The week in pictures

Pop musician Hollie Cook has collaborated with Absolut Elyx and Water For People for a live performance and vinyl recording on Thursday at Sanctum Hotel in Soho, London. The collaboration celebrates a five-year partnership between Absolut Elyx and Water For People, who have joined together on a mission to bring access to safe water to over 100,000 people worldwide.

Mike McGinty of Edinburgh bar The Voyage of Buck was crowned the winner of the UK Patrón Perfectionist’s Cocktail Competition 2016. His award winning cocktail, The Bell of Jalisco, comprises Patrón Reposado, chamomile infused dry vermouth, grapefruit IPA, lemon juice and yellow bell pepper shrub. As part of his prize, Mike will experience a luxury trip to Hacienda Patrón – Patrón Tequila’s  distillery in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico. His winning cocktail will be featured as a limited edition serve at The Voyage of Buck.

Sanderson Hotel in London has joined forces with cocktail confectioners Smith & Sinclair to launch a whimsical pop-up bar in the building’s Purple Bar – so SB popped down to check it out. The sensory experience combines clever cocktails with alcoholic edibles – drinks that change in colour and taste as they are being poured and sipped, ‘Christmas’ infused vaporisers, edible perfumes, glittery Negronis, smoking teapots and boozy sherbet dip dabs. Smith & Sinclair has also taken over Sanderson’s Shop Space to launch The Flavour Room, selling all manner of alcoholic edibles and sweet treats.

An Italian cocktail and vermouth masterclass with Cocchi took place at Searcy’s One New Change on Wednesday. Guests enjoyed a ‘Bella Rosa’ cocktail on arrival – Cocchi Rosa, balsamico di Modena, tonic water, basil, cracked black pepper – before Jon Lister, UK Cocchi ambassador, hosted a tasting of Cocchi Rosa, Vermouth di Torino and Barolo Chinato. The night ended with a delicious Cocchi vermouth di Torino Negroni.

The world’s “first” social enterprise gin went on sale on Monday, with the profits going towards supporting disadvantaged young adults. Created in partnership with Pickering’s Gin, Ginerosity was served up for the first time at a launch party at social enterprise venue Harry’s Bar in Edinburgh.

Later this month (25 – 28 November), a team from Edrington Asia Pacific offices and Global Travel Retail will be embarking on its most challenging fundraiser to date. ‘Ride for the Kaohsiung Autism Foundation’ will see a team of more than 50 cyclists ride from Taipei to Kaohsiung – a gruelling 500km over four days. The Kaohsiung Autism Foundation is a local non-profit organisation based in Kaohsiung, Taiwan dedicated to the development of autistic children and supporting their families. To make a donation visit: https://core.spgateway.com/EPG/Love_Autism_Kaohsiung_Autism_Foundation/PL7pEG

Last week, the North East Business Executive of the Year named Dr Alan Rutherford, one of The Lakes Distillery’s non-executive directors, as the overall winner of its Non Executive Director of the Year award. The prestigious award aims to recognise the vital role non-executives can play in the development of companies of all sizes. The Lakes Distillery attended the awards where samples of their signature spirits were shared with 300 high-profile business leader guests.

More than 500 gin lovers descended on Stoke’s Kings Hall last Friday in an attempt to break the Guinness World Record for the ‘largest gin tasting event at a single venue’. The gathering was organised by Andrew Wilson of Old School Wines, Staffordshire and smashed the target of 250 people by double. Around 100 different types of gin from around the world were on offer, with 1,000 bottles available in total, 300kg of ice were used to chill a staggering 5,000 bottles of tonic water served by a team of 30 mixologists.

On Monday, SB hosted the grand final of The Wenneker Swizzle Masters 2016 cocktail competition at Oriole in London. Five winning cocktails from throughout the year went head-to-head before a panel of esteemed judges battling for the title of Wenneker Swizzle Master 2016 and a cash prize of £1,000.

Over the weekend, Balcones welcomed more than 500 people for a sneak peek of the new distillery in downtown Waco for a day of community, celebration, and, of course, whisky at the Balcones Downtown Debut event. The event also marked the launch of the distillery opening its doors after two years in construction for official tours at the stunning new location.

Seven local initiatives fighting alcohol misuse in Scotland have been awarded support from the SWA Fund. This is the third round of awards from the £500,000 fund set up in December 2013 by the Scotch Whisky Association (SWA). The SWA Fund, which extends the SWA’s commitment to addressing alcohol misuse and promoting responsible drinking, gives a total of up to £100,000 each year to 2018 to projects working to reduce harm in Scotland.

Over the weekend, SB‘s Nicola Carruthers headed to Harrogate to try out the ‘Slingsby Experience’ at the Spirit of Harrogate store – the makers of Slingsby Gin. Guests can sample the shop’s range of 150 gins and more than 80 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.

While in Harrogate the Firecracker Ball took place at Rudding Park Hotel, an annual fundraising event in support of children’s charity Barnado’s. Spirit of Harrogate were a silver supporter of the ball, and guests enjoyed Slingsby Gin cocktails, circus-themed entertainment and a live performance from girl band All Saints who kicked off their comeback tour at the prestigious event. This year’s ball raised over a quarter of a million for Barnado’s in Yorkshire.

In Oxfordshire, a mobile cocktail bus has launched offering bespoke drinks for private parties and events. The cocktail bus, named Big Al’s Drive In, is an original 1960’s Leyland Tiger Cub bus restored and refitted to provide a unique drinks experience.

On Thursday SB hotfooted across the city to Camino’s Copa De Cava for the annual Global Design and Packaging Masters 2016, where an assortment of spirits brands were rewarded for their stellar packaging.

Following the Design & Packaging Masters, team SB headed over to the City of London Distillery to meet new still Elizabeth and enjoy a G&T. The distillery’s founder, Jonathan Clark, chatted us through the production set-up and shared gin stories in the brand’s sumptuous cocktail bar.

Arbikie Highland Estate supported the inaugural Ignite Ball in aid of the Prince’s Trust. As part of this year’s 40th anniversary celebrations of the Trust, the brand created three signature cocktails to set alight the evening’s fundraising – with £355,000 raised over the course of the evening.

On Wednesday, some of New York’s top bartenders gathered at Jimi Hendrix’s original recording studio Electric Lady for the launch of The D’ussé Re-Mixer series. Hosted by US Bacardi portfolio ambassador Chris Hopkins and Grammy award-winning producer 9^th Wonder, guests explored the parallels of reworking classic cocktails and re-mixing classic songs. The flavours in Cognac was a particular focus, with D’ussé VSOP serves showcased alongside a mix of Jay-Z’s hit, Encore.

Oft-unsung heroes of the on-trade gathered in San Francisco’s Bay Area on Sunday for the 10^th anniversary of the Fernet-Branca Barback Games. The only event of its kind, the Games pits barbacks against one another in a series of challenges, with the winner taking the title of Best Barback in the Country. Tasks included timed bottle relays, beer restocking, spill clean-up, and a keg changing relay. After the fierce contest, the 10 judges named Gianna Burns from San Francisco’s Black Cat the 2016 champion.

Mike McGinty, from Edinburgh’s The Voyage of Buck, has won the UK final of the Patrón Perfectionist’s Competition, which took place at London’s The Lucky Pig on Wednesday. He will be treated to a luxury trip to Hacienda Patrón – Patrón Tequila’s distillery in the highlands of Jalisco, Mexico, while McGinty’s winning cocktail to be featured as a limited edition serve as his bar.