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The week in pictures

On Tuesday, hip hop artist Stormzy won the Copper Dog Solo Artist of The Year award at the GQ Men of The Year 2017 awards at the Tate Modern, London. The award was presented to him by Jeremy Corbyn, he was then greeted off-stage with a single one-off blend of Copper Dog Whisky, distilled from the year of his birth given to him by Scottish broadcaster, XFM DJ and former journalist, Gordon Smart. The awards saw attendance from a number of VIP’s including; Charli XCX, Anthony Joshua, Poppy Delevingne, Jourdan Dunn, Jack Guinness and Jack Whitehall who enjoyed pre-dinner cocktails at the Copper Dog bar with their signature serves including the Copper Highball made with plum bitters and The Big Apple with amaretto and apple juice.

On Thursday, Team SB went ‘hairclubbing’ for the very first time in the heart of London’s Soho. If you’ve ever dreamed of sipping a cocktail while your highlights develop, Blade Hairclub is your answer. Whether relaxing on Netflix whilst having a trim or enjoying an Espresso Martini during your blow dry, the hair salon-cum-cocktail bar turns the stereotypical salon experience on its head. All the stylists are senior, and the chaps commandeering the subterranean bar truly know their stuff. We thoroughly enjoyed the Old Fashioned, made with Bourbon, rye, maple syrup and bitters – and left with supremely glossy locks.

Baptiste & Bottle of The Conrad Hotel in Chicago and The Macallan have collaborated to create the Rare Journey cocktail experience, transporting guests to The Macallan Cooperage in Scotland. The US$95 cocktail aims to explain the symbiotic relationship between Scotch whisky and Sherry through the senses and a virtual reality cocktail experience. Guests begin with a shallow box laid out in front of them, which is then filled with items that tell The Macallan story.

Last night, Oblix at The Shard hosted renowned bartender Ariel Leizgold, owner of Tel Aviv’s first cocktail bar 223 for a one-night takeover, as part of Oblix’s Top Gun series. Leigold worked in collaboration with the bar team to come up with a selection of cocktails that are adapted from his cocktails menus at 223 and Bellboy. Cocktails on the menu included the TLV Heat, a combination of Don Julio Blanco Tequila, ouzo, elderflower, fig, pineapple, kumquat and lime; and Night @54, a mixture of Zacapa 23 Year Old, Cuba Libre reduction, lemon, red berry, dried coconut, pineapple and lemongrass.

Yesterday, The Spirits Business arrived at Corrigan’s Mayfair for The Travel Retail Masters 2017. Judges tried more than 40 spirits from single malt to blended whisky, Cognac to Tequila, before re-tasting all of the highest-rated spirits to pick the Travel Retail Taste Master.

In anticipation of the 2018 Commonwealth Games, Bowmore welcomed Team Scotland and the Queen’s Baton Relay to its Islay distillery. Bowmore was privileged to be the only distillery the baton will visit in Scotland before it makes the long journey to Australia’s Gold Coast for the games.

Edinburgh Cocktail Weekend has revealed 50 specially created cocktails for the event on 6-8 October. Wristband-holders can enjoy the cocktails exclusively for £4 each across the capital’s top cocktail bars including Harvey Nichols, Tigerlily, Copper Blossom, Le Monde, The Printing Press and Nightcap.

Sash & Fritz Vodka held the finals of their first-ever UK cocktail competition on Monday at McQueen in Shoreditch. The winning cocktail was The White Pearl Of Berlin, created by Paul Minea of The Vineyard Hotel, Newbury. Second and third spots were taken by Giancarlo Defelice of Sakagura Japanese restaurant and cocktail bar, Mayfair and Stefan Haneder of Acanto Cocktail bar, Austria respectively. Minea will now join Sash & Fritz in Berlin to attend Bar Convent Berlin and host a evening bar takeover during the trade show where his winning cocktail will be served all night.

On Tuesday, team SB went down to the Baltic Bar & Restaurant in London’s Southwark for The Vodka Masters 2017 in a drive to find and reward the finest vodka brands on the world stage. Three panels of judges tasted more than 110 vodkas from categories such as Ultra Premium Vodkas to Flavoured Vodkas.

Tanqueray London Dry Gin has partnered with UK food and drink awards The YBF’s with the debut of the Charles Tanqueray InGINuity Award. The partnership has been created to celebrate a shared passion for shining a spotlight on life’s innovators. The award will champion the food and drink scene’s bold creators and true pioneers. The winner will receive help and support from Tanqueray after the awards.

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