Tequila's Mex appeal
23-Sep-2003
There's far more to Mexico's most famous export than simply salt, lemon and slamming. Ben McFarland dons his sombrero and 'tastes' some tequila.While...
Plymouth Gin
18-Sep-2003
by John Harrington Who are they? Plymouth Gin was the product of two very British institutions: navy and empire. Established by general merchant Mr...
Whyte & Mackay to invest £50m in flagship brands
11-Sep-2003
Whyte and Mackay, the spirits company formerly known as Kyndal, has unveiled plans for its flagship brands, Vladivar vodka and Whyte and Mackay...
Gin's tonic
10-Sep-2003
After years of languishing in the shade, gin is finding its way back on to the trendiest cocktail menus. Ben McFarland looks at its...
Spirit car clamping defeat forces rethink
04-Sep-2003
by Claire Hu Spirit Group is looking at its policy on pub car parking control after being sued by a group of parents whose cars were clamped by an...
Drinks brands receive 'cool' stamp of approval
27-Aug-2003
A number of drinks brands have been officially declared "cool" as part of an initiative undertaken by the Brand Council.Three lagers - Red Stripe,...
Russian Revolution
26-Aug-2003
Trendiness and versatility are two of the main reasons for vodka being the fastest-growing spirit in the UK. Ben McFarland quizzes the 'vodka...
New Baileys offshoot on the Glide
19-Aug-2003
Diageo has refrained from launching its new Baileys Glide into the on-trade despite a full scale launch into the take home sector.The new Baileys...
I could have told Diageo: it won't win
14-Aug-2003
The 10 July edition of the Morning Advertiser carried the headline "Diageo tackles binge drinking". Tony Mair was hoping that Diageo's advertisements...
Different strokes for different folks
07-Aug-2003
Bury and Rochdale Each application will be judged on its individual merits. However, the councils are concerned that a proliferation of late-night...
Bacardi bows to Bridget
07-Aug-2003
By John Harrington Bacardi-Martini has introduced a new wine-based spritzer to the on-trade in a bid to appeal to the "slighter older" female drinker...
Pleisure gets in the spirit
23-Jul-2003
Pleisure Pub Company believes the pub is as good a place as any to sell spirits. By Ben McFarland.Nick Griffin is a man on a mission. The managing...
Diageo juggernaut rolls on despite tricky times
17-Jul-2003
Profits at Diageo may be under intense pressure, but the £20bn drinks colossus continues to outshine most of its much smaller rivals. It seems to...
Diageo hits the screen with responsible drinking message
10-Jul-2003
Diageo has unveiled its first ever-national TV campaign to promote responsible drinking.In the face of mounting pressure from anti-alcohol...
DIAGEO tackles binge drinking
10-Jul-2003
by Claire Hu Diageo is breaking new ground by launching the first national television campaign promoting responsible drinking. The company's...
Bacardi and Coke unite for pub push
07-Jul-2003
Bacardi-Brown Forman brands (BBF) and Coca-Cola Enterprises (CCE) have joined forces to promote a new spirit and mixer drink to UK pubs and bars.As...
Crehan looks to the Court of Appeal
01-Jul-2003
The long-running court action by ex-Inntrepreneur lessee Bernie Crehan is set to move to the Court of Appeal after both sides claimed a partial...
Havana Club to align itself with new Auf Wiedersehen series
23-Jun-2003
Havana Club is moving its publicity through the gears in preparation for a forthcoming series of Auf Wiedersehen Pet, which will be set in Cuba.The...
Raising Spirits
16-Jun-2003
The Publican is embarking on a crusade to raise the profile and profits of spirits in UK pubs and bars. So get ready."Raising Spirits" is not...
Maxxium hits the road with cocktail mix tour
16-Jun-2003
Maxxium UK has embarked on a drinking and driving initiative with a difference in its crusade to raise the standards of mixed drinks in UK pubs and...
Wetherspoon to stock premium spirit brands
12-Jun-2003
Pub-goers may not be able to swear in a Wetherspoon pub anymore, but they can now get their laughing gear round some b****y good spirits!In a move...
ScotCo's absinthe concept blasted by critics
11-Jun-2003
It's sparked the kind of controversy that Oscar Wilde would have been proud of.The attempt by Scottish Courage to rekindle the mood of 19th century...
Bulmers gets shot of Sidekick
10-Jun-2003
The "everything must go" sale at Bulmers has begun with the sale of Sidekick to Halewood International.As predicted on thePublican.com on 8 May,...
Bacardi-Martini launches bid to tackle hosts passing off'
05-Jun-2003
by Claire Hu Bacardi-Martini has launched an initiative with Trading Standards officers to crack down on its flagship rum being "passed off" with...
Diageo parts company with digital arm
28-May-2003
Diageo has sold off Translucis, its on-trade digital media network. Avanti, a broadband specialist with a strong presence in the retail sector, has...
