The week in pictures
Grey Goose Vodka celebrated its global partnership with Virgin Galactic with a lavish party in New York, attended by billionaire and Virgin-owner, Richard Branson.
This month is National Bourbon Heritage Month, so in celebration Bourbon brand Jim Beam teamed up with Dynamichrome to add a touch of colour to some vintage Jim Beam photos, which we have compared above.
Signs for London Cocktail Week (6-12 October) have been raised in the city’s Seven Dials area, in anticipation of thousands of cocktail fans descending on bars, restaurants and pop-ups for seven days of imbibing and drinks education.
The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival has appointed a new festival administrator in the form of events organizer, Pery Zakeri, who helped manage one of the world’s biggest bagpiping events. Zakeri will work alongside the festival’s board of directors as they prepare the 2015 programme.
It’s been a busy month for team sb with not one, but two Spirits Masters events taking place. This week it was the turn of the 204 Travel Retail Masters, which was hosted at Drake & Morgan’s most recent opening, The Fable. With an abundance of different spirits to taste, the day’s judging panel comprised Fluid Movement co-founder Tom Aske, director of Chapman and Gorn Tobias Gorn, founder of Voice Pr Eugene Bacot, assistant bar manager at Harvey Nichols OXO Tower Sandro Lhys, bar manager of The Cadogan Arms Adam McCullogh and editor of The Spirits Business Becky Paskin.
After the success of its launch in Paris in July, Grey Goose VX has also launched in Us Travel Retail, with two high profile experiences at Los Angeles International Airpport and Las Vegas McCarran.
Albion Racing Club unveiled its first special edition line sealed with bright pink wax, titled Albion Spice Malt. The special edition single malt has been made in support of The Coxless Crew, a team of four female adventurers who plan to row across the Pacific Ocean to raise awareness of women who face extreme adversity and raise funds for Walking With the Wounded and Breast Cancer Care.
The winning team of the Monkey Shoulder Ultimate Bartender Challenge has been named as The Cowbell, run by Stuart Balem Abigail Clephane and Ervin W Trykowski. Having received the winning number of votes – 15 – the trio will host a pop-up at London Cocktail Week, supported by Monkey Shoulder.
The final preliminary heat of The Wenneker Swizzle Masters before the semi-finals in October – Tequila Salt of the Earth – took place this week at Mexican tapas and Tequila joint, El Nivel in London.
Ryder Cup legend Colin Montgomerie captained a team of UK journalists, who went on to win a two-shot mini golf victory over their US opponents.
The inaugural winner of the Luxardo Campione cocktail competition has been named as David Hamilton-Boyd, of organic catering and cocktail company, Organic Spirit. Hamilton-Boyd rose to victory at the final held in Padua, Italy, with his creation, Phoenix from the Flame, comprising
Luxardo Sangue Morlacco, Luxardo Chilli & Spices sambuca liqueur, homemade cherry wood smoked Luxardo Grappa, lemon juice, cherry purée, cherry and birch ash, Luxardo Maraschino and rosemary dry ice smoke.
Mr Fogg’s, London, joined forces with Albion Racing Club this week for a party in “celebration of English eccentricity and artefacts”, filled with cocktails, dancing.
