Alcoholic energy drink Crunk Juce is set to relaunch as Crunk CJ after the Portman Group banned it in its original format. 

March 2012 sees the launch of Whisky Week London. The week will commence on March 19 and finish with the Whisky Live show on Friday March 23 and Saturday March 24.

Islay single malt whisky Bowmore has repackaged its UK and travel retail ranges with a new premium gift box and a refreshed bottle design.

First Drinks has added Zubrówka Bison Grass Vodka and top Russian vodka brand Green Mark to its portfolio, after parting company with Russian Standard.

An alcoholic jelly called Suck & Blow has been banned in its current format for breaching three elements of the Portman Group’s code.

Beefeater gin has launched a limited edition pack to celebrate its London heritage.

Pre-mixed drinks scooped a host of awards in the 2012 Pre-mixed Drinks Challenge, run by OLN’s sister paper Drinks International.

Sainsbury’s is running an in-store campaign to raise awareness of alcohol units, promote lighter-style wines and encourage consumers to manage their drinking responsibly.

Rémy Martin has launched a cask-finished VSOP for the European market.

Eristoff has launched a 70cl bottle price-marked at £11.49.

Bournemouth is the latest town to be identified as a hotspot for counterfeit vodka.

Fake alcohol in Essex has prompted a warning from Trading Standards officers in the county.

Sainsbury’s is tipping gin as a top-selling spirit this Christmas.

Diageo has invested £2 million in a digital media and consumer PR push for Captain Morgan’s Spiced.

Diageo says it wants its packaging to be more environmentally friendly.

The Dalmore distillery has released a 1995 vintage, exclusively available at retailer The Whisky Shop.

The Kraken Black Spiced Rum is sponsoring the Kitschies – the alternative science fiction and fantasy writing awards.

Maxxium UK has created a Facebook app that lets fans of The Macallan whisky create and share a “virtual dram”.

Cellar Trends has launched a jar of maraschino cherries marinated in sugar syrup and Luxardo Maraschino liqueur.

Talisker Whisky has signed up as the title sponsor of rowing race the Atlantic Challenge.

Absolut Vodka has launched a gift pack designed to go in the freezer.

First Drinks Brands has launched Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old Special Reserve – the whiskey’s best-selling variant worldwide – in the UK.

Diageo has launched a limited edition version of Johnnie Walker – Johnnie Walker Double Black.

First Drinks Brands is launching a neck collar campaign for Three Barrels, offering consumers the chance to win £1,000 as part of its Ultimate Moments marketing campaign.

Maxxium UK has launched a gift carton for Teacher’s blended Scotch whisky – the brand’s first since 1988.

Courvoisier is running a walking tour that visits places in London associated with the author Charles Dickens, who is believed to have been a fan of the Cognac.

Inver House Distillers yesterday announced the release of Balblair vintages 1992 and '01 from the newly-opened visitor centre at the brand's Highland distillery.

UK Rumfest has announced the winners of the Golden Rum Barrel Awards 2011, with Foursquare Distillery of Barbados taking home two of the top prizes.

Greenall’s has signed the first TV deal in its 250-year history.

The winners of the International Spirits Challenge trophies have been announced.

Diageo is set to launch a multimedia campaign to boost sales of its pre-mix range and encourage consumers to drink the cans on week nights.

Havana Club has launched a limited edition gift tin for its 3 Year Old rum ahead of the festive season.

English brewery and distillery, Adnams, has added the limited edition Sloe Gin and Winter Spiced Liqueur to its range of spirits and liqueurs.

Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands has brought back price-marked packs of Southern Comfort for the festive season.

Malibu is releasing a limited edition coconut rum with coconut flakes floating inside to look like snowflakes.

Bacardi Brown-Forman Brands has created new display units and Christmas gift packs to help convenience stores cash in on distress purchases this festive season.

Hi-Spirits is set to launch Buffalo Trace Distillery’s 2011 Antique Collection.

