Spirits

In association with Diageo

How to make a drink Instagrammable

20-Nov-2019 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.

‘Active-ist’ drinkers expect brands to go the extra mile for them

23-Oct-2019 By Stuart Stone

Far-reaching social, economic, political and technological uncertainty is driving the growth of a new consumer mindset and premium spirit sales, according to William Grant & Sons.

Spirit trademark registrations increase by 58% since 2016

21-Oct-2019 By Emily Hawkins

Trademark registrations of spirits reached a record high in 2018 as the consumer demand for flavoured drinks shows no signs of slowing.

Jägermeister: We don't know who came up with the Jägerbomb

08-Oct-2019 By Stuart Stone

Mast-Jägermeister UK’s marketing director Nicole Goodwin discusses consumers' move away from the nightclub scene with the launch of Cold Brew Coffee.

Pubs get boost as Millennials favour spirit-based drinks

03-Oct-2019 By Alice Leader

Research has repeatedly suggested younger consumers are drinking less but according to a recent survey, pubs are benefiting from Millennials choosing spirits as their go-to tipple.

‘Government hell-bent’ on ignoring wine and spirits sector

23-Sep-2019 By Emily Hawkins

The UK Government has neglected the importance of the wine sector to the country’s economy, according to the head of the wine and spirits association (WSTA).

Vermouth maker crowdfunds £100k for expansion into cans

20-Sep-2019 By Emily Hawkins

London spirits brand Asterley Bros has raised a £100,000 sum through a crowdfunding website to grow its reach.

Alcohol-free vodka launched by Stryyk

03-Dec-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Alcohol-free spirit brand Stryyk has added a third variant to its portfolio, which now consists of Not Rum, Not Gin and new addition Not Vodka.

The Drinks List: Top Brands to Stock 2019

18-Nov-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

With so much conflicting research in the market and varying opinions from analysts, The Morning Advertiser’s Drinks List 2019 reveals exactly what is going on with sales at the bar.

£3k fine for publicans who sold illegal vodka

23-Oct-2018 By Emily Hawkins

Two publicans have been fined more than £3,700 after they were caught selling illegal vodka at a pub in Tweedmouth, Northumberland.

Can we define craft?

01-Oct-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

The word 'craft' is bandied around so often it’s hard to know what is and what is not craft. Harder still is the fact few, the drinks industry in particular, work towards a standard when defining something as craft.

Beer still on top, but more Brits opting for alcohol-free

19-Sep-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

The UK’s favourite drink remains beer, with 17% of Brits asked citing it as their beverage of choice, however, an alcohol-free option came in at a close second new research has claimed.

Brits chug back record amounts of gin

18-Sep-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Brits have sloshed back 60m bottles of gin in the past 12 months, worth £1.6bn, according to the latest figures from the Wine & Spirits Trade Association (WSTA).

Pros and cons of running a spirits-focused bar

03-Aug-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Spirits and cocktail sales are booming, driven by increasing consumer demand for better experiences, as well as a large proportion of new product development in the segment. But for those businesses focusing on spirits, what are the upsides and downsides...

Rising gin and beer sales – what Diageo's results mean for pubs

26-Jul-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Global spirits and beer giant Diageo, maker of Gordon’s and Guinness, has reported a healthy annual sales increase of 8% in Great Britain, driven by its core beer and gin brands.

In association with Diageo

Unravel the complexities of whisky

04-Jul-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

The complexity of whisky as a category means there is a product or style for every customer, a situation made clear in new sales data that shows pockets of significant growth, as well as areas of real sales potential.

Booze sales could be damaged with duty freeze cut

04-Jul-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Scrapping the alcohol duty freeze put in place last year by Government is “counter-productive”, and will increase pressure on cash-strapped consumers, the Wine & Spirit Trade Association has warned (WSTA).

Government making a mint from your booze sales

15-Jun-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

The Treasury is continuing to make a mint from UK booze sales, despite a freeze on alcohol duty in November, showing the sector can remain fruitful without another hike.

Smokestack barman wins big at Southern Comfort cocktail competition

22-May-2018 By Nicholas Robinson

Smokestack barman Lee Jones was applauded to victory last night as he beat five other bartenders to become the UK winner of Southern Comfort’s Southern Showdown.

In association with Diageo

How to build the perfect spirits offer

29-Mar-2017 By Nicholas Robinson

We have heard that spirits and cocktail sales are on the rise in pubs, but it is not a new message. Getting in on the act and making a success of the category, however, is not so simple.

Future Trends: Spirits

Customers spend 24% more on properly-served cocktails

12-Oct-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Consumers will spend up to 24% more on a cocktail that has been served properly and to a high-standard, according to exclusive research by CGA Strategy.

Event

10 reasons to attend the Future Trends: Spirits event

16-Sep-2016 By Nicholas Robinson

Operators will descend on London’s Royal Institution next month for the must-attend Future Trends: Spirits event where top trends, innovations and new products will be exclusively revealed. Here are the top 10 reasons why you must not miss it.

Events

Spirits Summit: insight and analysis from the leading trade event

09-Oct-2015 By PMA

This week saw the Publican's Morning Advertiser's annual Spirits Summit, which took place in Soho during London Cocktail Week. Find out all the insight from the event below.

Pub wine and spirit sales at a high

10-Feb-2015 By Mike Berry

Wine and spirits sales are becoming increasingly important to the on-trade and now account for almost half of the value of all drinks sales in new openings, exclusive figures have revealed.

Q&A: WSTA chief executive Miles Beale

17-Oct-2014 By Mike Berry

Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine & Spirit Trade Association, answers questions on the importance of spirits to the on-trade, taxation and future challenges for the category, ahead of his keynote speech at the PMA's new Spirits Summit.

Spirits training: Why staff need knowledge on spirits serve

18-May-2009

Cocktail culture having now had time to bed in, the popularity of long mixed drinks has reached corners of the on-trade one may never have thought...

Darling drops spirits duty but bashes beer

26-Nov-2008 By Ewan Turney

The Chancellor has done an amazing U-turn by dropping his duty rise on spirits to 4% but singled out pubs for more harsh punishment by keeping the...

Room for expansion

15-Mar-2007

As food grows in importance post-smoking-ban, spirits will have to work hard to stay relevant, says Nigel Huddleston With beer successfully managing...

Keeping spirits high

05-Oct-2006

The spirits market is under pressure. Nigel Huddleston reports

No half measures

05-Oct-2006 By Nigel Huddleston

A growing number of pubs have been tempted into believing that, where spirits are concerned, there really is a substitute for the real thing. But as...

Keep your spirits up

01-May-2006

Some journalists say it's lazy to use quotes at the start of a feature. So what is it to use your own quote at the start of a feature - a quote you...

The drinks doctor: Show some spirit

08-Mar-2006

Every so often the drinks industry is faced with a tough problem. Who're you gonna call? Why not The Publican's Drinks Doctor? He will endeavour to...

Spirited fightback

06-Oct-2005

Innovation has brought spirits back from a dark period in the 1990s. Nigel Huddleston reports on a renaissance that is putting spirits well ahead of...

Spirits training: Strong foundations

30-Sep-2004

Adam Withrington evaluates a new course from the Wine & Spirit Education Trust, that focuses on spirits training.If the limit of your spirits...

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...

Q&A: What is the legal position regarding measuring spirits?

14-Mar-2001

Please could you clarify the position regarding measuring spirits? As far as gin, rum, vodka and whisky are concerned legal measures apply. They can...