Spirits

New product round-up

3 Michelin-star chef-inspired gin, Tanqueray creates alcohol-free pour, new spirits' profit pledges

26-Feb-2021 By Stuart Stone

Alongside the launch of a gin inspired by the cuisine of Anne-Sophie Pic and a low and no Tanqueray variant, Equiano Rum Co and Elephant Gin have pledged to donate respective profits their new spirit launches to Anti-Slavery International and African...

New product round-up

Kopparberg Passionfruit & Orange Cider launch, limited editions from Eden Mill and Compass Box

19-Feb-2021 By Stuart Stone

This latest new product round-up includes more pours from Kopparberg, Eden Mill, Compass Box and TW Kempton.

New product round-up

Ryan Reynolds unveils Wrexham AFC gin, Super Bock UK partnership, ‘World’s first’ Indian white spiced rum

12-Feb-2021 By Stuart Stone

This new product round-up includes news of UK rollouts for the ‘world’s first’ Indian white spiced rum and Portuguese pour Super Bock as well as a limited-edition release of Ryan Reynolds’ Aviation Gin.

New product round-up

‘England’s first’ carbon-negative gins, Queer Brewing unveils core range, Tanqueray creates Blackcurrant serve

05-Feb-2021 By Stuart Stone

The latest new product round-up includes 'firsts' from UK-based gin distillers, more pours from premium gin brand Tanqueray and new brews from Queer Brewing.

Opinion

‘Dry January not about giving up on pubs’

02-Feb-2021 By Debbie Baisden, the Rayleigh Arms, Terling, Essex

The start of 2021 saw me take on the challenge of Dry January, to be totally honest it is not the first year I’ve completed this journey.

Parliamentary pub sales top £280,000 in 2020 with £20k spent since lockdown one

01-Feb-2021 By Stuart Stone

Wet sales across the Parliamentary Estate’s pub and bars since the UK's first national lockdown totalled more than £20,000 – with many drink prices found beneath both on-trade averages and those of nearby sites.

New product round-up

Absolut Vodka unveils paper bottle, New York Distilling Company and Trois Rivières distribution deals

29-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

This not so dry January product round-up includes news from Eden Mill, Campari UK, Mangrove UK and Absolut Vodka.

New product round-up

Israel’s ‘first whisky’ lands in UK, Big Drop unveils Nordic brews, Beavertown launches High Priestess

22-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

An international flavoured new product round-up features new brews created in tandem with beer makers in Iceland, Sweden, Norway and Finland as well as new distribution deals for an Israeli whisky and a Danish spirit maker.

Jobs round-up

Minister motion wins support, hospitality’s ethnicity pay gap revealed

14-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

The first jobs round-up of 2021 includes an update on the campaign for a dedicated hospitality minister, a new hire at Halewood, and the release of a data review examining the experiences of hospitality staff from different ethnic backgrounds.

new product round-up

BrewDog launches Elvis AF, Phillip Schofield adds to wine range

08-Jan-2021 By Stuart Stone

The first new product round-up of 2021 includes another low and no twist on a BrewDog staple and TV’s Phillip Schofield adding a second wine to his growing range.

New product round-up

Sir Geoff Hurst launch to support Alzheimer and dementia charities, Boss Brewing ‘protest beer’

18-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

The final new product round-up before Christmas 2020 includes a protest pour from Boss Brewing, a gin launch from TV presenter Julia Bradbury, and World Cup winner Sir Geoff Hurst unveiling a limited-edition gin and whisky collection.

Sponsored by Diageo

How to install draught cocktails

11-Dec-2020 By The Morning Advertiser

The growth of draught cocktail technology means pubs with little time or bar space to make cocktails can now easily tap into this profitable category.

New product round-up

Beavertown revives Tempus Project, Kingstone Press low alcohol cider, Fever-Tree creates new mixer

11-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

A wave of product launches includes new creations from Beavertown, Aluna Coconut, Signature Brew and Fever-Tree.

New product round-up

Coca-Cola launches into Europe alcohol market, new spirits celebrate Birmingham, Salty Tiers released

04-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

Amid a wave of new spirit launches, the Coca-Cola Company has announced that Topo Chico Hard Seltzer has reached the UK.

Has Covid-19 shaken up low and no alcohol pub drinks?

03-Dec-2020 By Stuart Stone

The coronavirus pandemic not only failed to burst the low and no bubble but helped reinforce the category’s importance in the embattled on-trade.

New product round-up

Captain Sir Tom Moore charity gin, new Gemma Collins liqueur ‘worthy of any diva’, World Cup winner unveils ale

27-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

In addition to more festive and low-alcohol pours, Captain Sir Tom Moore, Gemma Collins and Rugby World Cup winner Steve Thompson MBE have announced new drinks launches.

