The London Spirits Competition brings you the latest updates on what is happening in the UK spirits industry. Have a look.
4/3/2021
New Kenyan Gin Shines A Light On African Juniper
The first gin in the world to be made with fresh juniper Procera berries grown in the highlands of Kenya, from which the gin takes its name, Procera has gone on sale in the UK priced at £70 a bottle with Enotria&Coe looking after the UK distribution.
Two Days Vodka Soda Secures £185,000
Ready-to-drink brand Two Days has gained a £185,000 (US$258,000) investment to accelerate its growth in the UK.
3/3/2021
Travel Retail Spirits Sales Could Hit $16.10bn In 2027
Spirits sales in global travel retail (GTR) are predicted to rise to US$16.1 billion by 2027 boosted by demand for blended whisky and Asia Pacific.
How Spiritrade Is Helping An Industry In Crisis
While the drinks industry around the world is still beleaguered by Covid-19, Brexit and tariffs, Spiritrade is taking action to mitigate these problems.
26/2/2021
Sazerac Appoints Dyspatchr As Singapore Importer
Singapore-based alcohol distributor Dyspatchr has been appointed the master importer and distributor for Sazerac’s Bond & Royal Portfolio.
The Lowdown: Al Fresco April
With restaurants champing at the bit to reopen, many – particularly in the capital – are looking to make use of what outside space they have in order to unlock in April.
25/2/2021
Whitley Neill Gin Production Heads To London
Halewood Artisanal Spirits has moved production of English gin brand Whitley Neill from the West Midlands to London.
Saint James To Release New Rum In International Markets
Agricole rum brand Saint James is to release its pure cane VSOP rum in international markets next month having already launched the product in France.
24/2/2021
Salford’s Kingsland Drinks Brings The Hidden Sea To UK Stores
Kingsland Drinks, exclusive UK distributor of The Hidden Sea’s four-strong range of wines, has secured listings with Sainsbury’s and Co-op stores to stock the sustainable Australian wine brand.
Dates Announced For UK Hospitality Reopening
The UK government has laid out the timeframe for the reopening of the hospitality sector and easing of wider lockdown restrictions in England.
15/2/2021
Chinese Brandy Koya Launches In The UK
High-end Chinese brandy Koya, produced by China’s oldest wine and spirits maker, Changyu, is launching in the UK this month through drinks distributor Bibendum.
Final Call For London Spirits Competition
Register before 22 February 2021 and get your spirits judged by the world's top bartenders and spirits buyers.
12/2/2021
Pernod Ricard UK Predicts ‘Massive Boom’ In On-trade Sales
David Haworth, the head of Pernod Ricard UK, is expecting a “massive boom” in on-trade sales when restrictions on opening are eased.
11/2/2021
Elixir Distillers Gains Approval For Islay Distillery
Spirits producer and bottler Elixir Distillers has been granted approval to build a Scotch whisky distillery on the Scottish island of Islay.
Neptune Rum Sells 50% Stake
Spirits producer Babco UK has purchased a 50% stake in Neptune Rum in a bid to establish the brand globally.
10/2/2021
UK Distillery Numbers Hit Record High In 2020
The number of distilleries in the UK reached a record high in 2020, with more than 100 new registrations, according to the Wine and Spirit Trade Association.
9/2/2021
Visit London's First-Ever Absinthe Distillery
London’s first absinthe distillery has opened in east London in a suitably trippy location.
Tanqueray Launches Blackcurrant Gin
High-end gin brand Tanqueray is hoping to capitalise on the flavoured gin boom with the launch of a blackcurrant expression called Blackcurrant Royale.
8/2/2021
Fabergé Unveils Us$2m Seven-piece Irish Whiskey Set
Jewellery firm Fabergé has teamed up with The Craft Irish Whiskey Co. to release the Emerald Isle Collection, which costs US$2 million and includes two bottles of 30-year-old whiskey and a Fabergé Celtic egg.
When Will Restaurants Reopen? New Government Source Speculates It May Not Be For Months
Ready to get back to restaurants already?
5/2/2021
Stock Spirits Reports ‘strong’ Off-trade Sales
Prestige vodka owner Stock Spirits reported a ‘strong’ off-trade performance for the 2020/21 first quarter, offsetting its ‘lower than expected’ on-trade sales.
Nemiroff Signs Distribution Deal With Coca-cola
Ukrainian vodka producer Nemiroff has signed an agreement with Coca-Cola HBC Italia that will see its brands distributed in Italy by the soft drinks giant.
