Spirits & Cocktails

How to boost spirits sales in pubs

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

Top tips for expanding your reputation for spirits

By Rebecca Weller

As spirits sales continue to struggle across the on-trade, The Morning Advertiser (The MA) has looked into how pubs can maximise opportunities to push growth within the category.

Drinks Tracker: economic challenges continue to damage drinks sales (Credit: Getty/DGLimages)

Economic climate slows drinks sales growth

By Rebecca Weller

Managed venues closed February with further year-on-year drops in drinks sales as “shifting dynamics” make growth more “challenging”, particularly for the spirits category.

New products: This week's round-up features Hendricks Gin, Adnams, Cîroc, Krombacher and more.

NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP

Hendricks releases limited-edition variant

By Rebecca Weller

This week's round-up includes new products from Hendricks, Adnams, Cîroc , BrewDog Distillery, Krombacher, Cawston Press and more.

Changing perceptions: Lobos 1707 founder Diego Osorio on how pubs can maximise their Tequila offering (Credit: Getty/skodonnell)

How pubs can change perceptions about Tequila

By Diego Osorio, Lobos 1707 founder

As the popularity of Tequila continues to soar, pub and bar owners across the UK are presented with a unique opportunity to tap into the growing trend by pairing the spirit with food or hosting educational events to help change perceptions around the...

International Margarita Day: raise your glass and toast the classic cocktail with these recipes (Credit: Getty/Svetlana-Cherruty)

Recipes to celebrate International Margarita Day

By Rebecca Weller

Celebrated on the 22 February every year, people around the world raise their Margarita glasses to toast the classic Tequila-based cocktail for International Margarita Day.

Number one: Schofield's Bar was named top cocktail bar earlier this month (February)

Behind the UK #1 cocktail bar's success

By Charli Tomney

Schofield's Bar was announced the number one earlier this month at the Top 50 Cocktail Bars list reveal, but what is behind the bar’s success?

Drinks Masterclass: how to make a Double Dutch Raspberry Repair cocktail (Credit:Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Double Dutch Raspberry Repair cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

This week's Drinks Masterclass showcases a recipe from soft drinks brand Double Dutch. Ready in less than three minutes, the Raspberry Repair is a "simple" and "versatile" cocktail that can help freshen your drinks menu, the brand...

Shifting occasions: spirits category presents growth opportunities despite tough year in 2023 (Credit: Getty/5PH)

Sales boosting trends for spirits in 2024

By Rebecca Weller

The spirits category faced a “challenging year” in 2023 but still presents plenty of growth opportunities, according to the latest CGA by NIQ On-Premise Measurement Service.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make a Stray cocktail bar Quarter Margarita (Credit:Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Quarter Margarita

By Rebecca Weller

Co-founder of Manchester cocktail bar Stray, Ben Reilly, details how to create the venues low ABV serve Quarter Margarita.

Autumn start: On premise drink sales are behind last year's levels (Credit: Getty/Henrik Sorensen)

Drink sales dip after weeks of growth

By Amelie Maurice-Jones

On premise drinks sales last week were down year-on-year for the first time since mid-August, CGA by NIQ’s daily drinks tracker has revealed.

Rum boy rum: Ian Burrell will be giving expert advice at RumFest in October

How to make rum a drink for everyone at your pub

By Gary Lloyd

Leading voice on rum and TV presenter Ian Burrell has told pubs stocking a variety of rums according to quality will mean everyone becomes a customer because they are not being priced out.

Revved up: Shaun Craven and partner Sophie Starkey at celeb hangout Le Reve

Le Rêve cocktail bar celebrates 10th anniversary

By Gary Lloyd

Independent cocktail bar Le Rêve celebrated its 10th anniversary at the weekend and has been celebrating for the entire month of September with a packed entertainment programme.

New products: this week's round-up includes Captain Morgan, Dead Man's Fingers, Timothy Taylor, Luscombe, Shepherd Neame and more.

NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP

Captain Morgan enters alcohol-free category

By Rebecca Weller

This week's round-up features new products from Captain Morgan, Dead Man's Fingers, Timothy Taylor, Luscombe, Shepherd Neame and more.

New products: this month's round-up includes Diageo, Double Dutch, Beavertown, Fentimans and more Smokehead

NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP

Diageo releases new Captain Morgan's flavour

By Rebecca Weller

This month's new products round-up features new serves from Diageo, Double Dutch, Beavertown, Fentimans, Smokehead, Britvic and more.

Modest week: drinks sales dip below 2022 levels after 11 consecutive weeks of growth (Credit: Getty/Peter Cade)

Drinks sales in decline as weather cools

By Rebecca Weller

After an 11-week stretch of year-on-year growth, drinks sales in the on-trade dropped below 2022 levels in the week to Saturday 15 July.

