After Diageo's triumphant march through town two weeks ago, it was Pernod Ricard's turn to hire all available circus-type personnel last week. Healthy rises in both sales and profits for the full-year will have helped the French company to keep the party going.

Indeed, so keen was the company to tell us of its successes that we received statements not only from group HQ, but also from its Chivas Brothers and Irish Distillers divisions, both of which echoed the positives. This media assault follows Diageo's very helpful compilation of analyst notes that it sent through to us off the back of its FY figures a week earlier.

A quick question, folks: Would this level of activity be maintained if the figures were not so rosy?

For now, that is by the by. Let us bask, then, in the sunshine for a moment – after all, it's been a while.

On the features front last week, we ran our interview piece with Diageo's CEO, Paul Walsh, Pete Brown made the case for beer festivals, and Chris Mercer highlighted the problems the Peso is causing for the wine companies of Chile.

Finally, my 40th birthday allowed me the opportunity to slip my shackles for a day last week. Now that they're firmly back on and my 30s are firmly behind me, I feel I ought to ask, dear reader: What do today's 40-year-olds drink? I fear my alcopop days are now behind me.

Until next time...

Olly Wehring
Managing Editor
Web: http://www.just-drinks.com
Email: editor@just-drinks.com
Twitter: http://twitter.com/just_drinks