Chinese wine used to be poor quality, made for export, and marked-up at inflated prices. But now it's the biggest market for red wine, with Chinese people buying 1.86 billion bottles in 2013. How did Jiuxian create wine connoisseurs and become China’s largest alcohol e-tailer?

Flavoured whiskies are the fastest-growing segment in the bourbon industry, accounting for nearly 75% of whisky growth in 2012. And people are clamouring for cotton candy-flavoured vodka and cinnamon-spiked rum too. But who are these sugar-sweet variants targeted at, and is it more than a passing fad?

Brits are drinking less – a drop of 16% from 2004 to 2012 – and even 16- to 24-year-olds aren’t bingeing like they once did. Rather than boozing at the pub, they're pouring a perfect pint at home. But why have drinking habits changed? What does it mean for pubs and beer brands?

'Vintage' used to imply authenticity – but as the definition becomes fluid, it's being applied more and more liberally. Established in 1999, Hendrick's gin is a brand without heritage that feels inherently authentic just by virtue of association.

Just like beer before it, spirits are getting the craft treatment. Tapping into the emphasis on quality over quantity, Diageo has launched an accelerator programme to raise the next generation of craft distilleries. But why isn’t Diageo just creating its own premium brand?

The information age has bred a new kind of consumer who seeks variety and adventure. From its drinks to its décor, cellar bar Whistling Shop immerses visitors in Old-London heritage while offering a familiar entry point.

When it comes to drinking, Brazilians thirst for quality as well as quantity. They’re consuming more alcoholic drinks than ever, and becoming more adventurous in their choices. As the industry continues to grow, what does the beer – and cachaça – taste like at the top?

Lager has been Britain's drink of choice for decades. But the market is shifting away from an emphasis on volume to value – a revolution led by small-time locally-brewed 'craft lagers' like Windsor & Eton Brewery's Republika.