World’s top 10 strangest drinking rituals

From the weird to the wonderful, the mannered to the mad, every country has its own peculiar set of rituals when it comes to drinking

A Drink With.. Chip Tate, Balcones

On the eve of its fifth anniversary, Texan distillery Balcones is celebrating with some rather experimental limited releases. Founder Chip Tate explains to Becky Paskin how burnt corn could be the greatest mistake of his life

BRIC countries hold key to Scotch’s future

From the vast untapped potential of India to booming sales in Russia, the BRIC economies hold the key to Scotch whisky’s future, as Tom Bruce-Gardyne discovers

Bombay Sapphire reveals World’s Most Imaginative Bartender 2013

Bombay Sapphire has crowned Italian Matteo Vanzi the World’s Most Imaginative Bartender 2013 at their global final, held in Tuscany, Italy last week

Woodford Reserve opens bar at Fort Knox

Brown-Forman is marketing its Woodford Reserve Bourbon to US troops by opening a bar at Fort Knox in Kentucky

Cocktail Update

JJ Goodman uses crowd funding to open London kung fu bar

JJ Goodman, co-founder of London Cocktail Club, is hoping to raise £50,000 to open a crowd-funded kung fu-themed bar in central London this year

UK bartender wins Bols Around the World 2013

Rusty Cerven from the UK has been named the winner of the 2013 Bols Around the World Bartending Championships

A Drink With… James Shearer, Oblix

Roka and Zuma group bar manager James Shearer is finally set to open Oblix at The Shard in London. Despite another eight international sites due to open soon, he tells Becky Paskin why this one is special.


Features

Top 10 World Whisky Day events

What to do to celebrate World Whisky Day tomorrow? We’ve compiled our pick of the 10 most exciting events taking place around the globe

Top 10 drinks of the 20th century

From absinthe to Bourbon, Martinis to navy rum, spirits and cocktails changed dramatically over the 20th century

A Drink With… Will Borrell, Vestal Vodka

Will Borrell has a famous musician brother, but as his own burgeoning company Vestal Vodka gears up to a US launch, he’s now made a name for himself. He gives the low-down to Becky Paskin

Why does Australia love RTDs and Bourbon?

A buoyant economy, thriving bar scene and an increasing consumer preference for premium and super-premium spirits, not to mention RTDs and Bourbon, suggest a bright future for spirits in Australia. By Andrew Catchpole

Spirits Business TV

Russian Standard is investing £7 million in marketing in the UK this summer, including activations at two of the biggest music festivals

With Cognac cocktails becoming a staple item on bar menus around the world, Leopold Raffin Cognac is sharing its recipe for the Leo Bomb

Jim Beam Bourbon is giving one work-seeking fan the chance to tour the US with rock star Kid Rock as his personal bartender

Upcoming Competitions

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Gin Masters 2013

Closing date:04 June 2013
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Irish Whiskey Masters 2013

Closing date:09 June 2013
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Whiskies Of The World Masters 2013

Closing date:09 June 2013
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The Spirits Design Masters 2013

Closing date:07 November 2013