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The week in pictures

Gin brand Bombay Sapphire has partnered with famed photographer Rankin as part of its new Stir Creativity campaign.

The photography series includes portraits of creative influencers, including model Erin O’Connor and interior designer Luke Edward Hall.

The ‘Stirred by Rankin’ portraits are part of the brand’s campaign, which aims to “inspire creative self-expression around the world”.

This week, the official spirit of The Open golf championship, Loch Lomond Whiskies, revealed an ambassador partnership with US golfer Cristie Kerr.

Kerr is the latest professional golf ambassador for the brand, following Colin Montgomerie and Paul Lawrie.

The American golfer has been working with the whisky brand to create a signature cocktail for the Women’s British Open, called The Kerr. It will be served to guests at the Loch Lomond Bar at Royal Lytham & St Annes golf club in Lancashire, England.

A team from Spanish cooperage Toneleria JL Rodriguez visited InchDairnie Distillery in Fife this week to inspect the quality of its Andalusian wine casks that were recently imported to the distillery.

The trip follows a visit from InchDairnie managing director Ian Palmer to the cooperage earlier this year to ensure the casks are fit for the distillery’s whisky.

Father and son coopers José Luis Rodriguez and Juan Manuel Rodriguez travelled to Fife to meet Palmer and agree plans for the next five years of cask production and seasoning.

Lee Jones, of the Smokestack bar in Leeds, has been named the winner of this year’s Southern Comfort Southern Showdown cocktail contest.

Taking place in New Olreans, Jones triumphed at the competition with his creation, the Whitesmith Cobbler, which combined Southern Comfort 100 Proof with Absentroux herbal wine, gooseberry cordial and Champagne acid. 

Jones said: “I’m incredibly proud to have won, and in particular to be bringing a bit of attention to northern bartenders in the UK – there is so much talent out there waiting to be found, and I can’t wait for the rest of the world discover it too.”

The Isle of Raasay Distillery opened late this week as it hosted an evening of bat watching.

The distillery, which is home to the UK’s most north-westernly population of rare brown long-eared bats and a colony of common pipistrelle bats, hosted an interactive evening giving visitors the chance to learn more about the distillery’s furry friends.

Ecologists Ross Preston and Janie Steele chatted to visitors about the importance of these curious creatures as the distillery hosted tours, whisky tastings and bat safari for the assembled guests.

Music producer DJ Khaled appeared in the latest ad for Bumbu Rum, where he stopped making music and started channeling his “inner goat”.

In the ad, the 42-year-old, known for his hits including I’m the One and Wild Thoughts, takes part in a one-to-one yoga session where he is told that “to become the goat, you must be one with the goat”, to which DJ Khaled replies: “I like that.”

The latest advert for Bumbu Rum features real-life goats, one of which rests on DJ Khaled’s shoulder as he begins to make goat noises.

Italian vermouth brand Martini has taken over London’s Covent Garden with its summer Terraza.

The outdoor bar will pop up at the Covent Garden Piazza for four weeks, serving up the latest Martini signature serve – Riserva & Tonic.

As well as offering a selection of Italian aperitivo food, the Terraza will also offer a Vespa pick-up service bringing guests straight to the pop-up from their offices.

Melbourne-based distillery Starward crowned Perth bartender Dean Buchanan as its 2018 Constellations Cocktail Competition winner.

Buchanan wowed the judges with his cocktail, called The Tuber, which contained Starward Wine Cask, truffle butter cacao, porcini distillate, native thyme, and peated amaro.

Up against some of the best bartenders from across Australia, Buchanan stood out when illustrating his ability to blend whisky, improvise tiki drinks and his cocktail presentation skills.

Scottish crystal producer Glencairn was this week shortlisted for the Exporter of the Year Award at the 2018 Lloyds Bank National Business Awards.

Scott Davidson, new product development director, said: “Our recognition within the Exporter of the Year category at the Lloyds Bank National Business Awards is an exciting testament to our hard work and focus in driving our products in overseas markets.To be recognised within such prestigious awards is hugely exciting and inspiring.”

Scottish gin producer Deeside Distillery has produced what it claims is the world’s largest gin and tonic.

The distillery created an 875-litre batch of the classic serve for its Seasons Festival, which takes place in Aberdeen this weekend.

The giant 8.5% batch is made up of 350 bottles of the distillery’s own Still River gin and 700 litres of tonic water. It will be served up to visitors at the food, drink and music festival this weekend.

On a gloriously sunny evening, SB headed to the newest addition to the Mr Fogg’s bar group this week – Mr Fogg’s House of Botanicals.

Guests were greeted with a glass of bubbles before being offered the chance to sample some of the venue’s libations. And, well, it wouldn’t be Mr Fogg’s without a touch of eccentricity to the surroundings and service, would it?

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