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Top 10
The week in pictures
On Tuesday, SB headed to London Olympia for the 2017 Imbibe Live show. Held over two days, Europe’s largest on-trade drinks exhibition brought new products, explored new trends and served up tastings from both established and fledgling brands.
Current Funkin Innovation champion, Shea Campbell, was on hand at the Funkin stand at Imbibe Live. The brand revealed a new cocktail – the Kelapa Swizzle – with The Bitter Truth Co, which combined Funkin Pro Coconut Puree and The Bitter Truth’s Golden Falernum. Plantation Rum’s brand ambassador Paul McFadyen also took over the Funkin bar serving a new signature serve, the Smoked Pineapple Treacle with Plantation Pineapple Rum and Funkin Pro Green Apple Puree.
On Monday, The Ivy Chelsea Garden held the press launch for the new Palmers London Dry Gin, created to mark the Palmer family’s 200th year of distilling. Palmers London Dry Gin is produced in the family’s copper pot still named Angela, which was built in 1903, and is distilled following traditional gin distillation methods. The botanicals, juniper, coriander, angelica, cassia, liquorice, orris and grapefruit, are steeped overnight in 100% English wheat spirit whilst being warmed, allowing the botanicals to release their essential oils.
To mark its latest construction milestone, community-owned GlenWyvis Distillery is launching their second share offer on Thursday 3 August at the Black Isle Show in the Scottish Highlands. The steel frame of GlenWyvis Distillery in Dingwall was erected in late June, and is now visible on the hillside high above the Highland town. Contractors are busy finishing the exterior walls, and the copper stills will be installed this month, with the first run of new make spirit scheduled for late November.
The Aberdeen Asset Management Ladies Scottish Open has named Loch Lomond as the official whisky sponsor of the Championship at Dundonald Links from 27–30 July. Loch Lomond whiskies will be available to sample in the Championship village throughout the tournament days as well as being available to purchase over the weekend.
This week SB hosted the Irish, American and World Whisk(e)y Masters 2017 blind tasting competition at Boisdale of Mayfair. Three panels of expert judges assessed each entry on aroma, flavour and balance, rewarding the best whiskies with a coveted Silver, Gold or Master medal. Keep your eyes peeled for the results in the August edition of The Spirits Business.
Up to 30 bartenders were put through their paces with the challenge to recreate classic cocktails using Amaro Montenegro – a traditional amaro distilled in Bologna, Italy, at the UK Bartenders Guild-sponsored competition, held at The Holy Birds in London. Eleven finalists were selected to compete in the national final, with the overall winner receiving a trip to Bologna to visit the Amaro Montenegro Distillery.
Diageo Korea held a completion ceremony for the 8th Cool Drinker Campaign at Diageo Korea’s head office in Yeoksam-dong. Starting with the kick-off ceremony this February, 50 Cool Drinkers have participated in various on- and offline campaigns to spread the message of responsible drinking. A total of 12 million Koreans won scholarships, and internship opportunities were offered to the best teams and individuals during the completion ceremony.
On Monday, Mexican restaurant Peyotito in London’s Notting Hill hosted a preview of Peyotito & Casamigos’ July celebrations ahead of National Tequila Day on 24 July. The preview included a cocktail masterclass – complete with a special surprise Margarita cocktail hosted by Casamigos’ brand ambassador, Jack Brooskbank, and a Mexican tasting menu upstairs in the restaurant.
Following two days in the Italian pavilion at Imbibe Live, the Vermouth di Torino institute celebrated the final aperitivo and UK celebration since its launch on 7 April in Turin, at the Ritorno bar in Chelsea. Hosted by Roberto Bava, the institute’s president (Cocchi) and Roberta Mariani (Martini global ambassador), guests included Hidetsugu Ueno, Loris Contro (Campari), Peter Dorelli, Salvatore Calabrese and representatives from the majority of the brands in the institute.