The Morning Advertiser research.

Changing times: could serving drinks in a glass be something of the past?

7 ways not to serve cocktails

By Nikkie Sutton

Drinkers have taken to social media to air their frustration at being served drinks, including cocktails, in vessels other than glasses.

Gin protest: the WSTA voices concern ahead of the Budget

Gin boom to be affected by tax increase

By Robert Mann

Britain’s booming £2bn gin industry shows no signs of slowing down and now gin makers across the country have united to call on the Chancellor to freeze spirit duty.

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