Spirits & Cocktails

Crunching the numbers: an in-depth look at the best performing brands and variants in every beverage category in the on-trade

Drinks list 2020

The Drinks List: Top Brands to Stock 2020

By Nicholas Robinson

Getting to grips with data in The Morning Advertiser’s Drinks List 2019 will give operators a head start in formulating successful drinks menus.

Rum’s the word: while the overall rum market only grew marginally, excitement surrounds the category for 2020

Rum set to be next big spirit in 2020

By Nikkie Thatcher

Sales of dark and golden rums are on the rise as in the 12 months to June 2019, dark rums were worth £127m and golden rums £383m, according to a new report.

Festive spirit: operators are more likely to be able to turn people on to a different tipple at this time of year

What are 2019's biggest party drink trends?

By Emily Hawkins

Now is the ideal time to offer your customers a different drink to their usual because research shows people are more willing to experiment at this time of year.

All about the 'Gram: how to make your drink a social media star

In association with Diageo

How to make a drink Instagrammable

By Nicholas Robinson

The phrase ‘people are drinking less, but better’ is well-used, but gives the pub and bar trade something they can really use to their advantage.

Colourless cocktails: gender-neutral range aims to provide more inclusive variety

Are gender-neutral cocktails a thing?

By Alice Leader

A new survey has revealed 21% of participants do not feel comfortable drinking certain cocktails as they feel they are better suited to the opposite gender.

Cutting queues: bartenders could be unaware they are losing customers

Long queue times ‘drives customers away’

By Alice Leader

New research shows queues could be losing bartenders more customers than they realise, with the average British consumer waiting up to a whopping 12 hours a year for their cocktails.

In the mix: Tales & Tender’s cocktail draught system is set to speed up cocktail making

Cocktail operator is van-tastic

By Alice Leader

Tales & Tender founder Nick Whitby claims his cocktail contraption “is like having a bartender with 15 arms, under the counter and behind the scenes”.

Gourd opportunity: Halloween sales are on the rise

Halloween provides big drinks sales uptick

By Nicholas Robinson

Big kids are getting in on the Halloween action, giving pubs a big rise in drinks sales, with spirits in particular seeing strong growth, new data has suggested.

Worth the wait: expect sherry aromas, ripe fruits and an oak finish from Benromach’s new release

Benromach unveils rare 50-year-old single malt

By Alice Leader

Malt Whisky Trail member – Benromach Distillery – has revealed one of its rarest single malt releases after spending half a century maturing in a former sherry hogshead cask.

Cocktail craze: pubgoers want visually appealing drinks but are tending towards simpler serves, Pontoon’s Simon Weston said

Drinkers seeking ‘purist’ cocktails

By Emily Hawkins

Simple serves will be the next big trend within the cocktail category out-of-home, according to the director of a pre-batch cocktail company.

Marketing spend: the new drink will be supported by a multimillion-pound marketing campaign

Jägermeister launches cold brew coffee

By Nikkie Thatcher

Spirit business Jägermeister has announced the launch of a cold brew coffee, available in the on and off-trade this month (September).

Local menus: Diageo's Ketel One Vodka has challenged bartenders to create sustainable drinks

One-mile sourcing competition for bartenders

By Emily Hawkins

Premium vodka brand Ketel One has challenged bartenders to make a cocktail menu using ingredients that are sourced within one square mile of their site.

No ruling against pubs: the name ‘Pornstar Martini’ can still be used in pubs and bars (credit: Matthew Atherden/gettyimages.co.uk)

Pubs can still serve ‘Pornstars’

By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs can continue to serve top-selling cocktail Pornstar Martini after alcohol watchdog Portman Group ordered Marks & Spencer (M&S) to change its RTD version of the drink.

On the rocks: operators are turning to premium non-alcoholic serves as a way to entice Millennial drinkers

'Market for mocktails will only increase'

By Emily Hawkins

The popularity of mocktails shows no sign of stopping and will drive the premium drinks category, according to the founder of soft drinks supplier Peter Spanton Drinks.

Freeze plea: spirits trade joins forces to stop duty rise

Spirits producers call for financial protection

By Nicholas Robinson

Gin, whisky, vodka and a host of other UK spirits makers have joined forces in an effort to make the new Chancellor Sajid Javid impose a freeze on spirits duty in the next Budget.

Expert advice: (l-r) Diageo whisky ambassador Colin Dunn and Max Murdy-Flisher of Strongroom Bar, Shoreditch

Whisky masterclass: sponsored by Diageo

The ultimate whisky masterclass

By Nicholas Robinson

Whisky is quickly breaking away from its long-held reputation of being a rigid, complex and confusing category, with many Brits – young and older – willing to break with said tradition.

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