just the Ten - Top Interviews of 2012

With the end of the year looming, just-drinks is running a series of 'Top Tens of the Year' in the run-up to Christmas.

Here are the ten most read interviews on just-drinks in 2012.

10: Diageo's global category director of whisk(e)y, David Gates

Earlier this year, just-drinks sat down with David Gates, the global category director of whisk(e)y at Diageo, to talk about Johnnie Walker, Formula One, Scotch and the other whisk(e)y sub-categories.

9: Jose Cuervo international MD Peter Gutierrez

Jose Cuervo international MD Peter Gutierrez talked to just-drinks about targeting growth in Brazil and the challenge of changing Tequila's image, and not about the then-pending end to Cuervo's distribution contract with Diageo.

8: Beam Inc EMEA president Albert Baladi

Almost a year to the day since Beam Inc was officially born, just-drinks caught up with the group's Europe/Middle East/Africa (EMEA) chief, Albert Baladi.

For part two, click here.

7: Diageo Africa president, Nick Blazquez

Late last year, Olly Wehring visited New York with Diageo, and sat down with the company's head of Africa, Nick Blazquez, for an hour. In early- January, Diageo completed its purchase of Meta Abo in Ethiopia. Put the two together, and welcome to part one of just-drinks' first interview of 2012.

Part two of this interview can be found here.

6: Societe Europeenne de Participations Industrielles Champagne CEO, Cécile Bonnefond

As his swansong earlier in the year, we sent outgoing deputy editor Chris Mercer to meet the CEO of Societe Europeenne de Participations Industrielles' Champagne unit, Cécile Bonnefond.

Part two of this interview can be found here.

5 : Remy Martin CEO Patrick Piana

In July, we spoke to Patrick Piana, the head of Remy Cointreau's Cognac division - and largest unit - Remy Martin.

The second part of this interview can be found here.

4: Bruichladdich CEO Simon Coughlin and commercial director Douglas Taylor

Earlier this year, Remy Cointreau paid GBP58m (US$90.3m) for Islay Scotch maker Bruichladdich. just-drinks sat down with the distillery's new boss, Simon Coughlin, and commercial director Douglas Taylor to talk about Bruichladdich's influence on the industry and how selling to Remy was one of the least exciting days of their lives.

3: Constellation Brands' CEO Rob Sands

The current CEO of Constellation Brands, Rob Sands, is only the group's third boss in its 67-year history - and he's been with the firm for 26 years. Clearly, then, he'll know a things or two about the drinks industry. Here, just-drinks catches up with Sands to talk premiumisation, Pinot and partnerships.

Part two of this interview can be found here.

2: Isaac Sheps, CEO of Carlsberg's Baltika

In September, managing editor Olly Wehring travelled to Russia with Carlsberg to learn about the brewer's plans for its Baltika division in the country.

1: Paul Varga, CEO of Brown-Forman

In early-October, Ben Cooper met the CEO of Brown-Forman, Paul Varga, in the company's heartland, the US.