The Drinks List

The Drinks List – Top Brands to Stock in 2021

27-Nov-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Despite being closed for four months, facing strict curfews, tier systems and enduring a second national lockdown, drinks sales in the on-trade were strong when the sector was open.

New product round-up

Christmas spirits: 'world first' vodka, non-alcoholic rum alternative and 'Sea & T' RTDs unveiled

20-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

A wave of new spirit news including updates from botanical rum distillery the Spirited Union, the Cotswolds Distillery, Nordic beverage brand Altia and alcohol-free spirit maker Caleño has landed in the past week.

Countdown to Brexit

Post-Brexit supply chains: ‘We don’t know what we’re preparing for’

16-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

As Britain edges towards the end of an 11-month Brexit transition period, drinks makers and pub sector stakeholders remain hopeful the lack of clarity over supply chains will be addressed in the coming weeks.

New product round-up

Royal British Legion gin, Apprentice mainstay rebuke and Christmas spirits pour in

13-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

The latest new product round-up is awash with a flood of festive launches and new spirit launches including a Royal British Legion tribute and a bitter lemon dig at an Apprentice stalwart.

Christmas stocking: which drinks should make pub and bar operator lists this year?

10-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

Though drink sales in pubs traditionally snowball over Christmas, the ongoing pandemic means that, more than ever, strong seasonal returns will be far from gift wrapped when venues reopen.

Post-lockdown profits hidden in cocktails

09-Nov-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

It was the rising star of the on-trade outside of specialist bars, yet cocktails in pubs understandably took a bashing during and after the first coronavirus lockdown. But forget the category at your peril, because the money generated by cocktails prior...

New product round-up

‘World’s strongest gin’, Jurassic Park actor’s whiskey collaboration, brewer creates Burnham beer

06-Nov-2020 By Stuart Stone

A pair of scientists launch what they claim is the world's strongest gin, Salford-based Seven Bro7hers brews Andy Burnham tribute and Samuel Gelston’s launches its latest Irish whiskey matured in Jurassic Park actor Sam Neill’s Pinot Noir casks.

New product round-up

Gin-spiration: Charity 10pm curfew spirit launch, ‘bottle for life’ roll-out, new pour to fund arctic row

30-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

A raft recent spirit launches includes new pours from Salcombe Distilling Company and Laphroaig, as well as charity focused Sis4ers Distillery and Northwest Passage Expedition gins.

Jobs round-up

Hawkes founder steps down, Burnham beer staff fundraiser, Red Mist to ‘give back’ apprentice grants

29-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

The latest on-trade job news includes the departure of Hawkes founder Simon Wright, the launch of a fundraising scheme revolving around an Andy Burnham inspired beer, a cash windfall for Red Mist apprentices and a new hire for George Clooney's tequila...

Rum crowned ‘the drink of lockdown’

27-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

New figures from the Wine and Spirit Trade Association (WSTA) have revealed rum enjoyed the biggest growth across all spirits categories during lockdown.

Diageo buys Chase distillery

26-Oct-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Spirits giant Diageo has acquired family-owned Chase Distillery and its portfolio of brands for an undisclosed sum.

Sales in 'high' Covid alert tier pubs halved

22-Oct-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Pubs, bars and restaurants in the ‘high’ alert tier saw a sales drop of between 46% and 54% from Thursday 15 October to Saturday 17 October, new figures have found.

Jobs round-up

LTC helpline volume more than doubles, 1 in 3 Brits know a jobless hospitality worker, live job advert drop

22-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

While Puttshack, Disaronno International UK, Chestnut and Wines of Great Britain have announced senior reshuffles, the Licensed Trade Charity (LTC) has reported increased demand for mental health support.

New product round-up

Coors Light rebrand, new gin to raise funds for hospitality sector, Madrí Excepcional UK launch

16-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Amid a swathe of spirit launches, Molson Coors Beverage Company announced the rebrand of Coors Light and UK launch of Madrí Excepcional, while a new not-for-profit gin brand launched to raise funds for the UK's embattled hospitality sector.

New product round-up

Wave of new spirit expressions launch, Barbados Sea Turtle Project partner rum to hit UK

09-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Intercontinental Brands has added a spiced rum pledging 10% of its profits to the Barbados Sea Turtle Project to its brand portfolio, while new spirit releases from the likes of The Moore House Cocktail Company, JJ Whitley Vodka, Jatt Life also landed....

New product round-up

Iron Maiden, 99 Luftballons and Netflix star drink launches revealed

02-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Heavy metal band Iron Maiden has released its latest Day of the Dead pour in tandem with Robinsons Brewery, while Signature Brewery has created an Oktoberfest serve named after an iconic German language single.

