Christmas Report: how rum is spicing things up

Like the other spirit categories, the growth in rum is mainly driven by the premium sector. Spiced rum that is the latest big thing, with sales growing by more than 21% year on year, making it worth an annual £80m. It appears to be particularly popular in Scotland, where it accounts for over 21% of value sales, and at the younger end of the market, while well-aged rums are finding favour with a more discerning, 30-plus audience. Helen Arnold reports.

Christmas Report: how vodka can drive festive profits

Vodka commands the lion's share of the spirits sector, with over 30% of total sales; not only is it the most widely drunk spirit in the UK, but it is outstripping the overall spirits sector, with annual growth of 4.4%. Helen Arnold reports.

Christmas Report: why premium spirits are key for festive sales

Premium spirits are a crucial selling feature of the festive season. Helen Arnold explains why:

Pernod Ricard unveils marketing campaigns for Jameson, Chivas and Brancott Estate

Pernod Ricard's Jameson, Chivas Regal and Brancott Estate brands will be receiving a major boost with the launch of separate marketing campaigns this autumn.

More Americans turning to wine, says Wine Intelligence

More Americans than ever are drinking wine on a regular basis, with those consuming wine at least once a month having increased by 40% to 91 million in the past five years.

Advocaat brand Warninks launches new liqueur

Diageo's Parrot Bay rum ad 'appeals to children' says ASA

Diageo's latest TV ad for rum brand Parrot Bay has fallen foul of the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA), which deemed it to be irresponsible as it appealed to children and breached the code. The advert must not appear again in its current form.

Christmas part 2: Key players weigh up the role of sparkling wines as the festive season approaches

The festive season is still the key trading period for sparkling wines. What do producers, brand owners, multiples and merchants expect from sparkling wines this year?

Christmas Part 1: How bubbles are trending in the lead up to Christmas

A celebration is nothing without a bottle of bubbly and Christmas is no exception. In the UK Prosecco and Cava remain strong, as consumers favour other sparklers over costly Champagne.

The Almeida reopens with new twist on a wine list - it does not have one

One of London's first restaurants without a wine list has just reopened after a mini refurbishment. The Almeida in Islington, north London, will instead rely on its waiting staff to make their own personal recommendations tailored to guests' individual budgets, style preferences and food order.

England's largest whisky distillery gives members chance to own personal cask

England's largest whisky distillery, The Lakes Distillery near Bassenthwaite Lake in Cumbria, is to produce 60 Connoisseurs' Club oak sherry casks, filled with the Lakes single malt and owned exclusively by club members.

Brasserie Bar Company to follow British Queen launch with up to 20 more pubs

Brasserie Bar Company has just opened its fourth pub,  The British Queen, in Locksbottom, Orpintgon, Kent.

Christine Parkinson on driving sake with customers and sommeliers at Hakkasan

Helen Arnold talks sake with Christine Parkinson, chief wine buyer at the 12-strong Hakkasan restaurant chain, the first company to put some of its sommeliers through a new WSET sake course.

London Wine Fair June 4: What is happening

Here we pick out some of the key goings on at today's London Wine Fair at Olympia including a run down of key debates, seminars and masterclases. 

London Wine Fair June 3: What is happening

Here we pick out some of the key goings on at today's London Wine Fair at Olympia including a run down of key debates, seminars and masterclases. 

Susana Balbo: Argentina's queen of winemaking

Susana Balbo is one of the best-known winemakers in Argentina, as well as its first female oenologist. She is also the only woman to have held the position of president of Wines of Argentina - she has just been appointed for a third time. Her family winery - Dominio del Plata in Agrelo, Mendoza - exports worldwide, and includes the Gaucho chain of restaurants as one of its key UK customers. Helen Arnold meets her

London Wine Fair June 2: What is happening

London Wine Fair hightlights for Monday

Meet the Winemakers at London Wine Fair

Ultimately the success of any trade event rests in the quality of wines and winemakers exhibiting. Here we pick out some of the more interesting winemakers who will be on hand in London in June

Key debates and seminars at London Wine Fair

The London Wine Fair promises more seminars and debates than ever before. Here we pick out our highlights:

New exhibitors at London Wine Fair 2014

It is testament to the importance of the UK in the international wine industry that it can still attract, after all these years, new countries to the show, as well as a number of returning generic bodies and wine-producing nations