The week in pictures
In celebration of the UK’s biggest cocktail festival, London Cocktail Week, Hendrick’s Gin brought ‘The Boneshaker’ to Seven Dials – the world’s “first” pedal-powered cocktail shaker. Cocktail lovers were offered a selection of tipples including The Ramos Gin Fizz.
Spirits enthusiasts eager to broaden their knowledge will have the chance to do so as Pernod Ricard opens its Irish Whikey Academy to the general public for the first time from December this year. The first course will take place from 1-2 December, led by David McCabe, Irish international whiskey ambassador and first academy tutor, who will explain about brewing, fermentation and distillation, while a tutored whiskey tasting will be headed by one of the production masters.
It takes a lot of hard graft for brands to pass the 1,000,000 case mark, and this week Pendleton Whisky announced the sale of its 1,000,000th case of whisky, not long after the brand celebrated its 10th anniversary last year.
Power couple David and Victoria Beckham delighted fans with a series of playful selfies this week, as the pair celebrated the launch of Haig Club single grain whisky, which was released in collaboration with music mogul Simon Fuller and drinks giant Diageo.
For the first time in its history, London Cocktail Week launched the Bartenders’ Centre – a hub for inquisitive and informative seminars and presentations. Among the dozens of seminars taking place this week was “I want one of those!” by Lucas Bols brand ambassador, John Clay, who shared his extensive knowledge of how to create a cocktail that will stand the test of time with an attentive crowd.
Dandelyan, the latest venture by award-winning Mr Lyan, may have only been open a week but word spreads quickly and guests have ben flocking to the bar to sample his newest offerings. This week, sb was given a special invitation to join Mr Lyan at Dandelyan and taste a vast selection of the venue’s tipples, all of which we have to say were nothing short of delicious.
The industry is fit to burst with new spirits launches, be they from the likes of drinks giants such as Diageo and Pernod Ricard to numerous bars crafting their own bespoke spirits. Sharing his advice and experience when it comes to launching a successful spirits brand was Alex Kammerling, founder and director of Kamm & Sons aperitif, who hosted a London Cocktail Week seminar on ‘How to launch a spirits brand in 365 easy steps’.
Chris Morris, master distiller of Woodford Reserve, popped over to London this week to launch the Bourbon brand’s Double Oaked expression.
There have been many discussions over age statements and whisky, but few words have been uttered about rum. That was until Metinee Konsgrivilai, UK brand ambassador for Bacardi, and Abishek Banik, distiller at Ogilvy Spirits, hosted a London Cocktail Week seminar this week exploring the misconceptions surrounding rum and age statements.
Courvoisier global brand ambassador Rebecca Asseline led a consumer-focused talk on the Cognac brand, including a tasting of Courvoisier VSOP Exclusif and Courvoisier XO, plus a sensory experience and dessert pairing. Guests delved into the brand history and heritage, with tales of Cognac, Courvoisier and cocktails.
Martin Miller’s Gin hosted the first regional heat of its global mixology competition, We Are the Tastemakers at London joint, Merchant House. Twelve bartenders went head to head during three rounds from to be the first of five winners from around the world to travel to Iceland with the gin brand. Impressing the judging panel comprising Martin Miller’s brand manager, Liam Murphy; Ally Martin of Peg and Patriot; Nate Brown of London bar Consultants; and Sasha Filimonov, Best Bars Executive, was Megs DeMeleunaere of The Pond Dalston.
Small batch super premium spirit Beckett’s Gin ventured to Box Hill in Surrey this week to pick juniper berries for the next batch of the London Dry Gin. In addition, it marked the start its conservation project in association with the Forestry Commission and the National Trust, which will see the brand plant a new population of juniper on Juniper Hill in Surrey over the next few years.
The Albion Racing Club hosted a pop-up bar at Best of Britannia last weekend, showcasing some of its best cocktails.
