The week in pictures

Australia-based bartender Orlando Marzo was crowned the 10th winner of the Diageo Reserve World Class Cocktail Competition.

Marzo battled it out against fellow finalists, Daniel Warren, from the UK; Laura Newman, from the USA; and Gökhan Kuşoğlu, from Turkey, at the final in Berlin.

Diageo Global World Class judge, Lauren Mote, said: “All the finalists brought their A game, but Orlando really was on another level. The Zacapa aperitif he made for the Before and After challenge was one of the best I’ve ever tasted and the way he held his nerve in the Cocktail Clash finale – for me, that’s the mark of a truly world class bartender.”

Team SB also headed to the German capital for the 12th annual Bar Convent Berlin. Bigger and better than ever before, the show was awash with new products and innovations, and if visitors had not had their thirsts fully sated during the hours of the show, there were plenty of after parties to enjoy. One of the most popular was that hosted by German tonic and mixer brand Thomas Henry.

Botanically brewed mixer brand Fentimans hosted its opening party at this year’s Bar Convent Berlin.

The opening party saw Maxim Schulte, the newly appointed head bartender of The American Bar at The Savoy, and Elon Soddu, head bartender of The Savoy’s Beaufort Bar, take over Berlin’s The Green Door.

Schulte and Soddu served up a specially curated cocktail menu including Savoy classics and drinks from their current menus, as well as a number of specially created Fentimans drinks.

Earlier this week, actor Tom Payne, who plays Paul ‘Jesus’ Rovia in the hit AMC show The Walking Dead, hosted an exclusive Kraken Rum viewing party for the premiere of the latest series.

A group of lucky fans of the post-apocalyptic series were invited to watch the season opener with Payne as they enjoyed a selection of Kraken signature serves.

A team from Halewood-owned Aber Falls Whisky Distillery climbed to the top of of Snowdon in Wales where they distilled a one-off gin expression.

Distillers from Aber Falls climbed 1,085 metres above sea level to create the spirit at the top of Wales’ highest peak, becoming the first people to do so.

While at the top of the Welsh mountain, the distillers were joined by bartender Alex Mills, who created a signature serve inspired by the Snowdonia national park, called A’r ben y brig.

Industry group The Gin Guild welcomed 23 new members at its Autumn Installation in London this week.

The ceremony saw Estonia and Singapore became the latest countries to be represented within The Gin Guild as Sven Ivanov from Estonia’s Moe Distillery and Jason Williams from Atlas bar in Singapore joined.

The Guild’s grand rectifier Ed Pilkington, marketing and innovation director for Diageo North America, said: “Gin is continuing to enjoy a strong renaissance in the UK and in its established international markets and drinkers in new markets are discovering its appeal.”

London cocktail bar Fontaine’s launched its latest drinks menu this week, which has been designed to celebrate the Martini in all its forms.

The drinks list includes a number of traditional recipes that have been given a subtle twist. Highlights on the menu include the Roku Gin Martini, made from genmaicha infused Roku, Martini Ambrato Vermouth and a lemon twist; and the Vesper Martini, made from Belvedere Vodka, Oxley Gin, Lillet Blanc and a lemon twist.

Ahead of this year’s Old Fashioned Cocktail Week, the event’s organisers are calling on bartenders and bars to create the best Old Fashioned in the world.

Bartenders have until 30 November to submit their entries via video, with each creation judged on its originality, technical mastery, quality of the video, and level of social media engagement.

The video-based competition is open only to professional bartenders, and the top prize includes a tailor-made suit and a three-day visit to Paris Rum Fest 2019.

World-renowned bartender Jim Meehan travelled across Europe with Banks Rums this week as he shared his experience from his time in the hospitality industry.

Meehan visited a number of bars across Amsterdam, Copenhagen, Düsseldorf and Berlin to serve up a number of bespoke Banks Rums cocktails and recount stories from his newly launched book, Meehan’s Bartender Manual.

Each bar on the tour was challenged to created a bespoke menu inspired by the flavours of Banks Rums.

Susan Colville, brand home manager at the Benromach Speyside distillery was among those to become a Keeper of the Quaich during a ceremony at Blair Castle in Perthshire.

Colville, who was born and raised in Speyside, joined the Forres-based distillery in 2013 to lead a team of guides who deliver up-close experiences to thousands of visitors every year.

Colville was invited to join the society, which recognises those who have shown outstanding commitment to the Scotch whisky industry.

Award-winning New York bar BlackTail took over The Bloomsbury Club in London this week, in partnership with Thomas Henry Mixers.

BlackTail’s bar manager Jesse Vida, alongside William Pasternak and Ally Marrone brought a taste of New York City to London and created an innovative cocktail menu for guests to enjoy.

The New York bar team served up a number of BlackTail favourites and bespoke creations to give guests an authentic taste of the ‘lush life’.

The inaugural Wine & Spirits Show kicks off in London today (12 October) and is a collaboration between The Spirits Business and the drinks business teams.

Taking place on 12 and 13 October at The Royal Horseguards Hotel in London, the event will bring leading wine and spirits brands together for an exciting programme of discussion, tasting and learning.

The Wine & Spirits Show will encompass two halls – one dedicated to wine and one to spirits – and will feature a number of masterclasses for the trade and consumers.

Lough Ree Distillery debuted its newly launched Sling Shot gin at the Taste of Lakelands Food Festival in County Longford this week.

Sling Shot is said to be the first gin to distil peat as a botanical, along with a hint of citrus and fresh mint.

A number of guests from the world of spirits, media, business and the local community gathered at the Taste of Lakelands Food Festival for the official launch of the new gin.