News

Merger offers complete spirit end-to-end processing and packaging

UK-based Rawlings and Vigo have merged to offer complete (end-to-end) processing and packaging solutions. According to the two companies, full-service processing equipment and packaging solutions for premium drink clients will be the result of their merger, with Vigo providing comprehensive spirts and drinks processing equipment and Rawlings providing primary packaging solutions. The primary objective of the…

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Southeast Asian gin goes regional

Small craft distilleries in Southeast Asia are turning to gin, as well as promoting local spirits to a world-wide audience, reports Conde Nast Traveler. Due to the amount of creative freedom that is allowed in gin after checking juniper-led, neutral spirt base and a minimum of 37.5% ABV off the list, Southeast Asian distillers are…

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Fake bourbon sellers scamming collectors

A problem that wine and whisky has had for years has finally struck the bourbon collectors market, reports The New York Times. The NYT says that bourbon in 2022 is a counterfeiter’s dream, shaped by enormous demand, limited supply and a steady inflow of new and naïve fans all too willing to part with their…

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NTS looking for sites of old illicit whisky stills

The National Trust for Scotland is appealing to the public to report any sightings of mysterious structures hidden in remote glens so they can be properly catalogued, reports iNews. There is a chance the site could have been used to house a still. Thousands of illicit stills were once in existence in hidden areas of…

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Govt could lose up to £1bn during Dry Jan

The UK government could lose up to £1 billion in taxes if the majority of British drinkers go dry for Dry January. As it is, the average UK household sees over £460 going to pay for drink duties every year, with the total cost of the levies forecasted for the coming 12 months is £12.8…

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Avoiding counterfeit alcohol

Shoppers are being warned of the serious health risks of drinking counterfeit alcohol this festive season and being urged to look out for some obvious signs that products aren’t what they might seem. Food Standards Scotland (FSS) and Trading Standards Scotland (TSS) say the sharp rise in food and drink sales over the festive period…

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£1bn pledge to UK’s hospitality sector

The chancellor has set out measures to help England’s hospitality sector as it struggles with a collapse in bookings sparked by the rise in Covid cases, according to the BBC. Speaking on Tuesday, Rishi Sunak unveiled a £1bn fund of cash grants of up to £6,000 per premises for each eligible firm. He said the…

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Punch Pubs bought by Fortress Investment Group

British pub chain Punch Pubs has been bought by Fortress for what some are reporting to be £1 billion, reports The Guardian. Fortress, backed by Japan’s SoftBank, also owns Majestic Wines. Why it paid so much for the chain has invited speculation. On one hand, the 1,300 Punch Pubs are mostly in suburbia or rural…

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Is it a copy or not?

Marks & Spencer has taken aim at Aldi over a claim that Aldi has stolen an idea from M&S gin, with M&S seeking an injunction against alleged infringement of its design. According to the BBC, the retailer says Aldi’s blackberry and clementine gin liqueur is “strikingly similar” to its own Light Up gin. Both retailer’s…

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Brexit – one year on

In around two weeks it will mark one year since the end of the Brexit transition period. Although the major distilling players have been able to jump the hurdles, it’s been a problem for medium and small size craft distillers who try to ship spirits to the EU. Some small gin distillers have told Distillers…

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