Flagship Vodka on course for UK's premium market
22-May-2003
by Claire Hu A new vodka brand, which claims to be based on a recipe from the time of Russian Tsar Peter the Great, some 300 years ago, is this week...
Portman Group bans Fcuk Spirit
21-May-2003
The Portman Group has ordered the withdrawal of Fcuk Spirit after its independent complaints panel upheld a complaint against the premium packaged...
Diageo scraps Guinness FastPour system
15-May-2003
Diageo's bid to launch a quick-pouring Guinness has flopped after a three-month test in 30 busy outlets proved that drinkers and barstaff prefer the...
Smirnoff laser pen promotion attacked
15-May-2003
A licensee has refused to run a Smirnoff promotion that offers drinkers free laser pens for fear that they can damage people's eyesight.Diageo's "If...
Bacardi breaks 141-year-old family tie
15-May-2003
The possibility of another huge spirits shake-up increased last week when the Bacardi family took the first step towards sacrificing total control of...
Chain reaction gives vodka a huge lift
01-May-2003
Vodka bar chains such as Style in the City's Babushka and Inventive Leisure's Revolution are behind the continued explosion in sales of the white...
Leeds United dram up sponsorship from Whyte and Mackay
11-Apr-2003
Whyte and Mackay has secured the multi-million pound sponsorship of Leeds United.The Scotch whisky is set to replace Strongbow cider on the shirts of...
Mixing it up
08-Apr-2003
For pubs that don't have time to turn their barperson into Tom Cruise, there are several ready-to-mix cocktails now on the market. By Ben...
US drinks giant snaps up Tuaca
08-Apr-2003
Tuaca, the Italian liqueur distributed by Brighton-based company Danes in the UK, has been acquired by US drinks giant Brown-Forman (B-F).In a deal...
Craftsmanship of Cognac sets
27-Mar-2003
it up as a connoisseurs' delight Cognac is one of the world's most exciting and versatile spirits. Rarely has distilled wine been turned into such a...
'Viagrapops' rumours a smokescreen for Roxoff
25-Mar-2003
Lock up your daughters! Rumour has it that a new breed of libido boosting drinks is poised to infiltrate the nation's pubs and bars this summer.If...
GBL fights Bacardi for 'Coast' trademark
18-Mar-2003
GBL International has attempted to steal Bacardi-Martini's thunder by brewing up a storm in the fledgling flavoured sparkling wine sector.Steve...
Cariel Vanilla Vodka hits style bars
14-Mar-2003
Facile & Co, the Swedish drinks company behind boutique spirits such as Seriously vodka, Seriously pinky and Imagin gin, has launched a new...
Spirits groups appeal to Chancellor for duty reduction
17-Feb-2003
The UK spirits industry has kick-started pre-Budget negotiations by calling for a reduction in duty rates.Both the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA)...
Martell puts cash on the National
13-Feb-2003
Martell is set to crack the whip in the cognac category by maximising its £2m sponsorship of the Grand National.The brand has lent its name to the...
Shocktail to call the shots
12-Feb-2003
After Shock is looking to diversify from the down-in-one sector with the launch of a range of "shooter cocktails". The cinnamon-flavoured brand, a...
GBL shelves new factory after tax hit
16-Jan-2003
GBL International, maker of VK Vodka Kick, has shelved plans to build a new factory because of Gordon Brown's 65 per cent tax hike on spirit-based...
Smirnoff Ice faces
12-Dec-2002
investigation in US American regulators have begun an inquiry into Smirnoff Ice as part of a wider inquiry into the flavoured malt-beverage category....
UK drinks giant distances itself from stateside Smirnoff Ice contoversy
11-Dec-2002
Diageo UK has dismissed allegations that its leading Smirnoff Ice premium packaged spirit (PPS) brand doesn't contain any Smirnoff vodka.Following...
Disaronno's aroma campaign goes down the Tubes
06-Dec-2002
Italian liqueur Disaronno has been forced to shelve an aroma campaign on the London Underground due to fears of a terrorist gas attack.The brand had...
Kyndal goes out on the L'ush
22-Nov-2002
Kyndal Spirits has expanded its portfolio for the first time since securing Scotland's biggest ever management buy-out last year.The Glasgow-based...
Tequila producers out to raise profile of spirit
19-Nov-2002
Mexico's tequila producers have embarked on a generic crusade to raise the spirit's profile in the UK.The Consejo Regulador del Tequila (CRT) has...
Potentially fatal batch of Johnnie Walker discoverd by FSA
14-Nov-2002
The Food Standards Agency (FSA) is warning licensees and drinkers to be vigilant after discovering counterfeit bottle of Johnnie Walker Black Label...
A sherry amour
06-Nov-2002
Sherry producers are making a concerted effort to shake off its 'drunk by grannies at Christmas' image. Ben McFarland tracks the progress.When...
Malibu given pre-Christmas push by Allied
05-Nov-2002
Allied Domecq has targeted the UK on-trade as part of a major support programme for its recently acquired Malibu brand.The spirits giant is putting...