4/2/2021
Tito’s Names New Distributors In Switzerland And Cyprus
Texas-based Tito’s Handmade Vodka has agreed new distribution partnerships in Switzerland and Cyprus.
London Covid: The Earliest Date Pubs And Restaurants Could Open Again
The hospitality sector contributed more than £16 billion to London's economy in a single year.
3/2/2021
Spirits Focus: How Merser & Co Is Bringing Rum Back To London
Very few Londoners seem to know the history of the city’s rum blending houses and how London was a hub of rum in the early 1900s.
Bacardi Reveals Cocktail Trends For 2021
Gin is the spirit of most interest to bartenders globally, according to Bacardi’s new on-trade trends report for 2021.
2/2/2021
John Crabbie & Co Launches 28yo Whisky
Halewood Artisanal Spirits have released 260 bottles of Crabbie 1992 Speyside Single Malt whisky in the UK.
1/2/2021
Cooper King Distillery's Gins Are Now Carbon-negative
Cooper King Distillery has announced it now produces carbon-negative gins as part of its ongoing commitment to fighting climate change.
How Bartenders Use London Spirits Competition To Keep On Top Of Trends
Even in lockdown, the best bartenders are constantly looking to hone their skills and keep on top of the latest drinks trends which makes judging the London Spirits Competition even more important.
29/1/2021
Japanese Yamazaki And Hakushu Distillery To Offer Virtual Tour Experience
Yamazaki and Hakushu, two celebrated Japanese whisky distilleries are offering an immersive virtual tour of their distillery for whisky lovers.
Sis4ers Distillery Launches 20cl Bottles For Its Gin Range
English gin distillery Sis4ers is encouraging more people to sample and enjoy its spirits with a range of 20cl bottles.
28/1/2021
The UK’s New Michelin-Starred Restaurants Revealed
Helping to smash stereotypes, female chefs led the way in the 2021 Michelin Guide to the UK, with Hélène Darroze and Clare Smyth both scooping three stars.
Spirits Focus: How Merser & Co Is Bringing Rum Back To London
When we refer to London gin, we know exactly what we’re talking about, for London has long been considered the global capital of gin. But London’s rum history has very little awareness. Very few Londoners seem to know the history of the city’s rum blending houses and how London was a hub of rum in the early 1900s.
27/1/2021
Record-breaking Christmas Wine Sales For Concha Y Toro Uk
Concha y Toro wine brands Trivento and Casillero del Diablo have enjoyed record-breaking UK Christmas sales due to “the unprecedented trading situation”.
Uber Eats Sees Demand For No-abv Drinks Soar 280%
Sales of non-alcoholic ‘spirits’ and alcohol-free cocktails via delivery service Uber Eats have soared 280% so far this January compared with last year.
25/1/2021
Bacardi Launches Cocktail Campaign In Singapore
Bacardi has launched a new marketing campaign in Singapore called #CraftedForYou, which encourages customers to shop the brand’s portfolio of spirits with the promise of complimentary cocktails at top bars in the city.
Final Call to Enter your Spirits in the 2021 London Spirits Competition
When the London Spirits Competition puts together a judging panel, we make sure it’s nothing but the best.
22/1/2021
Rémy Martin Unveils Music-inspired Vsop Bottle
Cognac house Rémy Martin has released a limited edition bottle design for its VSOP expression to celebrate musical culture from the 1980s and 1990s.
21/1/2021
Mangrove UK Adds Copenhagen's Empirical
Mangrove UK has joined forces with Empirical to distribute the Copenhagen-based distillery’s spirits and RTDs.
Douglas Laing & Co Offer Distillery Warehouse For Coronavirus Vaccine Rollout
The Glasgow-based whisky business has offered one of their warehouses for use during the coronavirus vaccine roll out.
20/1/2021
Jason Derulo Partners With Bedlam Vodka
Singer-songwriter Jason Derulo has joined the team at North Carolina-based Graybeard Distillery, becoming a partner of the company to lead the branding of Bedlam Vodka.
Seagram's Blenders Pride Wins Three Internationally Acclaimed Awards
Pernod Ricard India Subsidiary Seagram Distilleries Private Ltd Won The Gold Award At Monde Selection 2020, Gold Medal At The Fifty Best, And Bronze Medal For Blenders Pride At London Spirits Competition 2020.
19/1/2021
Ambleside Distillers gains AU$260,152 investment
Australian gin producer Ambleside Distillers has secured AU$260,152 (US$200,000) in government funding to expand its business.
