Tristan Stephenson joins Lidl’s spirits team

Famed bartender and author Tristan Stephenson, co-founder of London’s Worship Street Whistling Shop, has joined Lidl UK as consultant for the discount supermarket’s spirits range.

‘The Curious Bartender’, Tristan Stephenson, has joined the spirits team at Lidl UK

Stephenson, who also co-founded bar consultancy Fluid Movement and writes the Curious Bartender range of cocktail books, will work closely with Lidl’s buying team to advise on NPDs and provide tasting notes and cocktail recipes for existing products.

Lidl hopes Stephenson’s insight will “act as a guide” for shoppers as they navigate its in-store spirits range, helping them to understand which products may suit their preferences and occasions.

The chain has won a number of awards recently for its alcoholic drinks offering, which is said to be the fastest growing among UK supermarkets.

“This is a really exciting time to be coming on board, and I look forward to working with the team to develop new and exciting liquids for the range – as well as offering advice to customers on what they should be buying, and for which occasions,” said Stephenson.

“I’ve been really impressed by the work of Lidl’s spirits buyers in recent years, and the resulting award wins are truly well-deserved.”

Stephenson released his first book – The Curious Bartender: The Artistry and Alchemy of Creating the Perfect Cocktail – in 2013.

Stephenson and his Fluid Movement partner Tom Aske opened the groundbreaking whisky bar Black Rock in London last year.