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Top 10
The week in pictures
There were stars aplenty at The Weinstein Company’s pre-Oscars dinner on Saturday, with guests including power couple Beyoncé and Jay-Z (pictured) enjoying four specialty Grey Goose cocktails – Les Visionnaires, Le Cinématique, Le Fizz, and the Espresso Martini – during the cocktail hour and dinner.
Other guests in attendance included Nicole Kidman (right), Harvey Weinstein, Georgina Chapman, Alyssa Milano, Nicole Scherzinger (left), Lin Manual Miranda, Zac Posen, Tracee Ellis Ross, Garth Davis, Edgar Ramirez, and Petra Nemcova, who mixed and mingled in anticipation of the upcoming awards ceremony.
Feeney’s Irish Cream sponsored The Emeralds & Ivy Ball in London on Saturday, with a host of celebrity guests raising money for Cancer Research. The brand launched its Feeney’s Hard Shake Pop Up Bar serving Feeney’s Salted Caramel Shakes on tap from mini milk bottles. The bar will be appearing at festivals and outdoor events throughout the UK during the spring and summer months.
The Dubliner was the Irish Whiskey sponsor at The Emeralds & Ivy Ball, with celebrities Ronan Keating and his wife Storm hosting the event.
The Dubliner Bar served a selection of cocktails to guests including actor James Nesbitt from Lucky Man. Drinks included The Dubliner Honeycomb Sour, The Dubliner Ginger with fresh lime topped up with ginger ale and The Dubliner Whiskey Smash muddled with fresh lemons mind and honey syrup.
Altos Tequila launched the Tahona Society Cocktail Competition 2017 this week. Thought to be the world’s leading Tequila education programme, The Tahona Society national heats are set to begin this month ahead of the global finale in Mexico in September. Entrants must craft a cocktail that represents sustainable values, celebrates the flavour of agave and can be paired with a variety of authentic Mexican street food.
On Wednesday, SB was invited along to Blakes Hotel in Kensington for an intimate cocktail tasting at its recently renovated bar, Blakes Below, to celebrate the launch of its latest menu. Guests enjoyed a generous selection of delicious drinks by Sicilian bar manager Peppe Corallo, who personally presented each creation, accompanied by a feast of mouth-watering bar snacks from the Blakes Restaurant.
On Wednesday evening, The Dubliner Irish Whiskey celebrated the arrival of their limited edition 10 Year Old Single Malt to the US market by hosting an intimate gathering at The Dubliner Washington D.C. Pictured left to right: Greg Ilewski and Andrew Stewart, Quintessential Brands Group, Irish ambassador to the US Anne Anderson, master distiller Darryl McNally and Gavin Coleman, owner of The Dubliner pub.
Opening in London’s West End next week, The Flavour Rooms, Carnaby is the latest in Smith & Sinclair’s innovative flavoursome pop-ups. Upstairs will showcase Smith & Sinclair’s renowned alcoholic and edible creations including its signature cocktail pastilles, alcoholic bubbles, cocktail-infused vapours, alcoholic dib dabs and more. Downstairs Smith & Sinclair have partnered with Tanqueray Gin to bring the Tanqueray Experimental Garnish Bar.
Irish Distillers unveiled its brand new range of experimental super-premium whiskeys called Method and Madness at the Projects Art Theatre, in Dublin. The evening showcased the new whiskeys with visual displays, sound experiments, live art installations, live string quartet, as well as live DJs and video installations.
On Tuesday, Mast-Jägermeister launched its first super-premium line-extension, Manifest, at London’s event space No Such Place. After a presentation and guided tasting session, UK brand ambassador Florian Beuren served guests The Companion cocktail, which comprised Jägermeister Manifest, earl grey and Assam tea syrup, orange bitters, cherry marmalade and a pine sprig garnish.
Team SB headed down to the official press launch of Number 177 Bar & Kitchen on Thursday – The Number Group’s newest Berlin-influenced East London gallery, restaurant and bar concept. The bustling venue served up delicious eats, craft beers, and innovative drinks (Lemon Pie cocktail, anyone?) to a lo-fi house soundtrack, while a local artist decorated the walls as part of a live art installation. The celebration will continue long into the weekend, when some of London’s hottest DJs will take to the decks in a club room masked by a sliding wall of graffiti art.
In pursuit of the third, annual Margarita of the Year, seven top bartenders from around the world recently gathered at the Hacienda Patrón distillery in Jalisco, Mexico, to create their own interpretations of a perfect Margarita, drawing from local ingredients and cultural inspiration. Sophie Bratt of London’s OXO Tower Restaurant is the UK entrant with her cocktail English Garden Margarita, made with green peas and Earl Grey. The cocktail will be available to enjoy at any Harvey Nichols bar in the UK and at the OXO Tower Restaurant. Show support and vote for Sophie at www.margaritaoftheyear.com
Leading UK drinks distributor Matthew Clark welcomed a selection of top entertainers to this year’s circus-themed portfolio tasting, The Drinks Emporium, held in London’s Tobacco Docks. Guests sampled more than 600 wines, spirits and beers, which were presented alongside delightful serves and engaging masterclasses. Spirits hub the Alchemist Bar gave consumers a chance to hone their skills at FLOW and WSET module stations in the Big Top room, while strongmen and clowns demonstrated their talents.
To mark Shrove Tuesday (28 February), Balans Soho Society announced the return of their acclaimed boozy pancakes for Pancake Day. A brand new collection of their pancakes were available at all seven of their London sites, including Crêpe Suzette with an orange and Grand Marnier sauce, inspired by one of Balan’s signature cocktails.
Masons Yorkshire Gin’ completed its UK-wide search for a cocktail champion. After national semi-final heats, four heat winning bartenders headed to the Bedale distillery to present their winning cocktails to head judge Karl Mason; chief distiller Gerard Macluskey; Tommy Matthews from Edgbaston Boutique Hotel; and cocktail expert Angela Metcalfe. Matt Marriott from Birmingham’s The Church Inn was crowned the winner, and will work with the brand to create a limited edition gin to be launched later this year.
On Tuesday, SB popped across to London hotel The Marylebone for the unveiling of Vinexpo Bordeaux and the presentation of IWSR forecasts for the spirits trade to 2020 – led by Vinexpo CEO Guillame Deglise.
Dubai Duty Free has announced a Millennium Millionaire and Finest Surprise winners at the draw held on Tuesday at Terminal 3 Concourse B of Dubai International Airport. Mr. R. Razian of Toronto, Canada has become the 237th Millennium Millionaire winner when his ticket no. 4669 in Series 237 has won him US$1 million.
Last night, SB popped into the Embassy of Ireland in London for a Bord Bia showcase of Irish whiskeys, gins, ales, wines and more. From sampling latest spirits expressions to chatting about new distillery builds, it’s clear momentum is with the Irish spirits sector – we can’t wait to see it fully come into fruition.