The week in pictures
Another Giffard West Cup cocktail competition took place this week, this time at the Eurostar Madrid Tower hotel 5 Stars in Madrid, Spain. Earning a spot in the final, due to take place in Angers on 8 June, was bartender Juan Diaz Santos with his cocktail creation called Spirit based on spicy Giffard Mangalore.
Scotch whisky brand Talisker held a sensory event this week at The Canal Museum in London to celebrate the launch of its most recent expression, Talisker Skye. Guests were able to take part in cocktail master classes and whisky tastings led by, while sampling an array of innovative canapés and cocktails. Pictured here is UK whisky ambassador Andrea Montague hosting the Talisker Skye Sweet and Smoked Cocktail Masterclass session.
A whole host of April Fool’s Day pranks appeared in our inboxes on Wednesday morning making sorting fact from fiction a tricky – although humorous – task. But the one that tickled us most was this funny film from the guys at WhistlePig Rye about their new US$20,000 rye whiskey. Click here for full details.
Teeling Whiskey Distillery marked a milestone moment this week when it brought its stills to life and produced Dublin’s first whiskey spirit in 39 years, as it readies to officially open in May.
Mediterranean gin brand Gin Mare presented at the Gastro Vision fair in Hamburg this week. Brand development manager for Vantguard, Jorge Balbontin, was on hand to share his insight into the world of gastronomy and cocktails.
Visitors to a selection of John Lewis department stores in the UK on Wednesday, including Bristol, Oxford Street, Solihull and Liverpool would have had the opportunity to sample a range of Chase Vodka’s tipples.
Jack Daniel’s took over the ordinarily quiet town of Holmfirth in West Yorkshire with LA rock stars Rival Son for its most recent Jack Rocks Your Town campaign. The band made a rock star entrance via helicopter and held a meet and greet with local residents before kick starting their world tour with a gig at the town’s Picturedome venue.
Maxxium UK unveiled the latest addition to the Jim Beam portfolio – Jim Beam Apple – with a guided cocktail tour around London’s Shoreditch. Kicking off at London Cocktail Club in the area, the trip moved across to Porky’s BBQ, where the bar team has developed a range of signature drinks using Jim Beam Red Stag.
Dave Miles of Mixxit introduced the new apple flavour through a signature Jim Beam Apple and Tonic serve, designed to appeal to consumers in the “refreshment” occasion.
SB also attended the UK final of Bombay Sapphire’s Most Imaginative Bartender competition at the Mondrian’s Rumpus Room, where Dan Berger, of Heddon Street Kitchen, was crowned the winner. He impressed the panel of judges with his Bombay-inspired, tea-based cocktail which was served with a treasure chest of botanicals on the side for an all-encompassing sensory experience.
Irish whiskey brand Jameson welcomed some of Hollywood’s most famous actors and actresses to London this week for the 20th Jameson Empire Awards, which took place last Sunday. Among the many familiar faces to walk the red carpet was Harry Potter star, Daniel Radcliffe.
The Empire Awards celebrate the top films and filmmakers from the last year, voted for by film fanatics. The biggest award winner on the night was blockbuster Interstellar, which featured Jessica Chastain (pictured above), Matthew McConaughey and Anne Hathaway.
Also in attendance of The Empire Awards was Taken actor Liam Neeson. Jameson Irish Whiskey’s involvement with The Empire Awards forms part of the brand’s film marketing initiatives, including Jameson First Shot and Cult Film Club, through which Jameson aims to communicate with cinema lovers in more than 30 countries.
