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The week in pictures

On Monday, DuJour Media held a star-studded special summer issue party at Beauty & Essex Los Angeles, sponsored by Belvedere Vodka. Guests including cover star Lily James (pictured), DuJour founder Jason Binn, actor Matt Smith, and Miami Heat’s Chris Bosh and wife Adrienne enjoyed cocktails by Belvedere Vodka all night long.

Kayla Hasbrook, bartender at ABC Cocina in New York City, was named the 2017 Stoli Cocktail Classic champion, held last weekend. Her prize includes a US$12,500 donation to Planned Parenthood and a local Key West, FL charity. Hasbrook was one of 17 regional finalists across North America to compete in the Grand Finale. The Stoli Key West Cocktail Classic was inspired by the legacy of LGBT bartenders and the role LGBT bars have played in the movement towards equality.

 

Sailor Jerry celebrated the life of Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins with a Sailor Jerry Day takeover at Slim Jims Liquor Store in Islington, featuring Sailor Jerry spiced rum cocktails, pizza and DJs.

To mark the re-opening of Borough Market, Arabica Bar & Kitchen have added London Courage to the cocktail menu, Arabica’s Levantine take on a traditional Tom Collins. This Sunday, the restaurant will launch its informal Sunday music sessions. Arabica Bar & Kitchen will donate all ticket sales and £1 per London Courage cocktail sold to the Borough Market Relief Fund. To donate please visit: https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/bmrelieffund

Bushmills Irish whiskey has released an acoustic performance of Northern Irish singer-songwriter Ciaran Lavery debuting the brand’s new limited edition guitar.

Ahead of Father’s Day, Ciaran Lavery performed an acoustic session of his song ‘Tell Them All’ at the Old Bushmills Distillery. Taken from his album Let Bad In, the song is written from the perspective of a son listening to his father’s wisdom.

To celebrate the release of Agatha Christie’s Murder on the Orient Express, Manetta’s Bar in the Flemings Mayfair hotel has unveiled four new cocktails inspired and named after each of the carriages on the Orient Express. Cocktails include the L’Oriental, an aperitif that combines Calvados, Dubonnet and Lillet Blanc and Cote D’azur, a “fragrant” combination of Grey Goose L’Orange, fresh lemon juice, blue almond syrup and violet liqueur.

Chelsea Flower London Dry Gin is the first gin created by English grocer Partridges and Royal Warrant Holder who celebrate its 45th Anniversary in 2017. To celebrate the launch, Partridges invited local bartenders to enter The Chelsea Flower Gin Cocktail Competition. Pearson Chase from The Cocktail Service won with his cocktail, Apedaes Are Here Again! Pearson received £250 and a Partridges hamper. The runners up also received a Chelsea Flower Gin hamper each.

Manchester-based distillery Zymurgorium has launched Vigil Gin in aid of the We Love Manchester Emergency Fund, with the first batch of bottles snapped up within days. 100% of the proceeds made by Zymurgorium and their distribution partners, Hammonds of Knutsford will go towards the appeal with the aim of raising as much as they can for victims of the terror attack. Zymurgorium Vigil Gin is £40 for 50cl bottle available through Hammonds of Knutsford or direct from www.zymurgorium.com

As part of revitalising the brand and image of Cognac within the UK market, Camus Cognac hosted an intimate blending session with their global brand ambassador and master blender, Frédéric Dezauzier. The intimate session, which took place at The Stafford Hotel in London, aimed to dispel all myths around the occasion of drinking Cognac, and guests were given the opportunity to create their very own and unique tailored blend of Camus Cognac.

On Wednesday, SB headed to London’s Soho for the inaugural Havana Supper Club, an exclusive evening with Havana Club to experience Cuban culture, food and drink. Held at 68 Dean Street, the venue was transformed into a traditional Cuban paladar – an in-home restaurant. Pictured is the Rusty Cadillac – a twist on a Negroni – which combined Havana Club, Campari, sweet vermouth, pink grapefruit sherbet and a pinch of salt.

On Sunday, Patrón supported the Charles Jeffrey x 10 Men LFWM party at The London Edition hotel. Guests included Sophia Neophitou, Isaac Carew, Noomi Rapace, Stephen Jones, Roland Mouret, Victoria Sekrier, Liam Hodges, Lyndell Mansfield, Justin, Lou Dalton, Josh Height. Guests enjoyed Patrón Tequila cocktails and DJ sets from Charles Jeffrey and LOVERBOY.

The Balvenie’s brand ambassador Alwynne Gwilt is hosting The Craftsmen’s Dinner Food Pairing Masterclasses during foodie festival Taste of London. Three whiskies will be paired with a cheeseboard featuring cheeses from Wildes Cheese, honey from Bermondsey Street Bees, and Wooster’s craft artisan breads.

Also at Taste of London was Monkey Shoulder who opened up their very own whisky den serving Monkey Shoulder cocktails and top tunes all day long.

The Halewood Gin Parlour was also at Taste of London, offering fresh summer gin serves from Liverpool Gin, Marylebone Gin and JJ Whitley Gin in its botanical themed garden. Johnny Neill, creator of Whitley Neill Gin will also be taking consumers through a selection of gin masterclasses. Discerning gin drinkers can learn of the Whitley Neill Family story through taste, smell and experience.

The Master of the Worshipful Company of Distillers, Richard Watling, in full regalia, has given his company’s seal of approval to the Copper Rivet Distillery, in Chatham Kent – and to their ingredients and spirits. Pictured L-R: Members of the Russell family, Annabel Kershaw, Matthew Russell and Bob Russell, pictured with Watling, Abishek Bhanik, Copper Rivet Distillery’s head Distiller and Edward Macey-Dare, the learned clerk.

Bratislava Airport and Gebr. Heinemann have opened a new Heinemann Travel Value & Duty Free Shop in the non-Schengen departure area of Bratislava Airport. Pictured ribbon cutting at the new shop, from left: Fritz Janach, retail manager of the Heinemann Travel Value & Duty Free Shops in Bratislava, Jozef Pojedinec, CEO of Bratislava Airport and Christoph Stump, director retail sales Europe at Gebr. Heinemann.

Goral Vodka Master has appointed Veronika Karlova to the role of global brand ambassador. The Slovakian has been involved within vodka industry since 2012 and has successfully helped to launch the brand on to the UK market. She will be responsible for the global development of the brand, focusing mainly on the US and UK markets.

 

Mason’s Yorkshire Gin has stormed to the top of a Twitter leaderboard with 13,745 consumers backing the brand. Over 37,000 votes were cast for 122 craft spirits brands in the second annual #HotCraftSpirits competition. Spirits brands finishing in the top ten will automatically gain a listing with online retailer 31Dover.com. And one brand with 250 votes will be rewarded with a free stand at this year’s Spirit Show held in December at The Design Centre, Islington.

Ahead of National Martini Day on Monday 19 June, consumers can enjoy a Martini or two at various bars around London. Hackney’s Oslo restaurant has recently launched a brand new summer cocktail menu, featuring the Icelandic Martini, a combination of Martin Miller’s Gin, pink grapefruit liqueur and homemade chamomile syrup.

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