Spirits & Cocktails

Legendary rare whisky sells for nearly £12,000

18-Jan-2018 By James Beeson

A rare 30-year-old bottle of single malt whisky has been bought for a world record £11,900 in an online auction held by Perth-based Whisky Auctioneer.

LoneWolf Spirits partners with Global Brands to expand distribution

17-Jan-2018 By James Beeson

LoneWolf Spirits – the distilling arm of Scottish craft beer company BrewDog – has announced a new partnership with drinks supplier Global Brands, in a move it hopes will boost sales by £40m over the next two years.

Number of distilleries still soaring thanks to gin boom

17-Jan-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Britain is now host to 315 distilleries, which is more than double the number that were operating across the nation five years ago.

Drinkers’ Voice blasts new research recommending we only drink one unit a day

15-Jan-2018 By James Beeson

Alcohol consumer organisation Drinkers’ Voice has hit back at advice that consumers ought to avoid drinking more than one unit of alcohol per day.

Drinks planning: flavours of the months

12-Jan-2018 By Michelle Perrett

January is traditionally not the easiest month in which to attract punters to the pub, but licensees should view it as an opportunity by finding the right drinks to sell – and the same goes for many other events throughout the upcoming 12 months.

ASA bans Captain Morgan Snapchat filter

03-Jan-2018 By James Beeson

Diageo Great Britain has been banned from producing a Snapchat lens advertising its Captain Morgan rum brand, after the Advertising Standards Agency (ASA) ruled that the filter could appeal to under-18s.

Experts' 2018 drinks predictions revealed

03-Jan-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Mixologists from Sheffield’s Leopold Square area have revealed their top predictions for drinks over the next 12 months.

JDW slashes drinks prices for January

02-Jan-2018 By Nikkie Sutton

Pub giant JD Wetherspoon (JDW) is having a January sale and reducing prices across its drinks range this month.

Rum sales hot on the heels of gin

02-Jan-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Sales of rum are expected to exceed the £1bn mark for 2017, just behind sales of gin, which totalled £1.2bn in the 12 months to September last year.

Brandy is the UK’s favourite Christmas spirit

21-Dec-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

The UK’s favourite spirit to drink at Christmas is brandy, according to new research from the University of Warwick.

Bar group launches Ginuary sale to help boost January turnover

21-Dec-2017 By James Beeson

The New World Trading Company (NWTC) is to launch a special deal on gins throughout the month of January in a bid to boost sales.

Gin still the nation’s favourite spirit

18-Dec-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Gin continues to soar as the most popular tipple as a recent poll discovered it was still the UK’s favourite spirit.

Diageo celebrates 20-year anniversary

18-Dec-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Drinks giant Diageo, which owns brands such as Johnnie Walker Scotch, Smirnoff vodka, Tanqueray gin and Guinness stout, has celebrated its 20th anniversary.

WSTA and Crimestoppers warn of serious health risks from fake booze

18-Dec-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Operators needs to be aware of the serious health implications fake alcohol can cause according to charity Crimestoppers and the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

In association with Diageo

3 whisky cocktails for winter

14-Dec-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Whisky is unlike any other spirit. Fact. It is complex, often mysterious, but sadly sometimes viewed in the wrong light by drinkers and even some bartenders as a stuffy, challenging liquid that is unyielding and impossible to use in cocktails.

BrewDog launches new high strength spirits into LoneWolf portfolio

07-Dec-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Scottish brewer and bar operator BrewDog has unveiled a small-batch release vodka and a gin to its LoneWolf portfolio.

What’s going on at Campari UK?

04-Dec-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Campari UK is at the centre of a perfect storm, riding the wave of growing demand for premium drinks from British pubgoers.

Coffee and cocktail trends: are you ready for the ‘explosion’?

04-Dec-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Sophistication, social media and theatre are just three big trends set to hit the coffee and cocktail scene in the next 12 months, according to a new report.

In association with Pernod Ricard UK

Make the perfect Porn Star Martini

04-Dec-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

There is nothing quite like a Porn Star Martini. Not only do you combine the freshness of passion fruit and pineapple with the richness of vanilla, wrapped up in a hit of vodka, you also get another drink on the side.

Brugal 1888 launches new design as part of growth strategy

29-Nov-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Rum brand Brugal 1888 is set to roll out a new package design as part of a wider growth strategy and is aiming to target a new premium audience.

Celebrity pub owner Heston Blumenthal’s perfect G&T

24-Nov-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Heston Blumenthal has revealed how to make the perfect gin and tonic, including when to add the fizzy mixer.

Pernod Ricard ‘disappointed’ ASA complaint was upheld

23-Nov-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Drinks company Pernod Ricard was “disappointed” that a complaint made to the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) about a Facebook advert was upheld.

AUTUMN BUDGET 2017

Wine and spirit duty to be frozen in Autumn Budget

22-Nov-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Duty on wine and spirits will be frozen rather than increase in line with inflation as planned, the Chancellor of the Exchequer Philip Hammond has announced at yesterday's (22 November) Autumn Budget.

Turnover of independent craft distillers more than doubles in 5 years

20-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

Surging demand for artisan gin and vodka has led to the turnover of independent craft gin and vodka distillers more than doubling in the past five years, according to new data.

