Pernod Ricard has unveiled Absolut Gustafson at the TFWA in Cannes, a new limited edition for global travel retail.

Absolut Gustafson follows Absolut Flavour of the Tropics and Absolut Watkins as the latest limited edition travel retail exclusive for the vodka brand.

Flavoured, with cherries, strawberries and cardamon and chai notes, the variant has been created in collaboration with Swedish-born, US-based artist Mats Gustafson.

The booming Chinese mainland is now the largest importer of Bordeaux by volume, driving a jump in exports of the French wine, an industry body said.

Exports from the French winegrowing region rose 34 percent in value and 23 percent in volume between July 2010 and June 2011.

The boom was driven in part by iconic great estates, but the bulk came from little chateaux selling wines for less than 4.50 euros.

Pernod Ricard launches Absolut Vodka Crystal Pinstripe which is “the most exclusive and luxurious version of [its] iconic Absolut bottle”.

Inspired by the Savile Row pinstripe suit, the bottle has been designed by Swedish designer duo Skogsberg & Smart.

It was hand-blown, hand-cut and hand-engraved in crystal by craftsmen at the Reijmyre glassworks in the Östergötland region in southern Sweden.

Champagne Piper-Heidsieck has wrapped its new limited-edition Bodyguard in a “sexy red crocodile skin” for its launch this month in selected travel retail outlets.

The 75cl bottle of Piper-Heidsieck Champagne Brut can be described as having “springtime citrus aromas with notes of apples and pears”.

Piper-Heidsieck reveals that the the flavour of Bodyguard is reminiscent of the Pinot Noir grape from which it derives its “distinctive flavour”.

The Claridges bar in Mayfair has launched a new and unique cocktail which combines Rémy Martin XO Excellence and the King of Cognacs Louis XIII.

Created by Claridges Bar Manager, Denis Broci, the “Fleur de Lis” mixes Rémy Martin XO Excellence with dissolved sugar and a twist of citrus rind.

Each cocktail is served in a chilled Martini glass and topped with a spray of century old Louis XIII cognac from a specially designed atomiser.

If you’re drinking bubbly in Australia that was bottled before September 1, there’s no telling where it actually came from.

But as of Thursday, any bubbly produced in that country can no longer label itself as champagne but will have to be called sparkling wine.

It’s part of a trade agreement that was signed between Australia and the European Union, meant to protect winegrowers around the world and enforce labeling laws, an initiative of the Comité Interprofessionel du Vin de Champagne, or CIVC in France.