The week in pictures
Diageo has been welcoming consumers and trade members alike all this week to the London Cocktail Week World Class Hub. Guests have immersed themselves in a range of experiences, including the UK’s inaugural World Class Bar, run by the nation’s winning bartender Ali Reynolds. The very first bartender studio was also unveiled, which allowed members of the trade to participate in numerous sessions to learn new skills and hone in on techniques before entering this year’s World Class competition, which is now open for entries.
To celebrate the anniversary of when Jules Verne’s explorer Phileas Fogg and his loyal valet Passepartout set sail around the world in 80 days on 2 October 1872, London speakeasy Mr Fogg’s recreated the departure from Hermitage Pier on real Victorian vessel, Lady Daphne. The venue also created a cocktail menu dedicated to the theme of Around the World in 80 Days.
Whisky fans flocked to Old Billingsgate in London this week for the annual The Whisky Exchange Whisky Show. Hosted from Saturday through to Monday, the weekend offered a wide selection of tastings, seminars and presentations with brands including Balcones, Teeling Irish Whiskey, Penderyn and The Balvenie. During The Whisky Show on Monday, The Deveron’s master blender Stephanie Macleod presented a masterclass to showcase the brand’s 12 and 18-year-old bottlings.
On Monday night SB’s senior staff writer Melita Kiely had the privilege of joining Royal Brackla at London’s revered hotel, The Savoy, for an exclusive whisky pairing dinner featuring the brand’s 12-year-old, 16-year-old and 21-year-old expressions. Hosting the dinner was master blender Stephanie Macleod and renowned whisky writer Charles MacLean.
Rub Smokehouse & Bar in Nottingham, UK, welcomed Buffalo Trace’s master blender Drew Mayville to the venue this week for an exclusive masterclass. Guests were greeted with Buffalo Trace cocktails, with the Jean Claude Jam Dram – a blend of Buffalo Trace, blackcurrant jam, lemon juice, white chocolate syrup, rhubarb liqueur, chipotle bitters and Belgian blonde ale – proving particularly popular. Mayville then led an attentive audience through the history of the brand, the production process, the importance of blending and a few of his own insights from his time at the company.
Laphroaig Islay Single Malt Scotch Whisky continued celebrating its 200th anniversary, with an exclusive tasting at London hotel The Connaught. The venue was specifically chosen as it was built 200 years ago in 1815, the same year Laphroaig was founded.
Martell Cognac ambassador and Hollywood actress Diane Kruger has identified 300 of the most exciting French and French-inspired talents as part of the France300 project. Launched to celebrate the brand’s 300th anniversary, the project identifies 300 “ones to watch across the worlds of gastronomy, art, mixology, entertainment and fashion. The recipients of the title include: New York’s Experimental Cocktail Club head bartender, Nicolas de Soto; Tequila producer from Mexico, Sophie Decobecq; and award-winning bartender from 80s-themed cocktail bar Bondy’s, Jean Munos
It’s Johnnie Walker’s largest advertising campaign ever, and to celebrate the launch of the new Joy Will Take You Further campaign, the brand held an exclusive event at the New York City headquarters of The Explorers Club – the world’famous non-profit organisation. Taking part in the panel discussion on the night were Doug Ellin, of Entourage fame, Michael Strahan, professional football Hall of Famer and Live! with Kelly and Michael co-host, Eva Hakansson, inventor and world electronic-powered motorcycle speed record holder, and Dr Matt Killingsworth, leading psychologist and happiness expert.
After proving his bartending skills against some stiff competition, Marco of Buddha Bar was crowned champion of the Ghost Vodka cocktail competition, which took place at the London Cocktail Week Cocktail Village in Spitalfields Market on Tuesday.
On Thursday classic Courvoisier cocktails were served at East London speakeasy Looking Glass Cocktail Club as part of the brand’s Toast Of Paris campaign – a celebration of the Paris Golden Age (1880-1914) when Cognac was established as the celebratory and luxury drink of choice. Wayne Collins and Sam Kershaw took over the bar to create their own Paris Golden Age-inspired serves, while guests relaxed to live music and a short Belle Epoque-themed film.
On Thursday, Drambuie presented The Brass & Crimson – an immersive pop-up experience in the heart of London Cocktail Week action – set in the basement bar of ‘Smiths’, Spitalfields. Jazz legend Courtney Pine performed while guests sipped on classic drinks including the Rusty Nail, a slow sipping favourite of the legendary Rat Pack.
Forest Gin stepped into the limelight when the BBC’s Countryfile travelled to Langley, in Cheshire, to spend the day with founder Karl Bond and his family foraging for botanicals. The morning was spent in and around Teggs Nose Country Park, where the family showed presenter Helen Skelton how they forage for berries, moss and fern for ingredients in the gin. The family then invited the cameras into their home, where Karl went through the process of making the gin. The episode will be shown on BBC One on Sunday 11 October.
Woodford Reserve hosted a masterclass at its pop-up bar The Art of the Old Fashioned, in celebration of the classic American cocktail. Master distiller David Morris lead the masterclass, taking guests through the history of the brand with Woodford Reserve Kentucky Bourbon, Kentucky Rye, and Double Oaked variants. He was accompanied by Marcis Dzelzainis, bar manager of Mission bar, who had concocted an Olive Oil Old Fashioned, Lost Cause, and Toasted Marshmellow Old Fashioned with to compliment each tasting.
The Martin Miller’s Notting Hill Champion competition was held on Wednesday this week at Trailer Happiness in the heart of Notting Hill, where Martin Miller and friends Andreas Versteegh and David Bromige first conceived the concept of Martin Miller’s. Bartenders from the best cocktail venues from across Notting Hill were invited to enter a signature cocktail, which represents their establishment and their region, as well as encapsulating Martin Miller’s quest for “Romance and Adventure in a glass”. A masterclass by Martin Miller’s co-founder David Bromige followed.
The world’s bar and spirits trade descended on Berlin this week for the ninth annual Bar Convent Berlin. The event celebrated a record number of visitors and exhibitors at Station Berlin, where a plethora of tastings, seminars and debates took place. This year, the show’s Brew Berlin focus expanded, while a new Made in GSA area was launched, celebrating products made in Germany, Switzerland and Austria.
Gruppo Campari and Imbibe magazine celebrated raising a record-breaking US$321,000 during Negroni Week 2015, exceeding funding targets for a third year in a row. The week-long campaign took place from 1-7 June 2015 across 44 countries, however, the total number of funds raised has just been revealed this week. This year marked the first time the initiative launched internationally, with bars and retailers around the world encouraged to donated a portion of sales from Negroni cocktails or Negroni-related products.