Drinks Masterclass: How to make a Sway in the Morning cocktail (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Sway in the Morning cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

Closing this latest series of The Morning Advertiser’s Drinks Masterclass, Pennyroyal general manager Liam Jones shares how to make the bars Sway in the Morning cocktail.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make a Bananarita cocktail (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Bananarita cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

This week’s Drinks Masterclass showcases a Bananarita cocktail from Bristol-based bar, Filthy XIII.

Green focus: The Milk Thistle bar manager Sebastiano Fileccia created the idea behind the event

Shaking Up Sustainability in bars

By Charli Tomney

Last Tuesday (27 June) the Top 50 Cocktail Bars teamed up with current number 43, The Milk Thistle, for an exclusive event at the venue all about sustainability in bars.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make a Champagne Pina Colada (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Champagne Pina Colada

By Rebecca Weller

In this week’s Drinks Masterclass, London-based cocktail bar manager Andrei Marcu shares how to make a Champagne Pina Colada.

New products: this week's round-up features Silent Pool, Stowford Press, Adnams, Ad Gefrin, Titanic Brewery and Vapoura Rum

NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP

Silent Pool releases new gin expression

By Rebecca Weller

This week's round-up features new products from Silent Pool, Stowford Press, Adnams, Ad Gefrin, Titanic Brewery and Vapoura Rum.

Drinks Masterclass: How to make an Opium Parlour Fortnuella Sour cocktail (Credit: Getty/ SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Fortunella Sour cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

This week’s Drinks Masterclass features a Fortunella Sour cocktail from London-based Opium Cocktail Bar & Dim Sum Parlour.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make a Little Door & Co Crimes of Passion cocktail (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Crimes of Passion cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

In this week’s Drinks Masterclass, London-based multiple operator Little Door & Co’s operations manager, William Russell, shares how to make the company’s Crimes of Passions cocktail.

New products: this week's round-up features Hooch, Shepherd Neame, Never Say Die Whisky, Rich's Cider and Radlow Hundred vineyard

NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP

Hooch unveils new flavour

By Rebecca Weller

This week's round-up features new products from Hooch, Shepherd Neame, Never Say Die Whisky, Rich's Cider and Radlow Hundred vineyard.

Diageo CEO Sir Ivan Menezes death

Diageo announces death of Sir Ivan Menezes

By Nikkie Thatcher

Diageo has announced former chief executive Sir Ivan Menezes has passed away aged 63, following a brief illness, with his family at his side.

Personnel change: David Haworth is to be replaced by Julia Massies from September this year

Pernod Ricard UK MD to retire

By Nikkie Thatcher

Managing director of Pernod Ricard UK David Haworth is set to retire later this year after a career of more than three decades at the business.

New products: this week's round up includes Bathtub Gin, Camden Town Brewery, Otter Brewery, Jam Shed, Black Sheep Brewery, Salcombe Distilling Co., Seven Brothers and Hive Mind Brewery

NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP

Bathtub Gin releases new seasonal flavour

By Rebecca Weller

This week's round-up features new products from Bathtub Gin, Camden Town Brewery, Otter Brewery, Jam Shed, Black Sheep Brewery, Salcombe Distilling Co., Seven Brothers and Hive Mind Brewery.

New products: this week's round-up features Funkin Cocktails, Adnams and Robinson's Brewery

Funkin Cocktails introduces three new flavours

By Rebecca Weller

This week's round-up features new products from Funkin Cocktails, Adnams, BrewDog Distilling Co., Robinsons Brewery, Sovereign Brands, Meantime Brewery, Mydflower Sparkling Wine and Siren Craft Brew.

Delicious balance: how to make a Mango Martini using Belgrove Hazelnut Rum (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

DRINKS MASTERCLASS

How to make a Mango Martini

By Rebecca Weller

In this week’s Drinks Masterclass, Belgrove Rum founder Edmund Wood shares how to create a Mango Martini (11% ABV) using the brand’s Hazelnut Rum.

New products: Dead Man's Fingers announces new rum

NEW PRODUCTS ROUND-UP

Dead Man's Fingers reveals new flavoured rum

By Rebecca Weller

This week's round-up features new products from Dead Man's Fingers, Salcombe Distillery, Greene King, Peony Wine, Arkell's Brewery and Kavka Vodka.

Drinks Masterclass: how to make Milk Thistle bar's Lady in Red cocktail (Credit: Getty/SolStock)

Drinks Masterclass

How to make a Lady in Red cocktail

By Rebecca Weller

This week’s Drinks Masterclass showcases a Lady In Red cocktail (22% ABV) from Bristol-based cocktail bar the Milk Thistle.

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