Craft Gin Maker Nao Spirits and Beverages raises USD 2 million in Series A funding
“It has been heartening to receive a tangible vote of confidence from our new and existing investors who have got behind us in this time which has proven to be challenging for most,” Anand Virmani, cofounder of Nao Spirits and Beverages said in a press statement.
18/1/2021
Brown-Forman: ‘RTD alcohol growth this year has exceeded expectations’
The RTD alcohol category has seen volume growth of 43% globally this year, according to figures from IWSR: all the more impressive when plotted against an 8% decline in global alcohol.
How A Hospitality Minister Would Help The On-trade
With the hospitality industry one of the hardest hit by the pandemic, there are calls for greater support. Isabelle Gray speaks to UK restaurant owners and chefs to find out how a Hospitality Minister would help their businesses.
13/1/2021
Devil’s Botany is London’s ‘first’ absinthe distillery
East London-based producer Devil’s Botany has become the city’s ‘first’ absinthe distillery.
Seventeen Distilling Projects Receive Government Green Funding
Seventeen distilling projects in England and Scotland have received the first phase of a £10 million government-backed funding project to help them switch to low carbon fuels.
12/1/2021
UK distillers gain up to £75,000 to go green
The UK government has given up to £75,000 (US$101,200) for sustainability projects by producers including Bruichladdich and the Cornish Geothermal Rum Distillery as part of its £10 million (US$13.5m) green fund.
11/1/2021
Constellation sees wine and spirits grow in Q3
Svedka vodka owner Constellation Brands experienced an improved performance for wine and spirits during the third quarter of its 2021 fiscal year.
8/1/2021
How Spiritrade Is Putting Safety First
With safety and security being essential in the drinks industry, Spiritrade’s solid vetted marketplace aims to combat these issues, says founder Jimmy Metta.
Unicorn Tears Gin rebrands and releases full-strength gins
Unicorn Tears Gin has unveiled a new brand iteration, with a new full-strength gin recipe and bottle design.
7/1/2021
2.7 Million People Have Given Up On Dry January
Only six days into the new year and reports show that 2.7 million people have already given up their attempts at Dry January, according to a snap poll by KAM Media.
6/1/2021
Direct Wines Appoints Ex Brewdog And Diageo Exec As New Ceo
Direct Wines has appointed David Gates, a former Diageo senior exec, who more recently headed up BrewDog’s spirits arm, as its new CEO.
Hard seltzer brand Lilo launches in UK
The Alcoholic Water Company has released Lilo, which is said to have the lowest alcohol and calorie content of any hard seltzer currently available in the UK.
5/1/2021
No.3 Gin: the key to success
Drawing together the perfect balance of juniper, citrus and spice, No.3 Gin makes for the most refreshing G&T, clean, crisp Martini or distinctive Negroni.
Wine, Spirits, And Food: The Books To Buoy You Through Winter
Winter’s back, right on time. While the season of low light and short days doesn’t manifest the same in every state – looking at you Florida and California – those in the north are largely trapped indoors.
4/1/2021
Low and no alcohol beverages to get a boost from dry January
Sales of “no- and low-” alcohol drinks have received a boost from Dry January, and now a record number of Brits plan to partake in the challenge in 2021.
UK to begin using Oxford Covid vaccine as PM strikes hopeful tone
Boris Johnson says he hopes the pace of vaccination can be ramped up to protect tens of millions in months.
31/12/2020
Cocktails To Make at Home This New Year's Eve Stay-In
For New Year’s Traditionalists, there can be only one glass in hand when the clock strikes 12, and that’s a champagne flute.
Top Liquor Brand Seagram’s Blenders Pride Bags 3 International Awards
Seagram’s Blenders Pride, an Indian whisky by Pernod Richard, has won three of the world’s most prestigious spirits competitions — Gold Award at Monde Selection 2020, Gold Medal at The Fifty Best, and Bronze Medal at London Spirits Competition 2020.
30/12/2020
The best of British from the London Spirits Competition 2020
On this page find out about the best of British spirits from the London Spirits Competition 2020
Amuse-bouches: The Latest Restaurant News Bites
In UK restaurant news: a new app for the hospitality sector launches, the commercial rent moratorium is extended and restaurateurs from the Midlands lobby the government for extra support.
29/12/2020
9 New Woman-Founded Spirits Brands to Get and Gift This New Year
In support of the strong female figures adding a new edge to a thriving industry, vogue has compiled our favourite new woman-owned spirits to get and gift ahead of the New Year.
Hospitality Pineapple and Pepper Gin supports on-trade
English brand Hospitality Gin has bottled a pineapple and pepper-flavoured expression and will donate proceeds from its sale to the UK on-trade.
