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Monday this week was Memorial Day in the US, a federal holiday in honour of those killed while serving in the country's armed forces. Thanks to a recent product launch from Diageo, consumers were also encouraged to raise a patriotic glass of vodka in their memory. But, can American Anthem make vodka great again? Richard Woodard is sceptical.

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Our in-house analyst is back, fresh from a raft of first-quarter results announcements. This month, Ian Shackleton runs the rule over the drinks companies' recent performances, while also praising Pernod and trolling Twitter.

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Consumers are suffering a "crisis of trust" when it comes to corporate entities, according to recent research. Spirits commentator Richard Woodard looks at how Diageo is faring with consumers, at a time when social media makes it all too easy to offend them.

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When it comes to sustainability, water is always near the top of the list for drinks companies. This month, sustainability commentator Ben Cooper considers recent efforts in this area by several sizeable drinks groups.

In the same week as International Women's Day, the National Association for Female Executives named Diageo's North American unit as one of 2018's 'Top 60 Companies for Executive Women'. The news follows a raft of pledges from Diageo, through both its business and its brands, to champion equality. To mark International Women's Day, just-drinks talks to Cristina Diezhandino, Scotch category director & MD for Diageo's Reserve portfolio, about working in the whisk(e)y sectors, the future of Scotch and how bartenders are helping to propel Reserve brands.

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On the day that Diageo released results for the first half of its fiscal-2018, just-drinks spoke to group CEO Ivan Menezes about the geopolitical issues on the horizon, Bacardi's takeover of Patron Tequila and what on earth Jane Walker will be.

Diageo has released two low abv pre-mixed gin & tonics as it looks to appeal to consumers wishing to moderate their alcohol intake.

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Diageo and Sean 'Diddy' Combs have taken the Ciroc brand into the brandy category.

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Diageo is adding a limited-edition expression of Johnnie Walker to its Global Travel Retail operations.

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The head of Pernod Ricard's Asia unit has said the company has lined up new brands and marketing innovations around lower abv whisky, as it looks to catch up with the trend in the Korean market.

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An Irish whiskey bonder has underlined comments from former Cooley Distillery owner John Teeling that the segment is running out of aged stock.

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Diageo has lined up the third expression in the 'Noble Collection' of its Crown Royal Canadian whisky in the US.

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Diageo has lined up an online partnership in the UK with social media and entertainment business Ladbible Group for its Smirnoff vodka brand.

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Diageo has appointed Lavanya Chandrashekar to the role of chief financial officer for its North America unit.

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Diageo is looking to offload a raft of non-premium spirits brands in the US, just-drinks understands, as the group continues to hive off its non-core assets.

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Diageo has added another variant to its Tanqueray gin brand's range.

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Diageo has lined up a limited edition whisky under its Crown Royal brand. Crown Royal Mesquite combines the smoky flavour of Texas mesquite wood with Crown Royal De Luxe.

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The president of Diageo's Latin America and Caribbean (LAC) unit has said Millennial consumers in the region are driving interest in the "untapped" single malt Scotch whisky category, as well as in gin.

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Diageo is looking to tap into the patriotism of US consumers with the launch of an America-produced vodka in the country.

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Diageo has started work on a new visitor centre as part of its recently-opened Bulleit whiskey distillery in Kentucky.

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Diageo is piloting a new whisky website for its Johnnie Walker brand that allows consumers to buy a personalised bottle to match their own flavour preferences.

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Diageo has signed a global partnership with IMG, the owner of Taste Festivals, as it looks to take its spirits brands into the kitchen.

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Diageo's London-based innovations head for Africa, Andy Oughton, is to leave for a new post in Australia following the departure of the company's marketing director for the country.

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Diageo has confirmed plans to launch a special edition Johnnie Walker whisky in a tie up with HBO series Game of Thrones.

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Diageo has rolled out a range of limited-edition bottles for its Captain Morgan rum brand as it looks to take advantage of the personalisation trend.

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Diageo has announced a number of changes to its leadership team in North America.

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Diageo has moved further into the mezcal category with the purchase of an "ultra-premium" brand.

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Diageo has added a Margarita flavour to its Smirnoff Ice RTD brand.

Paul Walsh just can't stay away from the drinks industry.

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just-drinks is in Cannes this week the Tax Free World Association show. Here's the second part of Andy Morton's blog, which will keep you up-to-date at one of the most important dates in the Travel Retail calendar.