The week in pictures
To celebrate Diwali, the Hindu festival of lights Soho venue Carom is to be adorned with candles and will be serving guests a selection of homemade Indian sweets, including Kaju katli – a cashew nut based delicacy – a traditional mil based dumpling called Gulab Jamun and milk based treat Burfi. Furthermore, the venue has recently launched a new cocktail menu, curated by head bartender Massimo Bosio, which can be ordered from the Atrium Bar.
Basketball champion Brian Salabrine made his grand return to Boston with a special “welcome home” celebration, sponsored by 2 Gingers Irish Whiskey. The sports star tended bar at the event, mixing 2 Gingers signature cocktails, including the Big ginger and the Skinny Ginger for his fans.
Our third and final Spirits Masters of the month took place this week and this time it was the turn of the inaugural pre-mixed cocktails, which were judged at Drake & Morgan’s Bankside venue, The Refinery.
On Tuesday evening, Jameson Irish Whiskey celebrated the launch of a special barrel aged cocktail at Hixter Bankside, created by skilled bartender Myles Davies. Joining Davies at the launch was Jer Buckley, fifth generation cooper for Jameson.
Langley’s No. 8 gin has teamed up with The Jones Family Project this autumn to create a 1920s Gin Distillery Room pop-up bar, which aims to celebrate the “most glamorous” periods of gin history. Situated in Shoreditch, The Jones Family Project offers a menu of sharing platters, plus a three-course gin cocktail menu including The Spritz to start, The Aviation to pair with a main course and a Clover Club to pair with dessert.
Josh Knox and Simon McBride from BOS’N were crowned the winning team in the fourth annual Great Enchanted Tiki Off, hosted by 10 Dollar Shake and Orchid Bar and sponsored by Sailor Jerry.
Elephant Gin headed to Worship Street Whistling Shop this week to kick start the Gin Journey in London, with Leon Dalloway from Shake, Rattle and Stir. Guests were treated to a new cocktail created at Worship Street Whistling Shop, made using Elephant Gin and inspired by the Gin Sour.
Joseph Schofield and Dominic Whisson, both bartenders at The Savoy Hotel, won the inaugural Have I Got Booze For You industry pub quiz held at The Portobello Star in London on Tuesday. Hosted by Jake Burger (right), the quiz tested the drinks knowledge of bartenders, bar owners, bloggers, journalists and brand ambassadors from across the UK. For the record, The Spirits Business didn’t finish last.
John Distilleries took over The Whisky Exchange WHisky Shop at Vinopolis on Thursday with a Diwali-themes stand showcasing premium Indian single malt Paul John. International sales and marketing GM Krish Kumar and PR Amanda Ludlow were on hand to pour drams of the whisky to browsers in the shop.
Maciej Urbanski from The Champagne Bar at Harvey Nicholls in London was named the winner of the United Kingdom Bartenders’ Guild (UKBG) Cocktail Championship 2014 after a final heat held at Salvatore’s bar at The Playboy Club in the capital. Urbanski will go through to represent the UK at the International Bartenders’ Guild’s World Cocktail Championship in Sofia, Bulgaria next year.
