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:

English gin grows in western Europe, says Euromonitor

English gin consumption has been dominated primarily by the US, Spain and the UK, but Euromonitor is beginning to see signs of change as the product becomes more popular in Western Europe.

Berry Bros releases Exceptional Cask Collection going back 50 years

Berry Bros & Rudd Spirits is releasing a series of exclusive bottlings of whisky and rum that have been matured for 50 years as part of its new Exceptional Casks Collection.

Waitrose predicts healthy future for South American and lighter style wines and spirits

South American wines and more left field grape varieties like an Austrian Grüner Veltliner or a Spanish Albarino are going to become far more trendy in the months ahead, according to the new Waitrose Food and Drink Report 2014.

Chief of the week: Ian Burrell - the world's rum ambassador

As job titles go global rum ambassador is one to brag about with your mates down the pub. Really? Your job is to go around the world talking about and tasing and drinking rum?

Lock Stock's Guy Ritchie links up with David Beckham to make Haig whisky TV advert

Guy Ritchie, the UK film director behind Lock Stock and Two Smoking Barrels director and the recent Sherlock Holmes film series, has linked up with David Beckham to make the first TV advert for his new Haig Club whisky.

RumFest attracts industry's biggest names to London's two day event

Proximo Spirits introduces TINCUP American whiskey in to the UK

No 3 Gin cocktail winner turns to Beatrix Potter's Mr Tod for inspiration

Let's be honest the average top bartender is not the kind of person who would admit turning to Beatrix Potter for inspiration. Let alone the kind of bartender who would be allowed to play along the back bar of the uber cool City Social in Old Broad Street in London.

William Grant & Sons invests in Tullamore whiskey with new Irish distillery

William Grant & Sons officially opens its new Tullamore state-of-the-art whiskey distillery today in Ireland to help keep up with international demand for what is now the second largest Irish whiskey in the world. It is the first time that whiskey has been produced in Tullamore for 60 years.

On-trade hit by decline in spirits sales across all venues

Declining year-on-year spirits sales in the on-trade will have brand owners hoping for a substantial pick up in the last few months of the year leading up to Christmas.

Decline in Far East and Europe hits global Cognac sales but US rallies

The clampdown on luxury goods gifting in China continues to hit the global spirits industry with Cognac announcing total exports are down both in volume and value for the year to July 2014.

Jacob Ehrenkrona on giving up financial career to create Martin Miller's Gin

Harpers.co.uk talked with Jacob Ehrenkrona, the chief executive of Martin Miller's gin, about why he gave up a career in venture capitalism to pursue the classic spirit.

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.

Berry Bros & Rudd takes on Sweden's Karlsson's Gold Vodka

The Swedish premium vodka, Karlsson's Gold Vodka, is the latest addition to Berry Bros & Rudd's growing spirtis portfoliio.

William Grant & Sons invests in new global whisky innovation role

William Grant & Sons has promoted Kevin Abrook to become the company's first global whisky specialist for innovation and will start his new role on September 1.

Bacardi produces cult graphic novel to tell its story of Cuban history

Bacardi has teamed up with cult writer Warren Ellis and artist Michael Allred to produce its very own graphic novel - The Spirit of Bacardi - that tells the stories behind the famous rum, the Bacardi family and its origins in Cuba.

Humphrey Bogart's Real English Gin set for US launch

"Of all the gin joints, in all the towns, in all the world, she walks into mine." Humphery Bogart as Rick Blaine, Casablanca.