Ahead of his new book, Henry Jeffreys heralds the energy that’s reinventing English sparkling wine Before I started researching my book, Vines in a Cold Climate, I had a view that English sparkling wines were usually well made but rarely thrilling. Now, having come to the end of a year immersed in the subject, I am pleased to say that I could not have been…

Bank holidays are big business for the drinks industry – and when there’s a celebration thrown in, such as the Coronation of King Charles III, that business gets even bigger. Take the Queen’s Jubilee weekend in 2022, for example. Consumers spent an extra £104 million on beers, wines and spirits – making it one of the biggest occasions outside of Christmas (NielsenIQ).  The Coronation takes…

As the home cocktail-making trend grows, Millie Milliken looks at some of the component drinks that are seeing an increase in demand It’s not exactly breaking news that the pandemic saw a rise in at-home cocktail making.  While bars and brands quickly moved to bottled or vac-pack cocktails for consumers to enjoy during lockdown, cocktail ingredients beyond the core base spirits also enjoyed a…

British cider makers are gearing up to celebrate national apple day on October 21, as producers look to platform the cider industry. Fenella Tyler, chief executive at National Association of Cider Makers (NACM), said the day provides an opportunity for cider makers to “promote their trade and highlight the importance of cider making to their local community”. Tyler continued: “The industry provides…

Five drinks brands have come under fire for breaching the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) CAP code. Two of the five brands, Ramsay’s Gin by Eden Mill Distillery and Tennent’s Lager, were penalised for making nutrition claims that are “not permitted for alcoholic drinks”.  Tennent’s described its product as “Scotland’s lowest calorie lager”, while Ramsay’s Gin claimed one of its ingredients – honeyberries – contained…

The RTD category has matured: brand proliferation is rife; gimmickry and consumer distrust have been swapped for authenticity and credibility. But the acronym also now covers a spectrum of product types, making stocking and merchandising decisions tricky for retailers.  To cut through the noise, here are the main sub-sets in a nutshell – and some producer tips for maximising sales.  CASHING IN ON THE GIN…

Aldi has partnered with TV mixologist and World of Zing pre-mixed cocktails founder Pritesh Mody to create a range of festive cocktails. Mody, who has worked with the supermarket on previous projects, has come up with five cocktail ideas featuring Aldi products, as the retailer looks to tap into home cocktail making. The products, from the 2021 Autumn Winter spirits range, include…