Ei Publican Partnerships to give away 100,000 free drinks

01-Oct-2020 By Stuart Stone

Ei Publican Partnerships has unveiled free drinks campaign ‘Here’s to the Pub’ offering a complimentary tipple to guests at more than 1,000 pubs throughout October.

New product round-up

Shipyard, Grolsch, Thatchers draft on-trade launches

25-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

Shipyard, Grolsch and Thatchers have lined up new brews to help them tap into the on-trade while new sparkling mead, banana rum and English vermouth launches have also hit the market.

New product round-up

BrewDog launches ‘world’s strongest beer’, new craft brewer launches fungi-based range

18-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

Scottish craft beer maker BrewDog has created a new 57.8% pour, South Devon-based Salcombe Distilling Co has teamed up with two-Michelin starred chef Niall Keating, and a new brewer has created a range of craft beers using adaptogenic mushrooms.

New product round-up

New brews from Adnams, Beavertown, Fourpure and Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall revealed

04-Sep-2020 By Stuart Stone

Kopparberg, Jura and Westons have all provided new product news in the past week while new brews from the likes of Adnams, Beavertown, Fourpure and television chef and environmental campaigner Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall have also been confirmed

New product round-up

Fruit flavoured serves the pick of latest product launches

20-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

From a pair of passion fruit pours and a tayberry tipple to the launch of a trio of schnapps serves, there are berry rich pickings for operators among the glut of new fruit flavoured products in this week's round-up.

Video

Fear table service will stunt small drinks brands

19-Aug-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Smaller drinks producers fear table service will stifle sales as consumers won’t be able to see a pub’s full range, a craft gin maker has said.

New product round-up

Wave of spirits, low-calorie seltzers and spritzes floods post-lockdown market

14-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

The past week has seen Signature Brew join forces with Mercury Prize shortlisted Sports Team, Bowmore announce a £50,000 limited-edition whisky in tandem with Aston Martin and a host of low-calorie pours hit the market.

NEW PRODUCT ROUND-UP

Bacardi and Dead Man’s Fingers grow rum range

06-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

Both Bacardi and Dead Man’s Fingers have added new variants ahead of National Rum Day on 16 August, while Everards and Robinsons have launched limited edition beers.

Diageo records 4% GB sales slump as global profit halves

04-Aug-2020 By Stuart Stone

Beverage behemoth Diageo recorded a 4% drop in net sales in Great Britain as the company saw its global operating profit cut by 47.1% by the Covid-19 pandemic.

Pub and restaurant sales increase by more than a third week-on-week

31-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

Latest figures have revealed that trading in managed pubs, bars and restaurants has been ‘more steady than sensational’ as the sector looks to return to pre-pandemic levels.

Beer is returning pub-goers' favourite drink but reopening weekend sales still down

14-Jul-2020 By Nikkie Thatcher

Overall drinks sales across managed pubs and bars were 49% down on pre-lockdown levels on Saturday 4 July and 52% down on Sunday 5 July, new research has found.

The MA new product review

6 O'Clock Gin launches two new flavours

14-Jul-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Craft gin producer 6 O'Clock Gin has launched a new series of ready-to-drink products to its range. Find out more by watching the latest MA New Products Review video

Covid-19 crisis can ‘sharpen focus’ on hospitality as a highly skilled sector

10-Jul-2020 By Stuart Stone

The founder of East London Liquor Company has stressed that the trials and tribulations of the Covid-19 lockdown can help the hospitality sector shake off its reputation for being low skilled.

In association with Diageo

How to sell spirits post-lockdown

24-Jun-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

What will customers want when the pub trade reopens is the million-pound question operators across the UK are likely to be asking as they prepare their sites for the first influx of socially distanced punters. And following a steady uptick in sales over...

$100m on-trade global recovery fund launched by Diageo

24-Jun-2020 By Nicholas Robinson

Spirits and beer giant Diageo has announced the launch of a global recovery fund for the on-trade which will see $100m (£79m) of financial support made available to the hospitality sector.

In association with Diageo

Diageo shows strong commitment to sector

08-Apr-2020 By The Morning Advertiser

Diageo has unveiled help for its customers through phone lines so they can access financial assistance, equipment care and also live online training.

#Unitedwestand

William Grant to add two Olympic swimming pools’ worth of ethanol to hand sanitiser effort

30-Mar-2020 By Stuart Stone

The maker of Glenfiddich, Monkey Shoulder and Hendrick’s gin has pledged 5m litres of ethanol to the hand sanitiser production drive in order to combat the spread of coronavirus.

Pubcos listed among top tourist attraction providers

13-Mar-2020 By Stuart Stone

VisitEngland has recognised a number of pub operators among 2019’s top tourist attraction providers – joining Liverpool and Manchester United football clubs, Bletchley Park and Durham Castle on its annual list.