The week in pictures
Several weeks after the initial launch of Rémy Martin’s One Life/Live Them campaign, the firm’s mentorship programme ‘Circle of Centaurs’ has unveiled its second mentor – Samantha Barks, British actress, singer and barker.
The Byrrh and Suze cocktail competition has selected two regional winners, who have both been awarded a trip to Thuir in France where both brands are made. First to bag a spot in the final was Lulu Fedi of Gleneagles in Scotland.
Also securing a space in the final of the Byrrh and Suze cocktail competition was bartender Adam Day of Corridor in Salford, who won first place in the Northern heat.
On Tuesday SB was spoilt for choice when we popped into Bar Boulud at London’s Mandarin Oriental Hyde Park hotel to try out the venue’s extensive gin and tonic menu. Available from this week, the gin and tonic list will feature at the Chelsea Flower Show and the Queen’s 90th birthday celebrations, and includes numerous recent releases.
It was an appropriately sunny, spring afternoon on Tuesday when SB headed to K Bar at The Kensington Hotel in London to host the Italian Apéritif round of The Wenneker Swizzle Masters cocktail competition. Ben Manchester, bar manager at K Bar, stepped up to the challenge of recreating the 10 finalists’ original recipes.
Last Friday, Havana Club kindly helped some of the Union Press team ease into the weekend with cocktails, nibbles and guided Havana Club rum tasting at our Southwark office.
A World of Gin held the first of a year-long series of events last weekend – Ginder. Located at Shop 309 in Bethnal Green Road, the event offered a 30 minute ‘swiping session’ suggesting various gins, tonics and garnishes based on consumers’ taste preferences.
It was smiles all round for the winners of the Luis Caballero Gin Collection Cocktail Competition from Spain who are pictured above with the team from Skylon on the South Bank, London. The group celebrated with Bloom Gin French 75’s after a tour of the G&J distillery in Warrington and an evening exploring Manchester’s vibrant bar scene.
Walsh Whiskey Distillery celebrated two new distribution deals this week, which will see the company expand its presence in Russia and the US.
Maxxium UK launched Jim Beam Double Oak at The Village Underground in Shoreditch on Tuesday, with a tutored tasting led by David Miles, MIXXIT.
Karine TIllard, Patrón brand ambassador, held a tasting and masterclass session in London this week at Village Underground in Shoreditch, followed by an after party.
Chase Distillery and Pizza Pilgrims’ Pococello brand took some of the UK’s best bartenders to the Amalfi coast, where they were given the opportunity to pick the “world’s best lemons” for the next batch. Pictured above are Tom Ross of Polpo; Fin Spiteri of Quo Vadis; Simone Francini of D&D, Cantina Del Ponte; Chris Dennis of Sovereign Loss; Chris Watson of Chase Distillery; Charlie Roberts of Fever-Tree; and Edy Piro of Terone Coffee.
