The week in pictures

Cocktail educator Philip Duff has launched a range of genevers called Old Duff Genever. The range made its debut at the recently opened Coup bar in New York on Tuesday, with journalists and guests from noted cocktail bars as far afield as Copenhagen, Berlin and Edinburgh in attendance. The range is thought to be the only Dutch genever available in New York which is 100% milled, mashed, fermented, distilled and bottled in Holland, by a family-owned distillery which has been crafting genever since 1777. At the launch, guests enjoyed Old Duff cocktails from Sother Teague and Max Green such as the signature Phil Collins and the classic Martinez, as well as boilermakers with Old Duff.

Supermodel Alessandra Ambrosio made a surprise appearance on the runway at Julien Macdonald’s Spring / Summer ’18 show on Sunday in a creation inspired by vodka brand Cîroc. The Cîroc Utopia dress was designed exclusively for Ambrosio by the legendary designer, as part of the vodka brand’s On Arrival campaign. Macdonald joined the Victoria’s Secret model on the catwalk and the pair celebrated one of the most vibrant moments of the London fashion season so far in a mist of metallic confetti as they closed the show. The campaign released Ambrosio’s ‘Front Row’ look captured by fashion photographer Mario Testino. This followed the launch of the first look in the collection, Hair & Makeup, with one final visual to follow for the New Year celebrations later in 2017.

Masons Dry Yorkshire Gin has launched in London with an exclusive event at Merchant House on Bow Lane, London. Masons has partnered with UK brewer Theakston’s Brewery on a new addition to their range – Barrel Blended Gin. As well as the opportunity to try samples of the gin, which is currently in development, attendees at the event were also able to engage in a Q&A session with Karl Mason, who launched the brand with his wife Cathy Mason on World Gin Day in 2013, and Jonathan Manby, the master cooper from Theakston’s.

The London Essence Co’s held its first ‘Essence of the Season’ at London’s Crucible on Wednesday. Bartenders Connor Poulloara of The Distillery; Dean Ellis of The Trafalgar; Simone Onoratti of The Gibson; Chris Tanner of The Vault at Milroy’s; Piotrek Bartnik and Filip Gregor of Drake and Morgan; and Greg Almeida of Scarfes Bar attended sessions on Winter Forestry, led by alchemist Jemma Foster and industry greats Nick Strangeway and Stu Bale. Foster and Strangeway led a workshop on urban foraging and Crucible proprietor Bale guided the group around the wealth of equipment there. From the thermomix to centifuge, to ice Cream Maker and rotovap, the group created cobnut milk and ice cream, horseradish vodka and woodruff infusion – all of which were played with and transformed into cocktails using the London Essence mixers.

Altos Tequila has crowned Jeppe Nothlev, from bar Helium in Copenhagen, Denmark, as the winner of The Tahona Society Cocktail Competition 2017. Nothlev impressed the judging line-up at the final in Mexico last week, with his Sweet Effort cocktail, crafted from Altos Plata Tequila, which represents a balance between the history, culture and ingredients of Denmark and Mexico.

R&B Distillers has opened the first legal whisky distillery on the remote Scottish island of Raasay last weekend. The launch saw an Isle Of Skye pipe band march off the Skye to Raasay ferry and lead a procession of islanders, press, founders and VIPs up the hill to the new distillery, which began distilling on Saturday. The opening party included a tour of the distillery, a ribbon-cutting ceremony led by whisky writer Dave Broom, and co-founder of R&B Distillers, Alasdair Day, and was followed by a drinks reception in the new visitors centre. In the evening, a full banquet was followed by a ceilidh at the Raasay House into the wee hours of the morning.

Peter Holland, the UK ambassador for Old Fashioned Week and bartender friends helped stir up their own favourite version of an Old Fashioned at the global launch, hosted at SMWS’s Kaleidescope bar on Tuesday. Pictured is Troels Knudsen of Bassoon bar at The Corinthia hotel; Jamie Meehan of SMWS Kaleidescope; Peter Holland; and Tomáš Čistý of Duck & Waffle. Over 300 bars have signed up so far, from Australia to Alaska, for Old Fashioned Week, which is set to take place from the 2-11 November.

This week the Distilled Spirits Council hosted two events in London to showcase the unique qualities of American spirits. The first on Wednesday at Somerset House and the second, a media event held last night at the residence of the deputy chief of mission of the US embassy. For the first time, more than 20 distillers from the US were showcased in two events from Maker’s Mark and Bulleit Bourbon to up-and-coming craft distillers such as Mad River and Death’s Door. Both were hosted by one of US bartender JP Fetherston, head bartender at Columbia Room, and included an formal tasting, US cocktail trends session, as well as an opportunity to meet the distillers.

SB’s deputy editor Melita Kiely began a three-month adventure around Southeast Asia this week, and her first point of call was Thailand’s bustling capital Bangkok. While there, she met with Gavin Nazareth, PR and media consultant at Lebua Hotels & Resorts, which happens to own – among its numerous notable eateries and watering holes – the world’s highest outdoor whisky bar: Alfresco 64 – A Chivas Bar. The venue, which launched in March this year, is perched 64 storeys (800ft) above Bangkok’s busy streets and takes its design inspiration from a luxury yacht. The bar aims to offer a relaxed, but luxurious-feeling, atmosphere for guests to enjoy an array of different whiskies, including Scotch, Japanese and Irish either neat, on the rocks, with a drop of water, or mixed in one of the bar’s delectable cocktails. All of course against a backdrop of unrivalled views of Thailand’s capital you simply won’t find anywhere else.

And what’s more is the venue joined forces with Chivas Regal to create an exclusive blend for the bar – the first time the Scotch whisky brand has created such a bottling. The first 24 bottles sold out in the first four months of the bar opening, and so to cater for the high demand expressed by its customers, Alfresco 64 and Chivas have released only 96 bottles of a second batch of the Chivas Exclusive Lebua Blend. Created by Chivas Regal master blender Colin Scott, the whisky has been finished in ex-Sherry casks and is available exclusively at the bar either by the glass or bottle, the latter of which has an RRP of US$7,000.

Campari is hosting a 10-day residency in King’s Cross, called Campari Creates – bringing Milan’s Navigli district, famous for its picturesque canals and fashionable bars, to central London. Running from 15 to 24 September in the Granary Square area of King’s Cross, the ‘Campari Creates’ residency invites guests to try Campari cocktails, as well as attend a ‘Campari Creates’ masterclass to learn how to create their own Campari drinks, or a talk by Eley Kishimoto during the designjunction festival. Guests can sample drinks linked closely to the city of Milan – such as the Milano Torino and the Milanese G&T – alongside some of Campari’s most famous serves; including the Negroni and the Americano.

The Liverpool Collection Lounge – the new VIP bar at Echo Arena Liverpool – has opened its doors. The entertainment venue unveiled a new mezzanine floor inside the arena concourse with spectacular views across the waterfront. Around 120 guests enjoyed a range of premium drinks and a selection of dining options before, during and after Micky Flanagan’s An Another Fing show on Tuesday and John Legend on Sunday. Earlier this year, Echo Arena signed a three-year naming rights and supply deal with Halewood Wines & Spirits and are selling a range of drinks from Halewood’s spirits portfolio including Liverpool Gin and Liverpool Vodka.