The Drinks List: Top Brands To Stock 2018

20-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

With the on-trade drinks market moving at an ever-faster pace as operators try to keep pace with increasingly volatile drinkers, knowledge truly is power. Here, The Morning Advertiser brings you the facts behind the stats

Drinkaware: ‘We are not the booze police’

15-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

It is a busy Friday night in the pub and the punters are out in force enjoying themselves as the drinks flow from behind the bar. Just as things start to get into the swing, a distressed customer storms into the bar and frantically screams: “Everybody...

David Beckham stars in Haig Club Scotch Whisky film

14-Nov-2017 By Michelle Perrett

David Beckham is appearing on a screen near you in a new 60-second film for the Haig Club Scotch Whisky as part of the #LeaveAsYouArrived campaign.

The Drinks List: Top Brands To Stock webinar launches

13-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Be the first to discover which drinks and trends are driving sales in the on-trade by tuning into The Morning Advertiser’s (MA) Drinks List: Top Brands To Stock free webinar this Thursday (16 November).

London re-established as gin capital of the UK

09-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

London is now home to 24 gin distilleries - more than existed in the whole of the England in 2010 – according to new statistics revealed by the Wine & Spirit Trade Association (WSTA).

Tis the season to be jolly: How pubs can make the most of the Christmas party period

07-Nov-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

While Bing Crosby dreamed of a White Christmas, operators need to do more than dream in order to get their festive wishes.

Lakes Distillery seeks to emulate BrewDog success with new crowdfunding scheme

06-Nov-2017 By James Beeson

The Lakes Distillery has launched a new crowdfunding initiative via Crowdcube, as it seeks to expand capacity and invest in new storage and distribution facilities.

Sales of better bevvies rise again in pubs

03-Nov-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Brits cannot get enough of high-quality drinks when visiting the pub, according to the latest research from CGA, which shows two in five consumers are now going premium.

Adnams develops its own tonic water

31-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Family-owned brewery and distiller Adnams has produced its own tonic water to accompany its range of gins and vodkas.

More than 90% of customers served with dirty crockery or glasses

30-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

There’s nothing worse than going into a pub being served a pint in a murky glass, or being brought food on a plate that looks like it hasn’t seen a dishwasher this side of September.

Alcohol taxes are a cash cow for Government, say public

30-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Just one in ten people believe that increased taxes on alcohol go towards helping those who misuse the substance, according to new research by alcohol consumer organisation Drinkers’ Voice.

Spooky Halloween drinks to serve

27-Oct-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Halloween-themed cocktails and drinks could be just the trick pubs need to treat their customers this year, as the festivity becomes ever more popular in the UK.

Hayman's Gin strengthens team before return to capital

26-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Hayman’s Gin has announced the appointment of Tim Homewood as head of advocacy ahead of distillation relocating back to London later this year.

Gin boom could be ruined by tax increase

26-Oct-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

A horrendous tax bill could choke the dramatic growth of the British gin industry if the Chancellor does not freeze duty on spirits, according to the drinks trade in a desperate plea to the Government.

Portobello Road launches 'world's first' festive turkey gin

19-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

London craft gin makers Portobello Road Gin has announced the release of its third Director’s Cut gin.

International Gin and Tonic Day

10 real #GinProblems pubs can help customers avoid

19-Oct-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Brits have taken to Twitter to vent their real-life and sometimes worrying gin problems, which range from no tonic to too much gin choice. Here are 10 #GinProblems pubs can help their customers avoid this International Gin and Tonic Day.

Bartending is a ‘dream career’ with a big salary

18-Oct-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Leading bartenders are commanding salaries in excess of prime ministers’ and presidents’, as more consider the profession a desirable option.

Nearly half of Brits drinking less than last year

16-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Nearly half (44%) of British people are drinking less when going out than this time last year, according to new research.

Scare their pants off – top tips for Halloween in the pub

16-Oct-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

Everyone loves a theme, especially around Halloween. Whether it is a spooky drinks menu, a ghoulish food offer or a full-blown American-style fancy dress party, Halloween is the perfect time of year to boost sales.

Future Trends: Spirits

Separating cocktail fads from the future

05-Oct-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Cocktail trends can be tricky to predict, but having a process in place to help find the future patterns can pay dividends for operators.

Sharp’s Brewery launches hop gin to on-trade

05-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Cornish brewery Sharp’s has announced the release of a hop-infused gin to the on-trade, following a successful limited release last year.

Future Trends: Spirits

Pre-bottled cocktails doesn’t mean a reduction in quality

04-Oct-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Serving pre-prepared cocktails can save pubs valuable time, as long as it is done right, delegates at The Morning Advertiser’s Future Trends: Spirts heard.

Future Trends: Spirits

‘We must speak loud and proud about vodka’ say drinks experts

04-Oct-2017 By Nikkie Sutton

Vodka has a voice to be heard and it is all about how you tell its story according to experts at The Morning Advertiser’s: Future Trends event.

Future Trends: Spirits

Top bartenders ‘driving demand’ for rum

04-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

Demand for rum is being driven by the enthusiasm of top bartenders and the growth in interest in cocktails, according to a leading global rum ambassador.

Future Trends: Spirits

Where next for whisky?

04-Oct-2017 By James Beeson

The rise of products from the rest of the world market and an increased focus on personality are just two trends to look out for in the future of whisky, according to a leading spirits author.