The week in pictures
Dubai Duty Free officials headed by the executive vice chairman and CEO, Colm McLoughlin together with Salah Tahlak, executive vice president, Sinead El Sibai, vice president-marketing and Anna Khan, with jubilant ‘Rest of the World Team’, winner of the Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup 2016, at the awarding ceremony.
Spirit of Harrogate, who produce the new Slingsby Artisan Gin this week launched the ‘Slingsby Experience’. Guests will be able to sample the shop’s range of flavoured gins and over 30 tonics and buy the Slingsby Gin as well as visit the upstairs Spirit of Harrogate room, for a journey through the history of gin and how Slingsby is created.
On Wednesday, SB joined London bartenders at a workshop on the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition at The Beaufort Bar in The Savoy. The workshop was one of a series taking place around the country and provided an opportunity for bartenders who are considering entering Legacy to find out more about the competition and about the Bacardi brand itself from May, the Bacardi UK brand ambassador.
On Tuesday, SB held the final of its inaugural Great British Summer Cocktail Competition at Mews of Mayfair. Around 130 people attended the grand final, held in the Mews of Mayfair’s basement Lounge bar, and sampled any three of 10 finalist cocktail recipes. Lemon cream liqueur brand Staibano created the winning cocktail recipe called ‘Staibano Basil Sour’, made with Staibano liqueur, gin, fresh lemon juice, sugar syrup and egg white with a basil leaf garnish.
On Friday, Scotch Malt Whisky Society opened the doors at 28 Queen Street to unveil the newly refurbished space. 150 guests joined the team for the first look at all three remodeled levels with drams, nibbles and bubbly. Guests explored their flavour preferences in the Kaleidoscope Whisky Bar, Edinburgh’s new whisky bar, with complimentary samples of all 12 flavour profiles available on the night.
Last Friday, Caesars Palace Las Vegas celebrated its 50th anniversary with a special birthday pool party with nearly 3,000 hotel and special guests, hosted by chef Gordon Ramsay at the Garden of The Gods Pool Oasis. Master of Ceremonies and radio personality Chet Buchanan introduced the three finalists in the nationwide Caesars Palace 50th Anniversary Cocktail Competition before announcing that J.R. Starkus, Southern Glazer’s district manager, Brand Development & Resorts Mixology for Nevada, won for his “Lazy Stroll” cocktail creation.
Hotel Café Royal has launched 10 new cocktails in collaboration with Parfums Givenchy that celebrate L’Atelier de Givenchy fragrances and Iris Harmonique, the latest perfume in the collection. The L’Atelier de Givenchy cocktails will be available in Hotel Café Royal’s Green Bar from 22 August to 30 September 2016.
On Saturday, Wray & Nephew hosted Wray’s Jerk Fest – a one day event celebrating Jamaican culture at Peckham’s Bussey Rooftop Bar. The event including food, music, games and rum with nine DJ’s spinning Jamaican vibes all day long, including King Yoof and Trevor Sax.
It’s Olympic season and London Cocktail Club have created their own cocktail to celebrate the Rio Olympics, with their own take on a Caiprinha, made with 50ml Fuba Cachaca, 20ml sugar syrup, and six lime wedges. SB have put together a list of the best Olympic-inspired cocktails from some of London’s greats.
Bacardi brought the hot sunshine and the sporting spirit of Cuba to the UK for the fifth year running as it held the annual UK Bacardi Classics Softball Tournament for bartenders last Sunday. Hosted at London Mets Baseball Club in Finsbury Park by Bacardi UK brand ambassador May, this year’s competition saw eight teams competing for a trip to Ibiza. Personalities from some of London’s top bars took part, including Luca Missaglia from Aqua Shard, Olly Brading from Cocktail Trading Co and Barney Toy from Little Bat.
Mr Fogg’s Residence bartender Peter Nguyen, is one of three Global Finalists in the Matini Grand Prix, representing the UK. Martini have challenged bartenders around the world to create their own modern ‘Aperitivo’ cocktail in the great tradition of the Italian classics such as the Americano, the Milano Torino and the Negroni. Peter conceived an original aperitivo made with Martini Riserva Ambrato, Chinotto Quaglia, Creme de Bergamot, lemon juice and mandarin orange bitters.
Diplomático Rum announced the 3rd edition of the Diplomático World Tournament (DWT), a global cocktail competition featuring bartenders from over 40 countries. Winners from the local heats will travel to Venezuela for the continental semi-finals to compete in the World Final in London. Only 13 bartenders will make it to the final round with the top three winners each earning cash prizes. Submissions for entries opened in some countries this month.
