The week in pictures

Thursday was far from your average day in the office as SB headed to Chelsea’s Blue Bird to taste no fewer than 176 Scotch whiskies for The Scotch Whisky Masters 2016. From blended malts to single grains and Islay no-age-statements to 19-30-year-old variants from Speyside, there were some standout drams delivered to our expert judges throughout the day. Keep an eye out for the June issue of The Spirits Business to find out the full list of medal winners.

Edinburgh Gin, Tullibardine Distillery and Valt Vodka all signed a combined £300,000 deal with leading UK supermarket Asda this week, which will now stock Tullbardine Highland Single Malt Sherry Finish Whisky, Valt Vodka, Edinburgh Gin and Edinburgh Rhubarb and Ginger Gin Liqueur.

Fentimans is returning to Chesterton’s Polo in the Park 2016 event with its Botanical Cocktail Garden. Guests will be able to relax in the garden while enjoying an array of cocktails created in partnership with Proximo Spirits.

Guests gathered at recently opened K Bar at The Kensington in London to sample the new delectable dessert menu designed by bar manager Ben Manchester. Libations include Jerry’s Chocolate Orange, made with Sailor Jerry Spiced rum, Mozart chocolate liqueur, Grand Marnier, orange juice and double cream, and the Crème Brûlée Martini, mixed with vanilla-infused Havana Club Especial rum, caramel syrup and double cream.

Campari created a new Guinness World Record this week for the world’s largest spritz – an enormous 1,000-litre Aperol Spritz served on board Costa Favolosa with the Costa Crociere cruise line.

Jörg Meyer of Le Lion Bar de Paris in Hamburg visited London this week to take part in the latest bartender series at London’s Gong bar in the Shard. Meyer served his signature Gin Basil Smash cocktail and also got involved trialling a dried cricket lollipop garnish for a new tipple created by Christian Maspes, head bartender of Gong. Pictured above from left to right are Peter Dorelli, Salvatore Calabrese, Simon Difford and Jörg Meyer.

Sailor Jerry is set to hit the road for the second round of ‘The Ride’ motorbike race. Three teams from all over the UK – Hackney Wick’s Kingdom of Kicks, Welsh clue FTHaters and The Ride Originals – will take part in a series of “hard hitting” challenges over the course of a nine day tour, which will see one team crowned champions of The Ride 2016.

Damian Hinds, exchequer secretary to the Treasury, visited Chivas Brothers’ Beefeater distillery this week to meet industry leaders including Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, to discuss why the UK leaving the EU could put the nation’s gin industry “at risk”.

Fortnum & Mason announced the winners of its fourth annual Food and Drinks Awards this week, as selected by a panel of judges chaired by Fortnum CEO Ewan Venters, and including Margeret Rand, Simon Woods, Thomasina Miers, Edward Smith, Neil Ridley and Sybil Kapoor. TV Personality of the Year, as chosen by the public, was awarded to Nigella Lawson.

Also attending the Fortnum & Mason Food and Drinks Awards this week were Great British Bake Off stars Nadiya Hussain and Mary Berry. Winners included Wild Cocktails from the Midnight Apothecary by Lottie Muir which scooped best Debut Drink Book, and Dan Keeling of Noble Rot Magazine, who won Drink Writer of the Year.

To celebrate Official Top Gun Day today 1980s-themed club Maggie’s has had guests rocking classic aviator shades all week and sipping Top Gun Cocktails made with Bacardi. The venue also hosted a private screening of the film at Cineworld on Fulham Road, followed by an after party at Maggie’s that’s set to continue on Friday night.