• In what has to be one of the best whisky ad campaigns of 2014, Laphroaig offers up this hysterical holiday set of ads. set to Christmas carols. Well done. [AdWeek]

• More on the march of the craft distillers in America, this time from the Financial Times. They also take us to China to look at the rise of premium spirits among the growing Chinese upper class. [Financial Times]

• The Wall Street Journal takes a look at some of the ideas companies are using to sell their wares. From chairs to a vapor mist made from Johnnie Walker Blue, it seems as if the gimmicks are becoming more outlandish year after year. [Wall Street Journal]

• Belvedere announces its new partnership with the James Bond franchise. For those fanboys playing along at home, this will mark return of Bond to the vodka martini after he ditched it for beer and scotch in the last film. The newest addition to the Bond saga, Spectre, is slated to be released in November 2015. Some of us can hardly wait. [Economic Times]

• The Sydney Morning Herald takes a quick inside look at the Yamazaki distillery, and we suddenly get awfully thirsty. [Sydney Morning Herald]

• Caribbean Journal has announced its ten best rums of 2014, and Men’s Journal offers a list of non-Bourbon, non-Scotch whiskeys that made an impact during the year. Just a friendly reminder with your last minute shopping that we also publish a rather swell gift guide every year.

• Oliver Sweeney Shoes: now with a bottle of Johnnie Walker hidden inside. [Business Insider]

• The Spirits Business makes some predictions (oddly, not many) for some of the world’s largest spirit brands and where they’re headed in 2015. Also, it’s got the scoop that Suntory/Beam is going to be upping the price on many of its beloved brands, including Yamazaki. [The Spirits Business]

• Fox News reports (you decide) on the most commonly searched beers, according to Google. [Fox News]

• And for you folks who just can’t wait for the final episode of Serial tomorrow, here’s an update on the Pappy Thief case. The police think they know who did it, but proving it may be very difficult. [Bourbon Blog]

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