The week in pictures

Last Saturday, SB jetted off to Berlin for the semi-final and grand final instalments of the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition 2017. Ran Van Ongevalle from Belgium triumphed with his cocktail Clarita, comprising Bacardi Gran Reserva 8 Años Rum, Amontillado Sherry, crème de cacao, absinthe, and saline solution. Competition aside, guests enjoyed seminars, talks and workshops from industry luminaries, boat cruises, Cheetah ballroom-themed parties, a very special Bacardi family dinner – and, to top off the experience, a performance from Major Lazer’s Jillionaire.

Ahead of The Open in July, Glenmorangie’s global brand ambassador Justin Rose spent a morning at Stoke Park to launch this year’s Open campaign. Glenmorangie has collaborated with the British Open since 2012: this year’s event takes place at Royal Birkdale in July, where Glenmorangie will have an onsite cocktail and tasting bar, plus a range of hospitality for VIP guests throughout the four day tournament.  

On World Whisky Day (20 May), Redbreast Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey broadcast their first ever Facebook Live whiskey tasting – #RedbreastDreamCask – hosted by Head Blender Billy Leighton and Apprentice Blender Dave McCabe. More than 1,000 people tuned in from as far afield as Hawaii and Australia to watch Billy and Dave reveal the mysteries of Billy Leighton’s Dream Cask – which turned out to be a 32-year-old Redbreast single cask.

Last weekend Glenfiddich held a series of masterclasses at Tom Kerridge’s inaugural Pub in the Park Festival in the picturesque town of Marlow, a laid-back celebration of the very best food, drink and music. UK brand ambassador Mark Thomson took festival-goers through a range tasting, including the innovative Glenfiddich IPA from the Experimental Series, and whisky cocktails were served from the bespoke Glenfiddich bar throughout the three days.

From 29 May until 11 June, East London Liquor Company will be creating a Negroni fountain in their outside oasis, as well as partnering with 13 bars, restaurants and hotels to create their own versions of ELLC’s Batch 2 Negroni to feature on their menu. Customers will be encouraged to pick up a Negroni Passport from any of the participating venues, collect a minimum of 6 stamps by trying each venue’s Batch 2 Negroni, then bringing their passport to ELLC during Negroni Week to collect their prize and finish off their Negroni Passport with an original Batch 2 Negroni.

On 22 and 23 May, the fourth edition of The Perfect Serve Barshow Amsterdam opened its doors, exhibiting more than 70 national and international spirits brands. Pipped as a bartending networking opportunity, the event hosted a plethora of seminars, cocktail competitions and workshops.

As part of the D&D London group-wide #BlossomCity17 campaign, Old Bengal Bar has transformed its terrace into a botanical garden, serving a menu of exclusive Belsazar cockatils created by bar manager Tomas Vykopal. Drinks include Bubble Trouble, which combines pineapple and oregano-infused Belsazar White, vodka and agave syrup; and Vermouth Punch, containing Belsazar Red, sparkling wine and hibiscus eea finished with slices of fresh pineapple and orange. The drinks will be available until 30 September 2017.

On Tuesday at The Drinks Business Awards Kristiane Sherry, SB‘s editor, announced the winner of the Alan Lodge Young Drinks Writer of the Year Award 2017. Margarett Waterbury, managing editor of The Whiskey Wash, impressed the independent panel of judges with her warmth and wit, and took home the prize. The Award was launched in 2012 in memory of Alan Lodge, the late deputy editor of The Spirits Business. Oregon-based Waterbury was unable to attend in person, so Alan’s father Colin and mother Margaret accepted the award on her behalf.

Wood’s Navy Rum is preparing to welcome guests to its summer pop-up from 1 June to 30 July, which is taking place in conjunction with the launch of Kentish Town bar Ladies & Gentlemen’s barge cocktail venue in King’s Cross. The barge bar and two pop-up sheds will offer summer cocktail classics such as the Mai Tai and Pina Colada Slushy

SB‘s Amy Hopkins attended the Bloomsbury Club Bar this week, when the venue continued its popular bartender residency programme. This time, the talented team from Sydney’s The Baxter Inn took their places behind the bar and served some of their most popular drinks, alongside specially-created serves. The Dublin or Nothin’ was a firm favourite: a mix of Jameson, fresh lemon juice, crème de pêche, fresh pineapple juice, Dom Bénédictine and fresh ginger.

Meanwhile, SB also hotfooted it across to London’s rooftop bar Skylounge for the launch of latest pop-up, Casa Havana. Created in collaboration with Havana Club Rum, the pop-up has been designed to reflect a Cuban retreat, serving a host of rum-based cocktails and authentic Cuban food.

Harrogate-based artisan gin brand Slingsby is celebrating after recoding £1 million in sales since launching the brand in August 2015. The brand now boasts more than 500 listings across the UK, including major UK supermarkets Morrisons and Asda, while its flagship store in the centre of Harrogate has welcomed 15,000 customers through the door since opening in September 2015.