The monthly round-up of what’s new in low/no, beer, cider, wine, spirits, RTDs and mixers. SPIRITS & LIQUEURS  WKD Vibe liqueurs  15% abv £10 – £13 USP: RTD brand WKD has launched a new range of liqueurs with a focus on shots. There are five variations in the range: Blue Raspberry and Tropical clear liqueurs, as well as Blue Raspberry, Piña…

Carlsberg Marston’s Brewing Company (CMBC) has announced plans to close its Ringwood Brewery and shop. The Hampshire site will shutter from January, after CMBC failed to secure a sale. Production of the Ringwood brands will move to other breweries in the CMBC network – brewing for the cask variants of Razorback, Fortyniner and Boondoggle will go to Banks’s…

As I write this, we’re about to celebrate our ninth anniversary. Craft beer shop years are like dog years, so it’s safe to say we’ve seen some things – the rise of craft beer in the UK, a pandemic, a cost-of-living crisis and… let’s not say the fall of craft beer in the UK, but certainly what City types might call “a correction to the…

Bath-based wine merchant Novel Wines is on track to acquire Croatian Fine Wines by the end of 2023, as owners look to expand wholesale operations and diversify Novel’s portfolio. Explaining the decision behind the acquisition, Novel Wines founder Ben Franks, who recently stepped down to join the Canned Wine Co as chief commercial officer, said: “We have worked with Croatian Fine Wines for many years…

What can retailers learn from bartenders when it comes to agave spirits, asks Clinton Cawood If Mexico’s spirits have one channel to thank for their success in the UK, it’s the on-trade, with bars and bartenders consistent and enthusiastic in their support of tequila and mezcal over the years.  The off-trade is beginning to catch up though, with some recent positive developments, not least a…

With 2024 fast approaching, both Master of Malt and The Whisky Exchange have shared their predictions for the spirits category in 2024. Looking ahead to the next year, both retailers are expecting vodka to continue on its upward trajectory, with The Whisky Exchange citing growth in the category. Similarly, Master of Malt has predicted growth in the vodka market, with spirits enthusiasts favouring brands with…

The Official Rioja Wine Educator course has announced its latest round of graduations, with five graduates from the UK.  Led by the Rioja Wine Academy, a training platform set up by the region’s Control Board, the education programme saw 39 global graduates in 2023, meaning there are now 182 official Rioja educators worldwide.  The UK now has five newly certified Rioja educators: Matthew Wicksteed (from…