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The week in pictures

Cocktails in the City returned to London’s One Marylebone yesterday for a three-day celebration of the cocktail. For the fifth edition, the event plays host to three Nordic bars from Oslo (Himkok), Copenhagen (Ruby) and Stockholm (Linje Tio). As part of the Woodford Alliance – Nordic Edition, these three bars will bring their ‘Hygge’ drinking experience to London for one weekend only, creating a trio of Scandinavian inspired pop-up bars on the 2nd floor.

Newly opened “grain to glass” distillery Copper Rivet has started production of its single malt English whisky line, called Masthouse Whisky, made using Kentish spring barley. Copper Rivet will also start disgorging the first five barrels of its English grain spirit, called Son of a Gun, this week.

On Tuesday, Cointreau invited SB along to a private ballet performance at the Royal Opera House in London, in celebration of the brand’s new expression – Cointreau Blood Orange. Cointreau’s sixth generation family member, Alfred Cointreau, introduced the event with ballet masters Christopher Saunders and Ricardo Cervera directing members of The Royal Ballet in a rehearsal of Rubies from George Balanchine’s Jewels. After the rehearsal, guests enjoyed canapés and created their own cocktails using Cointreau Blood Orange.

The HIX bar team in London have conjured a Most Excellent British cocktail, called the MBE, which is set to launch on menus across the HIX group this spring. The cocktail is made up of all-British ingredients sourced from independent producers. It features Black Cow Pure Milk Vodka from Dorset, Pomona – an apple liqueur from Somerset, a dash of The King’s Ginger, an historic tipple first created at the turn of last century for King Edward VII, all topped off with a splash of Castlewood English Sparkling wine from Devon.

On Tuesday, SB were invited to newly opened bar The Hyde at The Royal Park Hotel in London for an exclusive tasting of rare whiskies and Cognacs including North of Scotland 1971, Strathisla 1949, Yamazaki 1979 and Old Overholt 6yo 1942.

Dubai Duty Free announced the winners of a luxury car and motorbike tombola. Muhammad Sheraz from Nawabshah, Pakistan won a BMW 750Li xDrive M Sport, and a Ducati Monster 821 motorcycle was won by Mark Ruddock, a British national living in Dubai.

More than 60 Cognacs, wines and whiskies from more than 50 houses formed the curated collection at the DFS Group’s sixth annual Masters of Wines and Spirits in Singapore on Saturday. In celebration of his 50th year in whisky, The Dalmore master distiller Richard Paterson (pictured) hosted a bespoke tasting, while Frederic Dezauzier, Camus Cognac global brand ambassador, introduced guests to the Borderies cru.

On Tuesday, the Facundo Rum Collection hosted its final ‘Art of Rum’ Golden Hour experience at Miami’s Brickell neighbourhood hotspot, Komodo. The intimate private event drew members from the New World Symphony private membership club, and invited them to a private rum sampling of the super-premium Facundo Rum Collection. As part of the event, guests sipped Neo White Negronis and Eximo Old Fashioneds, made with Facundo rum.

Woodford Reserve created a signature US$1,000 Mint Julep for the Kentucky Derby. In its 12th year as the official Bourbon of the derby, Woodford Reserve has put an English twist on the recipe to celebrate the race’s British origins. The 2017 cocktail is inspired by the English Pimm’s Cup and features earl grey tea bitters and fresh mint. The drink is served in the US$1,000 Royal Cup and will be available for purchase on 10 April, with proceeds benefitting the Kentucky Derby Museum.

elit Vodka has announced the return of its global cocktail competition, Art of Martini. Bartenders are invited to create their own take on the Martini, using elit Vodka as the main spirit and showcasing a local ingredient. The best bartenders will compete in city heats before heading to the global final, taking place in Ibiza from 22-24 September.

On Thursday, SB attended Bombay Sapphire’s wonderful Slow Artistry event at Carousal London, where a number of dishes and drinks were created to reflect the slow distillation production of the Star of Bombay bottling, which was first launched in 2015. The gin is slowed distilled to “extract deeper intensity of flavours and aromatics from the botanicals”. During the event, three courses and five cocktails were presented to guests, created by different chefs and bartenders who showcased slow cooking and meticulous mixology at its finest.

SB‘s deputy editor Amy Hopkins visited Scotland’s magnificent Dumfries House with the innovative Lost Distillery Company, which creates blended malt whiskies that reflect the flavour of long-closed distilleries. LDC became the only commercial business to be based on the Dumfries estate when it relocated to the sprawling site last year. The move was part of the firm’s “long-term strategic plan”, which will also focus on “developing whisky-making in Ayrshire” in the future. Dumfries House was restored by Prince Charles (the Duke of Rothesay) in 2007 after falling into near-disrepair. On the visit, guests were given the opportunity to explore the site and its collection of rare Chippendale furniture, as well as take part in a sensory tasting experience led by newly appointed global brand ambassador Ewan Henderson.

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