The week in pictures
It’s the fastest growing spirits category in the world and this week Jameson opened a new micro-distillery adjacent to its existing Midleton plant, set to create whisky using recipes found in the personal notebook of John Jameson II in the early 19th century.
Anyone who is anyone in the world of spirits will have heard of Diageo’s latest marketing push for Johnnie Walker, lauded as the largest in the brand’s history. Designed to drive sales for the next 10 years, the “Joy Will Take You Further” campaign is an extension of the label’s long-established “Keep Walking” campaign initially launched in 1999.
The “Joy Will Take You Further” campaign brings together Johnnie Walker’s most famous brand ambassadors including actor Jude Law and Formula One star Jenson Button, as well as some new recruits including Swedish engineer Eva Hakansson and artistic duo Haas and Hahn.
SB headed to The Goodwood Revival last Friday with Glenfiddich brand ambassador Mark Thomson for the launch of its new Glenfiddich Original Single Malt. The brand opened The Original Club for the day offering ladies and gents clad in 60s style gear to sample the new expression alongside a smattering of cocktails.
Football legend David Beckham was in Miami this week to launch an exclusive pop-up venue – Haig Club Miami. Joining Beckham for a dram and cocktails were celebrity guests, such as Dascha Polanco, of Orange is the New Black, Marvel’s new Black Panther Chadwick Boseman, Miami Dolphins quarter back Ryan Tannehill (far left), his wife Lauren (second from left) and Simon Fuller (far right).
Last week, Bloom Gin celebrated its partnership with Penahligon’s Perfume House on Regent Street for the #VogueLoves Fashion Night Out. The first 200 customers through the door were treated to a Bloom Gin cocktail, with the Blasted Bloom Martini and the Blasted Heath drinks created specially to celebrate the two new fragrances launched by Penhaligon’s. The team at Vogue claimed the store was the busiest of the night.
In one of our biggest Global Spirits Masters competitions of the year, an esteemed judging panel gathered at The Black Penny in Covent Garden to blind taste almost 100 different vodkas. Categories this year included Smooth, Micro-distillery, falvoured, premium and super-premium – but you’ll have to wait for the October issue of The Spirits Business to discover this year’s worthy medallists.
Thursday held host to the second Global Spirits Masters competition of the month – The Global Travel Retail Masters. Gin, Vodka, Scotch – the day was thrown open to all categories available in travel retail with some exclusive editions in the mix. Our panel of judges took their places at the Scotch Malt Whisky Society’s London venue to carefully consider each spirit based on its own merit.
Clawing his way to victory in this year’s Glenfiddich Malt Mastermind cocktail competition was Michael Cameron, of Guy’s Restaurant & Bar, in Glasgow. Judging the competition were Mark Thomson, Glenfiddich UK brand ambassador, Kirsten Grant Meikle, William Grant & Sons family member, Gary Sharpen, editor of The Cocktail Lovers, and Ali Reynolds, winner of the 2014 Glenfiddich Malt Mastermind contest. Cameron championed over nine other finalists with his cocktail called Ours is the Fury, which judges said showcased his originality, creativity and in-depth knowledge of the malt whisky category.
Grey Goose vodka helped celebrate the world’s leading premieres with a multitude of famous faces at the Toronto International Film Festival. Joining Grey Goose for the after party at Soho House Toronto were leading ladies Toni Collette and Drew Barrymore from the film Miss You Already.
Grey Goose served up its signature Le Fizz cocktail among many other vodka concoctions at the numerous after party events at the Toronto International Film Festival, frequented by Jake Gyllenhaal and his co-star Naomi Watts, of the film Demolition which was premiered at the show.
Former Diageo director Jonathan Drivers was named as the new rare whisky director for Whyte & Mackay this week in order to “provide further impetus” to the firm’s “ambitious international growth plans”.
Glenmorangie showed of a new piece of land art this week to celebrate the success of its Signet single malt. Created by renowned environmental artist Dan Snow, the stone sculpture, named Rock Springs, is described as a “celebration of the natural beauty” of Glenmorangie Signet’s terrior and is made from some 80 tons of locally sourced stone.
Pop superstar Nicole Scherzinger learned how to make a mean Mojito with the rum pirate himself, Captain Morgan. Scherzinger’s appearance comes as the brand embarks on a marketing drive for its new white rum expression.
