The week in pictures
Jameson Irish Whiskey is helping musicians who possess a shared passion for pursuing their dreams a national stage to be seen and heard through live performances, music distribution, financial support and access to established musicians. The first three artists were hand-selected by legendary musician and grammy award winner, Gary Clark Jr., and include Los Angeles-based Honeyhoney, Austin-based Eve and the Exiles and New York City-based The London Souls.
On Monday, Hackney-based neighbourhood bar launched its highly-anticipated winter menu. Guests tasted one cocktail from each section of the new menu – an aperitif, highball and digestif – such as the festive Chestnut Flip, wintery Salle Old Fashioned, and impressive Beer-tini; a cocktail which resembles a miniature pint of beer, complete with foam. Drinks were accompanied by delicious bar snacks such as genever-cured red mullet, shiro shoyu, cold apple cedar smoke, and yuzu crème fraiche with clementine and radish.
Hollywood actor Bill Murray and his five brothers are set to open a second Caddyshack-themed bar in Illinois. The comedy star famously played green-keeper Carl Spackler in the 1980 film Caddyshack, written by his brother Brian Doyle-Murray. It was the six brothers’ experiences growing up as caddies at Indian Hill Club in Winnetka that inspired Doyle-Murray to write the script for the film.
The Bloomsbury Club Bar will be hosting the first ever residency from New York City’s critically-acclaimed BlackTail – from the team behind The Dead Rabbit (World’s Best Bar) – as part of the ‘Club Residencies Project’. BlackTail will kick off their three night residency at The Bloomsbury Club Bar on 9 February 2017, with an innovative cocktail menu created by BlackTail’s Bar Manager Jesse Vida.
Highland Park Single Malt Scotch whisky celebrated Winter Solstice with two events for over 700 consumers. The celebrations, designed to bring to life the brand’s Viking heritage, were hosted by global brand ambassador Martin Markvardsen and included Highland Park whisky tastings around a fire pit for over 400 people. A selection of Highland Park cocktails were served including the warming Highland Park Hot Toddy and Orkney Old Fashioned, with Nordic inspired food curated by Root + Bone, music from Kipps and live sets from DJ Finnebassen and Eelke Kleijn.
Entries have opened for the fifth Fortnum and Mason Food and Drinks Awards, an event celebrating the very best writers, image-makers, publishers, presenters and personalities working in food and drink today. This year’s judges include wine and drinks columnist Susy Atkins, Ryan Chetiyawardana of White Lyan and Dandelyan bars, chef and columnist Florence Knight, restauranteur and judge on Masterchef Marcus Wareing and wine columnist Will Lyons.
The “world’s tallest” whisky cask Christmas tree has been created by workers at Glen Moray Speyside Scotch distillery to raise funds for charity.
Made from 579 American oak barrels, the tree stands at 12 metres tall and is decked out with festive Christmas lights and a giant star at the top.
On Tuesday, Facundo rum held its Facundo Rum Collection’s Art of Rum at the Soho Beach House in Miami, Florida. The Facundo Rum Collection hosted the private membership club in the club’s Library, where guests were greeted by two Facundo spokesmodels holding trays of signature cocktails – the Eximo Old Fashioned and Neo White Negroni.
Italian spirits group Luxardo has appointed Gareth Franklin as global brand ambassador in a newly created role. In his new role, he will be tasked with developing and running international training programmes for additional Luxardo products, including its Triplum triple sec, Apricot liqueur and Amaro Abano. Luxardo Bitter Bianco will be one of the first launches and will be rolled out globally.
The Bloomsbury Club Bar is set to host an exclusive three-day ‘Dry January’ take over, with the world’s first distilled non-alcoholic spirits brand, Seedlip. Guests of the hotel and visitors alike will be welcomed into an enchanting, Seedlip-inspired space within Bloomsbury Club Bar. Visitors will enjoy a tempting and exclusive ‘Dry January’ cocktail menu, paired with a selection of bespoke club bites.
