The week in pictures
Diageo-owned premium cachaça brand Ypióca hosted its official launch night at London’s Brazilian venue, Floripa. Brazilian Magic Circle magician, Nill Magico, treated guests to an exclusive performance while Brazilian showgirls dazzled the crowd with their performance just before unveiling a commemorative cocktail called O Mágico (The Magician).
Travelling back from the Ypióca’s launch, SB‘s Becky Paskin spotted this humorous, but oh so wise, words from Jack Daniel’s. We’re always conscious of taking health and safety advice extremely seriously, so this means we should have a lie in on Monday morning, right?
SB’s Melita Kiely headed over to the Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel in London to sample their latest addition to the cocktail menu, created in collaboration with The Balvenie, The Spey Trip. A twist on a classic Old Fashioned, everything bar the gold plaque that reads “The Donovan Bar” is sourced from Balvenie, from the holder constructed from Sherry casks that age the whisky to the glass itself, made from the bottom of a Balvenie bottle.
Bethenny Frankel raised a glass to Skinnygirl Cocktails’ longstanding partnership with Dress for Success at the Something to Share Gala, in New York City. Frankel officially opened the bar with a toast and later jumped behind the bar to pour Skinnygirl Cocktails’ newest wines and ready-to-serve cocktails, including Skinnygirl Sweet’arita and Skinnygirl Sparkling Margarita. (Photo by Ben Gabbe)
A large crowd gathered at MASH on Monday night for the final round of Colombian rum La Hechicera’s inaugural cocktail competition, Wanderlust Colombia. Out of 15 bartenders there could only be two winners who would be given the once-in-a-lifetime chance to live and work in Colombia for one month later this year. While enjoying a delicious selection of La Hechicera cocktails and canapés, guests were treated to a lively performance from an authentic Mexican musical duo.
Following much deliberation from the judging panel, which included SB‘s managing editor, Becky Paskin, in no particular order Alex Lawrence from Orchid Aberdeen was announced as the first of the two winners with his drink, Lady Colombia, a mix of La Hechicera rum, Martini extra dry, Mozart dark chocolate liqueur, maple syrup, house blended bitters and sea salt.
Walter Pindus from the Rivioli Bar at The Ritz in London was then revealed as the second deserved winner, with his drink Both Alex Lawrence and Pindus will now be treated to a once-in-a-lifetime experience of living and working in the exotic capital of Colombia for a full month later this year.
This week, Monkey Shoulder revealed it has appointed a full-time UK brand ambassador, bartender Grant Neave, who is also spearheading the brand’s new cocktail competition, The Ultimate Bartender Challenge. As Neave explains in the promo video, teams of three can enter to prove they know how to run a successful bar and win a week-long pop-up bar at London Cocktail Week, designed and run by the winners but paid for and supported by Monkey Shoulder. Or as Neave puts it: “We bring the Scotch. You take the glory. And the takings.”
Founder of Playboy Enterprises, Hugh Hefner, turned 88 on Wednesday and to celebrate London’s Playboy Club created The Hefner Cooler, a blend of Bourbon whisky, Amaretto Disaronno, lemon juice, pineapple juice and diet pepsi, which will be available throughout April.
Smirnoff Vodka launched a short digital film as part of its new global campaign as the brand crusades to make vodka “inclusive”, not “exclusive”. Comprising of six short spots, the film depicts two friends planning and hosting a party at their house. You can watch the whole film here.