28/12/2020
Diageo launches Gordon's 0.0%
The newcomer, which is available via Amazon and in store at Tesco, comes in a 70cl format and it is made using the same distilled botanicals as Gordon’s London Dry Gin.
Read more here.
Whisky Auctioneer sales hit £30 million
Online auction platform Whisky Auctioneer witnessed a record year after sales reached almost £30 million (US$40m) in 2020.
23/12/2020
London Spirits Competition 2021 Registrations Are Open
4th Annual London Spirits Competition Registration ends on 20 Feb 2021. Enter your spirits today to get in front of London's leading Trade Buyers.
Read more here.
No.3 Gin sales soar 27% in 2020
Berry Bros & Rudd experienced double-digit growth worldwide for No.3 London Dry Gin in 2020.
Read more here.
Women-Made Spirits Make Great Gifts
Though women remain underrepresented in the liquor industry, they continue to make strides – and they also make great spirits, too. Here are seven, women-made spirits that make great gifts:
Read more here.
22/12/2020
Irish whiskey sales forecast to exceed Scotch in US by 2030
Sales of Irish whiskey in the US are expected to overtake Scotch in the next decade, according to a new report by Drinks Ireland.
Read more here.
North Hampton family launches gin distillery in Maine
Beefeaters and Bombay gins better make room on the shelf for Jigger & Jones, a new brand made in Maine, via North Hampton.
Read more here.
21/12/2020
Hinch Distillery Strikes Deal With German Distributor
Irish Whiskey brand, Hinch, which launched its £15m distillery and visitor experience this month (November 2020) has ramped up its global exporting activity through a new partnership with German distributor, Schlumberger GMBH & Co KG, based in Meckenheim.
Read more here.
Hinch Distillery eyes expansion through new distribution deals
Hinch Distillery is ramping up its global exporting activity through new distribution agreements for its Hinch Irish whiskey and Celtic-inspired Ninth Wave gin brands.
Read more here.
18/12/2020
Bardinet unveils new look
Brandy producer Bardinet has revealed refreshed packaging, with an update bottle shape and labels, and a new advertising campaign centred around ‘French passion’.
Read more here.
Johnnie Blonde whisky taps into long drinks
Diageo has unveiled a ‘sweeter’ Johnnie Walker Scotch whisky designed to be mixed in a bid to attract new consumers.
Read more here.
17/12/2020
Cutwater Spirits Celebrates Over 1,000 Awards
A Milestone for the Most Awarded Canned Cocktails In the US.
Read more here.
Seadrift Wins Silver Medal at the London Spirits Competition
Thank you to the London Spirits Competition for giving small distillers like us the confidence and belief to keep going. You can’t imagine the difference it has made to our distilleries future and how much we really appreciate it.
Read more here.
16/12/2020
Master of Malt launches own-label spirits
Master of Malt has unveiled its first own-brand collection spanning blended Scotch whisky, London dry gin, rum and vodka.
Read more here.
Irish Whiskey Guild set up to support producers
A group of Irish whiskey businesses has created a new guild to provide support and advice to independent distillers across the sector.
Read more here.
15/12/2020
Lockdown Leads To The Rise Of The Tiktok Bartender
An increasing number of mixologists are taking to social media app TikTok to share videos on how to make popular cocktails and entertain their viewers while bars remain shuttered.
Read more here.
V-SINNE Schwarzwald Dry Gin wins GOLD at the London Spirits Competition 2020
Read more here.
14/12/2020
Top Bartenders, Mixologists And Spirits Buyers To Judge The 2021 LSC
The first edition of 2021 London Spirits Competition judges is out which includes some of the best bartenders, mixologists and spirits buyers and tastemakers in business.
Read more here.
Langs Rum releases two new flavours
Ian Macleod Distillers has expanded its Langs Rum range with the launch of two new expressions: Mango and Ginger, and Pineapple.
Read more here.
11/12/2020
Uk Tariff Approach Welcomed By Drinks Trade
The UK is breaking with the EU and has vowed to lift levies resulting from a 16-year dispute over aviation subsidies, and it is hoped this will encourage the removal of US tariffs on wine, Scotch whisky and liqueurs.
Read more here.
A distinction in London for the Quai Distillery
The SuperSonic gin from the Quai Distillery was awarded at the London Spirits Competition (LSC) 2020. It won the silver medal in the “Gin” category.
Read more here.
