Diageo launches Smirnoff Gold vodka with £4.5m campaign

Diageo is adding a bit of affordable bling to the UK vodka category with the launch of Smirnoff Gold, backed by a £4.5-million marketing campaign.

Pernod Ricard launches Jameson City Editions

Pernod Ricard-owned Irish Distillers is targeting international jet setters with a new-look range of Jameson whiskey.

Funkin signs up X Factor's Alexandra Burke

Cocktail mixer Funkin has introduced X Factor winner Alexandra Burke as the face of its new campaign "Your Bar. Your Rules".

O'Hara's Spiced Rum targets young adults in premium on-trade

New to the UK market following a soft launch in South Yorkshire, O'Hara's Spiced Rum is a mixture of unaged, three and five-year-old Guyana rums and a five-year-old Trinidad and Tobago rum.

New whisky event in Monte Carlo aimed at investors

Whisky expert Charles MacLean is to head up an exclusive three-day whisky event in Monte Carlo aimed at investors, collectors and connoisseurs, and 50 golden tickets, priced €5,000 each, will give holders access to whiskies said to have a collective value of €500,000.

Tesco unveils "transformed" BWS aisle at new concept stores

Tesco has unveiled what it is a calling a "completely transformed" beers, wines and spirits aisle which is part of its new concept stores which opened this week in Watford, Coventry and Purley designed to become retail destinations for its customers.

New recipe for Havana Club rum

Cuban rum Havana Club has changed the recipe for its Havana Club Añejo Especial expression to create a "sweeter taste profile".

Jim Beam's Red Stag boosted by national TV campaign return

Jim Beam hopes its second wave of national television advertising for its Red Stag Bourbon will help it drive on sales further following 100% plus increases in volume and value performance in the on-trade in the past year.

Absolut Flavoured vodka range gets a facelift

Absolut's Flavoured vodka range has been redesigned and will be rolled out across the UK throughout August starting with Absolut pear and raspberry flavours with other varieties introduced later in the year and into 2014.

Whisky fans invited to name Glenmorangie limited-edition single malt release

Glenmorangie is putting together its first crowd-sourced whisky project which has allowed fans to participate in the decision making process of its next limited-edition single malt Scotch whisky from the style of whisky bottled through to actually naming the release.

Norwich bar fined for passing off Jägermeister

Pernod Ricard to launch Spanish brandy in UK

Pernod Ricard UK is launching premium Spanish brandy Domecq 1820 Solera Reserva in a bid to attract new consumers to a category currently dominated by French brands.

Russian vodka dumped in protest over Putin anti-gay laws

Gay rights activists have sparked a global protest which began last week calling for the international boycott of Russian vodka.

Drinks journalists and whisky retailers dig deep to complete Ardbeg Islay Half Marathon

A team of more than 20 drinks writers and whisky retailers have helped raise over £6,000 for the National Brain Appeal in memory of drinks journalist, Alan Lodge, who died last year of a brain haemorrhage aged just 29 by taking part in last weekend's Ardbeg Islay Half Marathon.

Richelieu XO named World's Best Cognac

South African-owned Cognac Richelieu has been awarded the title of World's Best Cognac at the International Wine & Spirit Competition.

WSET hits record number of students around the world

The Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) has reported a record number of candidates taking its examinations around the world n the last academic year, with 48,434 students, a 12% increase over the previous year.    

Latin American Free Trade Agreement is a boost to Scotch whisky industry

The Scotch whisky industry has received a boost this month with the removal of tariff and non-tariff barriers to how it trades in areas of Southern and Central America including Colombia, Honduras, Nicaragua and Panama.

Jack Daniel's to celebrate birthday with September activity

Kentucky Bourbon Jack Daniel's will once again be celebrating the whiskey's birthday in September and is encouraging the trade and consumers to join in with a raft of promotional activity.

Pernod Ricard urges trade to get behind premium sales this Christmas

Pernod Ricard is spearheading its 2013 Christmas campaign with a raft of new products, including a vodka launch already successful in the United States, a lower-alcohol variety for its flagship wine brand, Brancott Estate, and mainstream brandy, Domecq 1820.

Auchentoshan releases first virgin oak matured expression

Auchentoshan has announced the release of the exclusive and limited edition Auchentoshan Virgin Oak.