Step up to the Bénédictine challenge

Bartenders are being challenged to come up with a new Bénédictine cocktail for the Bénédictine Cocktail Challenge.

The Whisky Shop opens Manchester store

Luxury drinks retailer the Whisky Shop has opened a new 600sq ft store in Manchester which aims to provide a dedicated platform for some of the world's most exclusive whiskies. 

Treasury sees 50% profits dip due to unsold wine in US

Treasury Wine Estates has seen annual net profits slide by 50% due to one-off charges on unsold wine in the US, but sales in the UK have shown signs of recovery in recent months.

Bartenders battle it out in Buffalo Trace competition

Scottish bartenders battled it out last week in a Buffalo Trace Barrel Aged competition to create an original cocktail using the spirit.

Alastair Campbell to speak at Alcohol Concern conference

Former Labour spin doctor Alastair Campbell is to speak at Alcohol Concern's Annual Alcohol Conference in London in November. 

London Cru winery names grape suppliers

London Cru, the first urban winery to set up shop in central London, has announced its first vintage grapes will be supplied by top French producers including Jeff Coutelou of Mas Coutelou, from Languedoc-Roussillon, William Jonquères d'Oriola of Château in Roussillon and Jacques Lurton, the renowned French Flying Winemaker.

Marlborough celebrates 40 years with a record 2013 harvest

This week marks the 40^th anniversary of the first grapes planted in Marlborough at Brancott Estate and coincides with New Zealand's recording-breaking 2013 harvest of 345,000 tonnes.

Cointreau to host pop-up bar at London Fashion Week

Rémy Cointreau is to launch a pop-up bar for its Cointreau brand to coincide with London Fashion Week.

Wiener Gemischter Satz becomes Austria's ninth designated DAC

Following the successful creation of eight DACs (Districtus Austriae Controllatus), an official classification designating origin, grape variety and flavour profile of the wine, the historic Wiener Gemischter Satz has become the latest DAC under Austrian wine law.

The 2013 harvest begins in France and Spain

This week marks the start of the 2013 harvest in Europe, with the vineyards in Tenerife, Spain in the Canary Islands and Roussillon region in France, reports wine-searcher.com.

Irish Distillers releases Midleton Very Rare 2013

Pernod Ricard-owned Irish Distillers has released the 2013 edition of its Midleton Very Rare Irish whiskey.

Bottles of wine stolen in South Lanarkshire

A lorry trailer carrying 50,000 bottles of wine worth £300,000, which was parked in a haulage yard in Uddingston, South Lanarkshire, has been stolen.

Scotland stands firm on minimum pricing as drinking falls

Scotland's government has again defended plans for minimum pricing, after drinks industry leaders argued that falling alcohol consumption makes the policy obsolete.

Retailers sign up for National Calvados Week

Matthew Clark to offer digital drinks list app

Drinks wholesaler Matthew Clark has partnered with iRiS Software Systems to offer customers digital wine and drinks lists.

Australian Vintage chief calls for lower-alcohol tax breaks

Australian Vintage chief executive Neil McGuigan wants the UK government to introduce a new tax band to encourage the production of wines naturally lower in alcohol.

Manchester ups its fine-dining focus

Manchester is to add to its developing fine-dining ethos with a new venture from celebrity chef James Martin and an announcement from Allied London that the Spinningfields area is to become a bespoke high-end dining, leisure and cultural destination.

Pernod Ricard adds Graffigna Malbec to portfolio

Pernod Ricard UK is to add Argentinian wine Graffigna Centenario Malbec to its portfolio to capitalise on the growing popularity of wines from Argentina.

EWGA announces warehouse expansion plans

Lancashire-based independent retailer EWGA has announced expansion plans to extend its bonded warehouse facility in order to satisfy growing demand.

Whisky Show 2013 looks to extreme food pairings

Extreme food pairings and sonic tastings are on the cards for this year's Whisky Exchange Whisky Show.