10/12/2020
Halewood opens £1m Peaky Blinder distillery
UK-based Halewood Artisanal Spirits has opened a new £1 million distillery (US$1.3m) for its Peaky Blinder brand in Birmingham on the same site as Sadler’s brewery.
Read more here.
Three awards from the London Spirits Competition for Czech drinks
Read more here.
9/12/2020
Teremana Tequila to hit 300,000 cases in the first year
Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson has revealed his Teremana Tequila brand is on track to sell 300,000 cases in its first year.
Read more here.
Brogan's Way and Green Ant Gin Win Silver at London Spirits Competition
Congratulations to Brogan’s Way and Green Ant Gin who have won silver at the London Spirits Competition 2020 awards.
Read more here.
8/12/2020
Sales of spirits in Spain soars 27.5% in the last 12 months
Sales of whisky, vodka, rum and gin have risen by 27.5 per cent in the last 12 months, closely followed by beer, which has increased by 23.8 per cent.
Read more here.
Crossip makes debut with the launch of three non-alcoholic spirits
Low & no startup Crossip has debuted with a trio of non-alcoholic spirits.
Read more here.
7/12/2020
Retailers to carry more Tequila and hard seltzers in 2021
Tequila and hard seltzers are expected to gain more shelf space in the US over the next year, according to a survey of independent retailers by alcohol e-commerce platform Drizly.
Read more here.
M&S Christmas alcoholic drink so popular it's been slapped with buying limit
Its festive gin is proving so popular it is selling out in stores and customers face restrictions on how many they are allowed to buy.
Read more here.
Inspired Peter set to launch new whiskey
While the Lottery millionaire has never tasted the spirit, he is inspired by the history of Irish whiskey in Belfast, his home city, and has invested in one distillery and now has a major role in a second.
Read more here.
Keepr's Spirits And Dodd's Gin Shine Bright At London Spirits Competition
Keepr’s British Sloe & Honey Gin, Honey Spiced Rum and Dodd’s Gin all received Silver Medals while Bronze Awards were given to Keepr’s British Raspberry & Honey Gin and Keepr’s Classic London Dry Gin with British Honey.
Read more here.
4/12/2020
Stock Spirits full-year sales up 9.1%
Drinks group Stock Spirits saw full-year revenue increase by 9.1%, boosted by vodka sales in Poland.
Read more here.
Top whisky subscription services
For whisky fans looking to expand their knowledge and try new bottlings, there’s nothing better than joining a tasting club. We round up some of the best subscription services delivering top-quality drams to your door.
Read more here.
UK bars, cinemas may require proof of COVID-19 vaccination to visit
NadhimZahawi, the U.K.’s vaccine minister, said on Monday that bars, cinemas and sports venues may compel people to provide proof of COVID-19 vaccination before entering.
Read more here.
Four Asturian drinks triumph at the London Spirits Competition
Four drinks with the Asturian denomination of origin have triumphed in the prestigious London Spirits Competition, whose third edition was held on July 6.
Read more here.
3/12/2020
Amathus to expand retail and e-commerce operations
UK specialist drinks importer, distributor and retailer Amathus is targeting new growth with the addition of two new retail stores in London and a new ecommerce website this month.
Read more here.
The UK's Most Popular Alcoholic Beverages
Check out the most popular beverage choices across 15 major cities in the UK.
Read more here.
2/12/2020
Covid Pfizer vaccine approved for use next week in the UK
The UK has become the first country in the world to approve the Pfizer/BioNTech coronavirus vaccine for widespread use. British regulator, the MHRA, says the jab, which offers up to 95% protection against Covid-19 illness, is safe for rollout next week.
Read more here.
Covid crisis has ‘strengthened’ us says Pernod CEO
Alexandre Ricard, the chairman and chief executive of Pernod Ricard, believes the French group was able to achieve better-than-predicted results since the coronavirus pandemic struck in the spring because of the group’s “agility, resilience and determination.”
Read more here.
Bushmills creates Causeway Collection
Irish whiskey brand Bushmills has released a new range of single malts, including a 19-year-old expression matured in a rare Burgundy feuillette cask. The new Causeway Collection is a series of 10 cask-finished single malt whiskies. The range is inspired by the Giant’s Causeway, a large formation of hexagonal rocks in County Antrim, Northern Ireland.
Read more here.
U.K. Based Distillery Releases ‘World’s Strongest Gin’
Anno Spirits, a distillery out of Kent, England, has released the world’s strongest gin, coming in at a hair-raising 95% ABV. This surpasses the former winner of the title, (Scotland’s Twin River Distiller)—a mere 77% ABV.
Read more here.