Russian Standard is to be distributed in the UK by Whyte & Mackay after four years with First Drinks Brands.

Pernod Ricard says an improved performance in Western Europe has contributed to an impressive set of annual results.

Maxxium is releasing what it describes as its “most complex flavoured” Laphroaig into the UK market, following two years as a travel retail exclusive.

Passoã, the passion fruit liqueur marketed by First Drinks Brands, is partnering the Sancho Panza street party at this year’s Notting Hill Carnival.

Absolut is using iPads in selected Tesco stores to demonstrate the versatility of its vodka range.

WKD launches the latest instalment in its TV campaign this week, continuing the theme of Have You Got a WKD Side?

Absolut has launched a Mango flavour, which will make its debut in supermarkets next month before a full off-trade roll-out in September.

The off-trade now accounts for 80% of spirits volumes, a report commissioned by First Drinks Brands has found.

Maker’s Mark bourbon is offering prizes of a personalised £5,000 wardrobe as part of a summer marketing blitz.

US film actor Dan Aykroyd has launched his Crystal Head vodka brand in the UK.

Blavod Wines & Spirits has reported a loss of £50,000 in the year to March 31, on the back of losing the UK agency for Cockspur rum.

Russian Standard vodka is being promoted with a new TV and cinema ad, backed by a poster campaign in major UK cities.

Beefeater gin has launched a limited-edition expression called London Market.

Glenmorangie malt whisky is using pencil drawings in a new advertising campaign targeting Father’s Day sales.

First Drinks is recreating a summer garden in supermarket aisles as part of a major sampling programme.

The Ardbeg distillery is to release its annual limited edition whisky on September 1.

Chivas Regal Scotch whisky has signed a global brand partnership deal with the charity Film Aid International.

Maxxium UK will take over distribution of No 3 London Dry Gin from June 1.

A producer of spirits made in Panama has given an undertaking not to engage in activities that might pass-off its products as Scotch whisky.

Pernod Ricard increased net sales by 5% in the first three months of 2011, and by 11% in the first nine months of its current financial year, to March 31.

Diageo saw organic net sales growth of 7% in the first quarter of 2011. Sales in the nine months to March 31 – the spirits producer’s current financial year – increased 5% on an organic basis and volumes were up 3%.

Glenfiddich is the new headline sponsor of the MOJO Honours List, the music magazine’s annual awards ceremony.

The Glenlivet has revealed new packaging which Chivas Brothers says creates “an enhanced luxurious and sophisticated look”.

Bacardi is launching a new TV and cinema ad campaign as part of a £20 million marketing spend for 2011.

Diageo has launched a new category programme aimed at helping small stores make the most of spirits sales opportunities.

A cherry-flavoured version of Jim Beam bourbon whiskey has been launched in the UK, two years after it first appeared in the USA.

Diageo is to increase its marketing spend for Smirnoff around the royal wedding weekend.

Russian Standard vodka and First Drinks are to end their UK distribution deal for the brand on July 1.

Grant’s whisky is to increase its marketing spend for 2011, with digital activity and social media being backed by a second series sponsorship of ITV’s Piers Morgan’s Life Stories.

A Group of seven Scotch whisky distillers have come together to produce a Scotch to raise money for disaster relief in Japan.

Scotch whisky exports hit a record £3.45 billion in 2010, up 10% from 2009, the Scotch Whisky Association has reported.

Gordon & MacPhail has donated a £13,000 bottle of whisky for auction to raise money for the Japanese earthquake relief effort.

Luxardo sambuca has extended its range in the UK with the addition of Chilli & Spices flavour.

Whyte & Mackay’s Dalmore distillery is releasing a second limited edition whisky to help raise funds to restore a famous Scottish castle.

Pernod Ricard has posted 7% organic sales growth in the six months to December 31.

Specialist spirits supplier Emporia Brands is hosting a training day on The Language of Fine Spirits for managers and owners from 20 independents in Scotland.