The week in pictures
Reyka Vodka staged a Facebook Live event earlier this week to address each Iceland resident with Gleðilega hátíð – or ‘Happy holidays’. The brand managed to wish every Icelander (all 320,000 of them) a personalised holiday wish because there are only 4,512 unique names in the country, registered with the Icelandic Naming Committee.
This week The Spirits Business hosted The Spirits Masters Awards Lunch 2016 at Kensington Roof Gardens in London. The winners of this year’s Global Spirits Masters were presented with their certificates; including the Grand Spirits Masters from each spirit category; and this year’s overall Grand Spirits Master 2016. While enjoying the finest roof top gardens in London and a delicious three course meal, guests mingled with industry friends and met the Masters’ judges.
Bacardi collaborated with The Dean Collection to present No Commission: London – an art fair platform designed specifically to support artists with 100% of the sale of all artwork going directly to them. The event welcomed a host of celebrities, including American singer-songwriter and TV personality Nicole Scherzinger.
Last Saturday, Diageo took Team SB to Twickenham to watch the England vs Australia rugby match and enjoy a five course lunch at The Venue, followed by fascinating pre-match talks from former professional players. After the victory (or failure, depending on where you’re from!), the group headed back to The Venue for post-match drinks and snacks.
Effen Vodka took over Miami Art Week with several unique activations – partnering with Uber to launch the first ever UberSEAPLANE as well as LUX SUVs wrapped in custom designs by artist Kwue Molly (pictured) – who also installed a live art installation made with Effen Vodka bottles.
On Monday, SB‘s news, web and social media editor Annie Hayes flew out to Amsterdam as part of a wider group of journalists who were hosted by Lucas Bols. Guests experienced the immersive House Of Bols, interviewed Lucas Bols’ CEO Huub van Doorne, enjoyed a training session with the company’s master bartender…
The group also toured the distillery with master distiller, Piet van Leijenhorst, and even experienced an authentic genever serve at the Wynand Fockink tavern…
…To round off the trip, visitors enjoyed dinner and drinks at Lion Noir before heading to speakeasy bar Door 74.
The first international bartender educational programme, Beluga Signature 2016, concluded with Marie Picard from Paris taking home the Beluga trophy. Marie Picard, who works in Hotel André Latin, won the Grand Final with two cocktails, perfectly matching the theme of ‘For Her’ and ‘For Him’. The ‘For Him’ cocktail, BE as LU and Gaspard, comprised Beluga Noble vodka, elderflower liquor, lemon, hibiscus syrup and pomelo zest. ‘For Her’ was named Beluga’thering and contained Beluga Noble vodka, dry vermouth, verbena spray and elderflower liquor.
On Wednesday William Grant & Sons opened a pop-up whisky boutique in London’s Islington. The quirky pop-up champions the Ancient Reserves portfolio, which comprises exclusive whiskies like Ailsa Bay, The Girvan Patent Still, Rare Cask Reserves and Kininvie. The team are on-hand to offer expert tastings and advice, bottle engraving, free gift-wrapping, and host number of ticketed innovative whisky-inspired events until Friday 23 December.
On Tuesday, Team SB headed down to check out new London bar Swift – the latest offering from cocktail duo Bobby Hiddleston and Mia Johansson in collaboration with fellow husband and wife team Rosie Stimpson and Edmund Weil. Our favourite serve was without a doubt the White Water, which combined Great King St Glasgow Blend, coconut falernum and banana.
Beam Suntory opened its new global headquarters in Chicago’s Merchandise Mart. The firm relocated its Americas region and global marketing personnel from Deerfield to downtown Chicago, with corporate functions following in 2017. Beam Suntory has renovated 110,000 square feet on the 16th floor of the Merchandise Mart, an architectural landmark situated on the Chicago River in the dynamic River North neighborhood.
On Thursday, SB‘s news, web and social media editor Annie Hayes headed to East London to celebrate the progress of East London Liquor Company’s London Rye whisky – the first rye whisky to be produced in East London in over 100 years. Attendees enjoyed a sneak preview of the white dog that will become the final whisky, a distiller Q&A and some delicious whisky cocktails. The whisky is still being aged after being barrelled in 2015 and will be ready from 2018.
The Irish Whiskey Association announced an Irish Whiskey Tourism Strategy this week, which sets out how Ireland can become the world leader in whiskey tourism by 2030. Pictured are Michael Creed TD, minister for agriculture, food and the marine; Carleen Madigan, legal advisor, Irish Whiskey Association; and Bernard Walsh, chair of Irish Whiskey Association and CEO of Walsh Whiskey Distillery, launching the venture.
Plymouth Gin has teamed up with Rivington Shoreditch to create a festive experience where guests can enjoy a selection of bespoke winter cocktails with a chance to win exciting gifts. From now until the New Year, guests that treat themselves to one of the special cocktails at Rivington Shoreditch will be able to pick a message in a bottle off the Christmas tree for a chance of a Christmas miracle.
The Scotch whisky industry celebrated its position as the single biggest net contributor to the UK’s balance of trade in goods at a reception in the Scotland Office in London MPs, members of the industry and media were among those who gathered at Dover House in Whitehall, hosted by Rt Hon David Mundell MP, Secretary of State for Scotland, and the Scotch Whisky Association.
