The week in pictures
The Avengers actor Jeremy Renner attended the UK launch of the One Life/Live Them campaign for Cognac house Rémy Martin, for which he has been recently recruited as a global brand ambassador. Renner, who is starring in a one-miunute sort film for the campaign, joined Rémy Martin CEO Eric Vallat for the opening of La Maison Rémy Martin – a private member’s club for Cognac fans which will remain open for four weeks.
Mancháin Monaghan, of Monk bar in Buxton, has been crowned winner of the UK leg of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge and will travel to Trinidad for the worldwide final of the competition in February next year. The winner will receive US$10,000 and earn the title of Angostura’s global brand ambassador for the following two years.
The Lakes Distillery and the Cumbria Wildlife Trust went on a foraging expedition for wild Cumbrian juniper, as well as locally-grown bilberry, heather and hawthorn – all of which are used to create The Lakes Gin. The Lakes Distillery, which has its head office based in Gosforth, Newcastle, is the only UK distilling operation with permission to use wild Cumbrian juniper.
Reigning Miss Scotland, Mhairi Fergusson, and a contender for the title of Miss World in China later this year, is getting behind The Glenturret Distillery’s attempt to set a new world record for the most people to simultaneously raise a traditional dram of whisky in a toast this coming week. Fergusson, 22, visited the distillery earlier this week as part of the filming for her promotional video of Scotland and promised to return to take part in the record-breaking attempt.
Japanese bartender Koji Esashi has been named Jose Cuervo’s first Don of Tequila during a close final held in Tequila, Mexico, this week. The global final saw 17 finalists take part in three rounds: a mystery ingredients round, aroma challenge and speed challenge. As well as the coveted Don of Tequila title, Esashi will harvest, blend and bottle his own Tequila on the brand’s estate.
Constellation Brands has released images of its annual “Nourishing Neighbors” initiative, which took place last month. A§s part of the charitable programme employees were offered three different ways to participate – by donating time, food or money. During the week, more than 730 employees in the U.S., Canada, Italy, Mexico and New Zealand took paid time off to volunteer at local food banks.
Bacardi launched its new major advertising campaign on Halloween, featuring ghosts, goblins, Bacardi bars and a whole lot of music. The millennial-focused House Party campaign launched in Philadelphia with performances by R. City and Chromeo. More than 250 partygoers attended the event, which took place in a custom-built house with five different rooms.
The ever-quirky London speakeasy bar Mr Foggs hosted an Irish-style wake in celebration of Halloween, complete with horse drawn carriage which parade the demised (and fictional) Aunt Gertrude Fogg around the streets of London.
Joe Schofield from The American Bar and The Beaufort Bar at The Savoy Hotel in London has been named national champion of the UK 2015 Beefeater MIXLDN Cocktail Competition after battling fierce competition from 12 other contenders. Schofield impressed the prestigious panel of judges, with his Mother’s Milk cocktail, which was inspired by 24 Milk Street, a residence previously incinerated in the Great Fire of London that was later home to renowned Victorian chef Isabella Beeton.
Bourne & Hollingsworth Group is set to launch Below & Hidden, a new late-night clubroom below its popular Clerkenwell restaurant and bar, Bourne & Hollingsworth Buildings. Described as “no bigger than an average living room”, the bar features walls covered with tapestry and floor to ceiling LED lights, and serves an array of bottled cocktails.
SB’s Amy Hopkins was delighted to attend the the Annual Charity Gala Dinner of the City Veteran’s Network as a guest of Halewood International at the ever-impressive Imperial War Museum. Raising money for charities and organisations which support, and are supported by, veterans, the evening was sponsored by Whitley Neill and Red Square Vodka producer Halewood, which revealed a series of exciting changes set to take place in the coming months following the recent appointment of Stewart Hainsworth as its CEO.
Casamigos Tequila hosted its annual star-studded Halloween bash this week, with celebs including Channing Tatum and wife Jenna Dewan donning all manner of costumes to join the festivities. Guests enjoyed signature cocktails including the Perfect Margarita and Spicy Cucumber Jalapeno Margarita, all served from a custom-built Casamigos bar, made from reconditioned Casamigos barrels. Food included tacos, burgers and a selection of desserts, while shots of Casamigos were served from the Casamigos Tequila-branded ice sculpture.
Feeney’s Irish Cream Liqueur launched in the UK in over 700 Tesco stores this week. To celebrate, owner Quintessential Brands transformed a London event space into the Soho Shebeen, a pop-up Irish whiskey bar with sister brands The Liberties and The Dubliner. SB attended Wednesday night’s launch party and enjoyed cocktails and snacks over the three-storey space. The Greek Street bar is now open for six nights (5-7 and 11-13 November) so get in sharpish for a taste of Ireland in the centre of the UK capital.
It was a busy week for Quintessential Brands as its liqueur Alizé sponsored the 20th MOBO (Music of Black Origin) Awards on Wednesday night. According to the brand, it was selected because of its “rich history” with music: as early as the 1990s Tupac Shakur, Biggie Smalls and Jay Z, were dropping Alizé into their tracks. Alizé sponsored the VIP, artist reception and after party areas. “We place a lot of value on authenticity so this is a perfect partnership,” said Jay Orlean, Alizé brand manager.
On Monday evening, SB attended the UK premiere of The Gentleman’s Wager II, the second short film promoting Diageo’s Johnnie Walker Blue Label Scotch whisky. In addition to indulging in the Jude Law-starring visual feast, we tucked into tasty canapés, enjoyed Gentleman’s Wager-themed cocktails and luxuriated in a Blue Label tasting, all the sumptuous surrounds of London’s Mondrian Hotel. What’s not to love?
Tuesday saw the global launch of Ballantine’s Hard Fired at Mark’s Bar, Hixter Bankside. The “subtly smoky” whisky was served in cocktails and as part of a deconstructed tasting alongside Allt-a-Bhainne and Glenburghie single malts, and Ballantine’s Finest. Sandy Hyslop, Ballantine’s master blender, was hand to explain that the new whisky is the result of a selective second cask charring, or “hard firing” process, which the liquid finished finished in these special casks for “months”.
Cocktail mix brand Finest Call and UK distribution partners Cellar Trends this week hosted a 2016 Cocktail Trends presentation at The Trafalgar Arms in Tooting, London. SB was surprised to learn that just 32% of UK hotels serve cocktails – a huge opportunity for the industry.
