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The week in pictures

Glen Moray Scotch whisky has become the official whisky partner of Edinburgh Rugby.

The new partnership between the distillery and Scotland’s capital’s rugby club will see the Glen Moray logo appear on players’ shorts and the Scotch whisky go on sale around the stadium for the next three years.

Jordan Knight, Glen Moray’s UK marketing manager, said: “At Glen Moray we are thrilled to be partnering with Edinburgh and to be a part of their journey.”

French vodka brand Grey Goose travelled to the Sundance Film Festival in Utah to open its Blue Door pop-up.

The bar hosted after parties for some of the festival’s biggest releases, such as Ophelia, which features Harry Potter star Tom Felton and rising British star George MacKay; and Burden, starring Andrea Riseborough and Forest Whitaker.

The luxury vodka maker’s pop-up bar also hosted a series of talks from some of the festival’s stars.

The famous faces making an appearance at the Blue Door included Maggie Gyllenhaal, who stars in The Kindergarten Teacher and took the time to speak about the different working styles of male and female directors, and The Big Bang Theory star Jim Parsons, who spoke about making his first feature film, A Kid Like Jake.

BrewDog-owned spirits brand Lone Wolf took to Old Street in London, giving out free G&Ts to commuters.

A hidden vending machine was installed in the London tube station, distributing cans of gin and tonics to adults who tweeted the Scottish distiller.

The gin vending machine is a nod to gin’s prohibition in the 1800s, which led to the invention of covert vending machines.

More than 500 wine and spirits experts from across the world gathered at the Guildhall in London for the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET) Awards & Graduation.

The Vintner’s Cup and Scholarship was the highest award presented on the night and was given to Moritz Mueller.

Mueller, who is an enthusiast not working in the drinks industry, said: “It is a wonderful thought that with great teachers and friends, hard work and a lot of passion one can achieve a special result.”

More than 5000 whisky fans attended the Viking Line Cinderella Whisky Fair, the world’s largest ‘floating’ whisky show.

With three departures from Stockholm, the festival saw distilleries from across Scotland attend to display some of their greatest single malts.

Highlights of the show included an extremely rare, one-of-a-kind bottling of Craigellachie 17-year-old, as well as a 28-year-old Aberfeldy expression.

Tequila maker Patrón partnered with British model Roger Frampton for the launch of his new book, The Flexible Body.

Taking over the Perception Bar at W London, the night saw celebrity guests sip on Patrón cocktails.

The star-studded night also included appearances from rugby star Max Evans, Sky News anchor Sarah Jane Mee and broadcaster Zoe Hardman.

Spiced rum brand Sailor Jerry launched Jerry’s Open House, a month-long pop-up in Glasgow.

Taking over an old warehouse on Houldsworth Street in Finneston, the space is inspired by the legendary tattoo artist Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins and celebrates the city’s thriving art and music scene.

The venue will host to a month-long calendar of events, including a Housewarming party and musician Frank Carter will pay a visit for An Audience with Frank Carter.

Princess Eugenie is to marry Casamigos UK brand ambassador, Jack Brooksbank, Buckingham Palace announced this week.

In a statement, the palace said: “The Duke and Duchess of York are delighted to announce the engagement of Princess Eugenie to Mr Jack Brooksbank.”

The couple, who have been dating for several years, became engaged earlier this month while on holiday in Nicaragua.

GlenWyvis, the ‘world’s first’ community owned distillery, began distilling its first spirit this week.

The Dingwall distillery kicked off the Burns Night celebrations as it fired up its stills and began producing its first spirit.
GlenWyvis, which is entirely powered by sustainable energy, sits high on a hill overlooking the historic town and was established as a community benefit society, aiming to take a lead role in the regeneration of Dingwall.

Annual Burns Night celebrations were held around the globe on Thursday night in homage to Scottish poet Robert Burns. SB’s Melita Kiely headed to Berry Bros. & Rudd in London for an indulgent four-course dinner hosted by Ronie Cox, brands heritage director, and Doug McIvor, spirits manager.

Dinner was prepared by the group’s in-house team, led by head chef Stewart Turner, and each dish was paired with a fine selection of Scottish drams from the group’s own-label collection.

The Balvenie UK ambassador Alwynne Gwilt hosted guests at Gordon Ramsey’s Bread Street Kitchen for a six-course, Burns Night dinner.

Each course in the feast was paired with whisky from The Balvenie portfolio, including The Balvenie Peat Week 14-year-old. The whisky’s “gentle sweet smoke and vanilla notes” were matched with Orkney scallop served with crispy sea vegetables.

The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival paid tribute to Robert Burns with cocktails honouring the bard’s greatest work.

Some of the poet’s most famous work was immortalised in the form of cocktails, including Dram O’ Shanter, The Speyside Grace and Best Laid Drams.

Auld Dram Syne combined Aberlour A’Bundah with cranberry syrup, while The Speyside Grace was a mix of clementine, Benromach 10-year-old, lemon and sugar.

Continuing the Burns Night celebrations, SB’s Owen Bellwood went along to mark the occasion at The Glenfiddich Burns Night Experiment.

Glenfiddich aimed to challange the traditional Burns Night celebrations with an evening of incredible food and cocktail pairings from Scout’s Matt Whiley and Adam Handling from The Frog by Adam Handling.

The menu included The Haggis cocktail, made with Glenfiddich IPA and a haggis distillate, lamb and haggis wellington and clootie dumpling, a traditional Scottish dessert.

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