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The week in pictures

The inaugural Bar Convent Brooklyn trade show kicked off this week, with a host of industry experts descending on the fair.

The event started with a collaboration between famed New York bartender Jim Meehan and Banks Rums, as Meehan celebrated 10 years working with the brand.

During the evening, Meehan mixed up a range of Banks Rum cocktails, including a twist on a Negroni, at an intimate gathering of industry friends and family at PDT.

Brown-Forman-owned Bourbon brand Old Forester this week opened the doors to its Whiskey Row distillery in downtown Louisville, Kentucky.

The US$45 million distillery finally opened to visitors after years of refurbishment and renovation work on the site, which was the original home of the brand.

The newly opened distillery will offer tasting experiences and tours, and will produce 100,000 proof gallons of spirit annually.

Last night, French elderflower liqueur brand St-Germain launched the Maison St-Germain experience in London.

Taking over 38 Grosvenor Square, the launch evening saw Made in Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh (pictured) and actress Emily Atack explore a wild harvest walkway, which highlighted the 1,000 elderflowers that make each bottle.

Guests were served the Free Lane cocktail, which combines St-Germain with Grey Goose La Poire, lime juice, rhubarb bitters and grapefruit bitters.

Isle of Raasay Distillery was this week awarded VisitScotland’s highest ‘Five Star Visitor Attraction’ accreditation.

Since opening its visitor centre in January 2018, the distillery has become a popular destination for whisky pilgrims.

Visitors to the Raasay Distillery can experience first-hand the conversion of the disused Victorian building and see how the distillery creates the first Isle of Raasay single malt.

David Peter Gosnell, executive chairman of Bushmills Irish Whiskey, has been awarded an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) medal in the Queen’s Birthday 2018 Honours List.

The award recognises Gosnell’s committed service to the economy of Northern Ireland, following a 40-year career that has seen him encourage investment in Northern Ireland’s food and drink industry.

Gosnell has worked in Northern Ireland since the beginning of his career, starting with a role at HJ Heinz in Coleraine in 1975. He has been leading Bushmills Irish Whiskey since 2005.

A bottle of whisky from Australian distillery Sullivans Cove sold for £6,600 at auction in London this week, with all profits going to charity.

The Sullivans Cove American Oak Single Cask bottling is believed to be the highest priced Australian whisky ever sold.

All proceeds from the sale will be donated to the Alannah & Madeline Foundation.

On Monday, SB travelled to Japanese restaurant Sexy Fish for the unveiling of the first bottling from Japanese whisky specialist, Dekanta.

The evening saw the online spirits retailer showcase its Eigashima 2011 Kikou expression, which is a six-and-a-half-year-old Port Ellen cask-finished Japanese whisky.

Guests at the launch were treated to Japanese whisky cocktails and were given a chance to sample the limited edition bottling.

Japanese-Brazilian-Peruvian restaurant Sushisamba is celebrating the World Cup this summer with the launch of nation-inspired cocktails with a special street food menu at its London venue from the 14 June to 15 July.

All Brazil games will be celebrated with samba dancers, Capirinhas and a Brazilian menu. Games will be shown on the Tree Terrace, which will be adorned with a specially turfed bar top – and in the bar on the 39th floor.

Created by Rich Woods, cocktail on the menu include a Brazil Fig Caiprinha, a “fruitier take” on the classic drink and a Japan Sultry Tokyo, made with shochu, umeshu, yuzu and sparkling sake.

London-based restaurant Bluebird Cafe opened its newest venue at the former BBC Television Centre in White City this week.

The all-year-round terrace will serve up a modern European menu, as well as an extensive cocktail list, on its piazza overlooked by the Television Centre’s famous circular core.

The restaurant opened with an exclusive launch night this week, where guests were served a number of small plates and Fever-Tree cocktails, including the Regal Rogue Pink Spritz and Madagascan Sunset.

London cocktail bar Quaglino’s has welcomed a new head mixologist to its team – Federico Pasian.

Pasian brings a decade of experience in some of the world’s best bars to the Mayfair venue, which is known for its killer cocktails.

The Italian born bartender has worked in prestigious venues such as The Mandarian Oriental and award-winning Paradiso Barcelona bar.

SB was treated like royalty this week as blended Scotch whisky brand Royal Salute unveiled its latest expression, Royal Salute 28 Year Old Kew Palace Edition.

The launch night at Kew Palace saw a small group of journalists blend their own 28-year-old whisky, while sampling the latest release from Royal Salute.

Royal chef Darren McGrady then paired a dinner to each person’s individually blended whisky, depending on the flavours it contained – which could include citrus, spicy, creamy, fruity and smokey.

Scottish gin brand Hendrick’s celebrated this year’s World Cucumber Day (14 June) with two pop-up cucumber exchange booths in the UK.

The booths allow consumers to exchange their cucumbers for cucumber currency, which can in turn be exchanged for Hendrick’s and tonics in participating bars.

The cucumber exchange booths were in London on 14 June and will be at Manchester’s Spinningfields on 16 June.

SB attend Pernod Ricard UK’s lavish Summer Party at The Mandrake Hotel in London this week, where the theme was dedicated to the colour of the season: pink.

The great and the good of the UK spirits industry were in attendance, and sampled the gamut of Pernod Ricard’s pink offering, including: Beefeater Pink, Plymouth Fruit Cup and Lillet Rosé.

To celebrate Natonal Bourbon Day (14 June), American whiskey brand Bulleit took over Oslo Hackney for a month-long residency.

Bulleit brand ambassador Jenna Ba has created a menu of Bulleit signature serves, as well as a Bulleit Burger and Bulleit Boilermaker that will be on sale in the London venue. 
The Bulleit Burger and Bulleit Boilermaker has been available in the bar all week and will be on sale until 17 June.

Tequila brand Patrón served up Palomas and Margarita cocktails to guests at the launch of the new Frida Kahlo: Making Her Self Up exhibition at London’s V&A.

Guests including musician Annie Lennox and actress Salma Hayek previewed the exhibition, which explores how Frida Kahlo fashioned her identity.

The exhibition is the first outside of Mexico to display Kahlo’s clothes and intimate possessions, including outfits, make-up, jewellery and letters.

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