The week in pictures
Francesco Galdi, bartender at Buddha Bar Dubai has been announced as the winner of Buddha Bar’s 20th Anniversary Tanqueray Cocktail Competition. His Far East Julep cocktail, combining Tanqueray Ten and Asian flavours, secured him a limited edition of Tanqueray Bloomsbury Gin, while his cocktail will be featured on the menu of all 24 of Buddha-Bar Group’s locations worldwide. Galdi will also be invited to an exclusive Tanqueray experience hosted by global brand ambassador Stephanie Jordan, and will travel to Scotland to visit the Tanqueray and Gordon’s distilling company.
The Pogues Irish Whiskey has embarked on its search to find the UK’s next big rock band with its new campaign – A Shot At Discovery – set out to uncover up-and-coming artists in partnership with Academy Events to promote the brands musical heritage. The winning band will receive £3,000 towards band equipment as well as recording and releasing an EP, which members of the legendary band, The Pogues, will guest produce.
This winter Plateau will be bringing Alpine chic to Plateau Bar & Grill with a winter pop-up open until the end of February, Off-Piste at Plateau. Located atop Canada Place, the terrace offers views over the Canada Square ice rink and will be decorated specially for the festive season with snug furry blankets and wreaths. Themed cocktails include the Avalanche (Appleton Estate Rare Blend, Campari and Mandarine Napoleon, smoked with orange, cloves and anise) and Thyme to hit the Slopes (Wild Turkey 101, Amaro Averna, fresh orange, lemon juice and thyme).
On Thursday, Clapham pub The King & Co hosted a Tap Takeover, showcasing the innovative draught cocktails by One Point Eight. This month’s unique Meet the Brewer session allowed guests to taste a wide selection of infused cocktails straight from the tap, including free samples of the artisan producer’s game-changing Espresso Martini made with cold brew coffee, which was the first of its kind to be offered in the UK.
On Tuesday, Pernod Ricard hosted its annual Pernod Christmas lunch for the UK drinks industry at Hanbury Hall in London. SB deputy editor Amy Hopkins attended the lunch which included a three-course meal and Champagne reception.
On 15 December 1855, Jerry Thomas, the father of American bartending passed away. Thomas was known for inventing many cocktails still famous to this day as well as publishing the first cocktail book in the US, called The Bartender’s Guide. Bols Genever and Tales of the Cocktail have partnered up to celebrate his legacy in bars across the US. Bars taking part include Blackbird, Cafe Du Nord and Hamlet SF in San Francisco.
Events company Geek Social launched pop-up bar, Blood & Wine, in Edinburgh, inspired by the hit HBO series Game of Thrones. Decorated with props provided by swords retailer The Knights Vault in Edinburgh, the tavern offers wines, ales and spirits found in George R.R. Martin’s A Song of Fire and Ice series, which inspired the critically-acclaimed show.
This week Portobello Road Gin opened a new distillery on Portobello Road in Notting Hill to coincide with the brand’s fifth anniversary. The Distillery is part of a four-floor ‘gin mecca’ featuring two bars, a museum and shop, three boutique guest rooms and gin-making experience The Ginstitute. Pictured is The 1888 Martini, made with Portobello Road Celebrated Butter Gin (fresh off the new still, King Henry) sweet Italian vermouth, curaçao, bitters, absinthe, cherry and will be served in The Resting Room at The Distillery.
The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) and the Brazilian Institute of Cachaça (IBRAC) – a private entity representing the Cachaça Brazilian spirit industry – have signed a mutual cooperation agreement. The agreement provides for collaboration on themes such as the prevention of misleading commercial practices, promotion of responsible consumption of alcoholic beverages, and mutual promotion and protection of the geographical indications (GIs) Scotch whisky and Cachaça.
This week The Spirits Business held its Global Distillery Masters in a bid to find and reward the world’s finest distilleries across the entire spirits sector. Judged by a panel of specialists, entrants were assessed on their customer experience, production innovation, digital and social media, and environmental initiatives.
Bompass & Parr unveiled its latest activation Beyond the Waterfall at Westfield shopping centre in London, the world’s first Christmas cavern bar. Serving nautical-inspired cocktails inspired by the subterranean world, it will feature distinct distillates made with undersea botanicals, real gunpowder and rare ambergris. Guests can steer themselves across a 20m lagoon on small boats, passing through a real waterfall.
