The week in pictures
On Thursday, SB headed to the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel London, Docklands Riverside, for the final preliminary round of The Wenneker Swizzle Masters cocktail competition 2015. The final theme was Hot Rum Cocktails using Saint James agricole rum – but you’ll have to wait for the October issue of The Spirits Business to find out who scooped the last place in November’s semi-final.
To celebrate the UK launch of Disaronno Riserva, producer Augusto Reina, CEO of Illva Saronno, flew to the UK to host a private tasting at revered retailer Fortnum and Mason. The expression is made with blended Scotch whisky made from a selection of different malts combined with Disaronno.
Reina said: “I am honoured to present Disaronno Riserva. It’s a product that is deeply rooted in the company’s ethos; research and innovation have always been the guiding principles in managing the family business and it is these exact values that have made this new product truly unique.
“To make the product distinctive I decided to focus on how, and where it was created; being aged in the oak barrels in Cantine Florio, brings it all back to the long standing history of the company. It has all come full circle.”
The 2015 Boutique Bar Show took place in London this week, showcasing some of the best up-and-coming spirits brands on the market, including Thompson’s Gin, Arbikie and Above 55, as well as offering a range of cocktail masterclasses and seminars.
Last weekend SB’s senior staff writer Melita Kiely headed to Marrakech with Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin to judge the Opihr World Adventure Cocktail Competition 2015. Eleven finalists from around the world descended on the city for the global final having travelled from the US, Ireland, the UK, Spain and Portugal. Wowing the judges with her innovative cocktail Classy Lassi was US bartender Mariena Mercer, of The Cosmopolitan, Las Vegas. with Spanish bartender Alvaro Martin, of Hotel ME, Ibiza, placing a very close second. The other nine worthy finalists comprised Joe Macbeth of Rub Smokehouse & Bar, Nottingham; Stephanie Shen of The Meeting House, Dublin; Francois Morrison of Cherche Midi, New York; Bryan Gerrard, of Smack Shack, Minneapolis; Valentina Vadici of Boutique Hotel Do Reial, Barcelona. David Wade of Vodka Wodka, Glasgow; John Burns of Intercontinental London Park Lane, London; Steven Maduro of Spoonbar, California; and Tiago Sousa of Casino Lisboa, Lisbon.
The Scottish Craft Distillers Association (SCDA) celebrated its successes with an event hosted at the Scottish Parliament this week, led by Jean Urquhart MSP, who showcased 11 products from different distilleries.
Three generations of Harris Islanders gathered to put the first peats on the fire at the new Isle of Harris Distillery. Pictured above from left to right are 11-year-old Emma Passmore; John Murdo Morrison, Harris businessman and former Deputy Lord Lieutenant of the Western Isles; Shona Macleod who works at the distillery and 11-year-old Niel Macleod. Around 12 guests, including investors and islanders, gathered for the opening.
Speakeasy bar Mr Fogg’s was transported to a pop-up venue in Berkeley Square, London, this week as part of the LAPADA Art & Antiques Fair 2015. No fewer than 100 exhibitors took part in this year’s event, presenting work from across the art, antiques, design and decorative arts sectors, including jewellery, furniture, tapestries, antiquities, clocks, silver and fine art, with prices ranging from £500 to £500,000. The talented team behind Mr Fogg’s were on hand throughout the show to offer guests a range of delectable Berkeley Gin cocktails.
A whole bunch of celebrity faces joined David and Victoria Beckham this week to celebrate the end of London Fashion Week with a unique Haig Club cocktail at Victoria Beckham’s flagship London store.
Joining David and Victoria Beckham at the Haig Club bar and anniversary of Victoria Beckham’s Dover Street store was singer Ellie Goulding.
One Direction stars Louis Tomlinson was papped leaving Mahiki this week after sipping treasure chests with band mate Niall Horan, and fellow singers Olly Murs and Little Mix.
London bar Cahoots hosted a Survivors of the Blitz event on Thursday afternoon in partnership with North London Cares – a community network of neighbours and young professionals who work to keep connected to the London community through “unique” shared experiences.
London chain Drake & Morgan hosted several mixology masterclasses this week to celebrate the launch of its autumn/winter menus. Guests were invited to samples the new drinks selection while indulging in a selection of small plates at one of two Drake & Morgan venues – The Fable in Farringdon or The Happenstance in Bank.
This week, Beam Suntory invited SB along for a sneak peek of the new ‘Japanese Journey’ campaign, run in partnership with London Restaurant Festival 2015. On weekends throughout October, ticket holders will be taken on a whirlwind tour of Japan’s culture and food, visiting six of London’s best ramen bars, sushi restaurants and Japanese lzakayas; Shoryu Ramen, BÓ Drake, Tonkotsu, Chisou, Kurobuta, and Yashin Ocean House. Each venue will offer a range of specialist Japanese dishes, paired with a cocktail serve of the new Hibiki Japanese Harmony whisky.
To celebrate the global roll out of Jameson Caskmates this week, Shane Long, Franciscan Wells micro-brewery founder and head brewer, and Dave Quinn, Jameson master of whiskey science, headed to London to enable select media members sample the new variant.
In a very exciting sneak preview to 2015’s Special Releases, Diageo invited SB along to a tasting and dinner. Our lips are sealed until October – this quick snap is the only detail we can share in advance…
SB‘s editor Kristiane Sherry popped over to Paris with Courvoisier for an immersive Golden Age of Paris tour marking the brand’s major design and packaging refresh. From cocktails at Fouquet’s to an elegant evening up the Eiffel Tower, the Cognac brand’s association with the French capital was celebrated every step of the way.
Three bartenders have secured a place in the final of the Luxardo Cocktail Campione 2015, which will see the winner receive a prize of £3,000. The trio through to the final in Padua, Italy, are Matthew Hastings from the Tree House in Beaconsfield, Manachain Monaghan from Monk in Buxton, and Troels Knudsen from Steam and Rye.
