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The week in pictures

Academy Award winning actor Matthew McConaughey and Wild Turkey master distiller Eddie Russell were out and about in Texas this week, paying tribute to police, fire officers and doctors to mark National First Responders Day (28 October).

The Interstellar star met with first responders throughout the day, greeting them with hearty handshakes and turkey feasts.

McConaughey, creative director of Wild Turkey, said: “I am glad to make it to Houston to recognise how important these folks are and I am proud to work with Wild Turkey, who is making first responders a key focus of its Wild Turkey Gives Back campaign for 2018.”

The celebrations were in full swing this week as brands around the world marked Halloween and the Mexican festival Day of the Dead.

Day of the Dead (2 November) is a chance for Mexicans to raise a glass to their lost loved ones, and this year Tequila brand Jose Cuervo hosted its own celebration in London.

Taking place at Shoreditch’s 93 Feet East, the night features Day of the Dead-themed cocktails, a mariachi band, sugar skulls, music from celebrity DJ Goldierocks and a Tequila bar draped in colourful marigolds, the traditional flower of the Mexican celebration.

For its celebrations of Day of the Dead, Patrón Tequila is rolling out a series of on-trade activations, in store visibility, consumer engagement and events across five different continents.

In London, Patrón will host Art of Patrón x Day of the Dead at Mayfair’s UNIT tonight (2 November).

Patrón will bring to life the most colourful elements of the Mexican celebration as well as contemporary mixology as it embraces the festivity’s character.

This week also saw spiced rum brand Kraken mark Halloween with its Ocean of Souls event.

Kraken partnered with immersive theatre experts Les Enfants Terrible to host the pop-up, which was said to be the first bar in the world where imbibers had to sign a contract agreeing to sell their souls in order to gain entry.

The night saw hundreds of Halloween revellers transported into an under water world of thrills and cocktails, as guests were submerged in a universe of marine-based mystery and underwater secrets.

German liqueur brand Jägermeister headed to London’s Soho for its Halloween celebrations.

Jägermeister’s brand ambassador Florian Beuren hosted an exclusive party at Soho Radio where consumers dressed up in their most ghastly costumes. Those who took on the challenge were rewarded with special Jägermeister cocktails.

The evening also saw Jägermeister’s character for the occasion, called The Schädelmann, encouraging partygoers to brave the dark side and take part in immersive activities, such as free shaves from London salon Cut&Grind.

Bacardi-owned Patrón Tequila had more than one reason to celebrate this week, as it was on hand at the 30th anniversary of men’s style magazine British GQ.

On Monday, Patrón was on hand at the 30-year anniversary celebrations at the newly opened SushiSamba Covent Garden.

Guests enjoyed a number of Patrón cocktails specially created by SushiSamba head of spirit and cocktail development Rich Woods.

Cocktails on offer included Little Pedro, which was made from chilli-infused Patrón, Ancho Reyes Verde, orgeat, yuzu and cucumber.

Brown-Forman-owned Woodford Reserve was this week named the official sponsor of global cocktail celebration Old Fashioned Week 2018 (1-10 November 2018).

This year, Woodford Reserve is teaming up with a variety of on-trade partner bars to host events and activations, including offering signature Old Fashioned serves at top bars and live blues music nights at the Principal Hotel.

Woodford Reserve has also invited bartenders across the country to partake in various cocktail competitions to support UK bartenders as they progress through their careers.

William Grant & Sons’ UK brand ambassador team headed to Edinburgh this week to host a series of talks and workshops designed to support the modern bartender.

The event, called Unwrapped: The Other Side of Bartending, was focused on brand ambassador-led talks that provided attendees with the chance to take on new skills and perspectives, as well as the opportunity to network with peers and old friends.

Unwrapped was held at Assembly Roxy and included immersive brand experiences, such as sampling Hendrick’s Gintini Martinis and making and photographing Monkey Shoulder’s Lazy Old Fashioned cocktails.

This week, Darren Clarke became the latest professional golfer to sign a partnership with Loch Lomond Whiskies, the official spirit of The Open.

Ahead of the 148th Open, Clarke will work with Loch Lomond Whiskies’ master blender, Michael Henry, to create The Open Course Collection: Royal Portrush Edition. The Royal Portrush Edition will be a 19-year-old single malt and will go on sale in early 2019.

Clarke’s career has so far included 14 European Tour wins, 3 PGA Tour wins and five consecutive Ryder Cup appearances for Europe between 1997 and 2006.

Scottish spirits maker Arbikie celebrated its fourth anniversary this week. 

The field-to-bottle distiller launched its first product, a vodka made from potatoes, in October 2014. Since then, it has expanded its range to include Kirsty’s Gin, Haar Vodka and AK’s Gin.

Arbikie director Iain Stirling said: “Our aim has always been to disrupt the spirits market by stressing the traceability of our base ingredients and how this impacts on flavour. The growing desire for provenance and traceability of ingredients is very now and our new deals reflect this trend.”

The rooftop terrace at luxury London hotel Madison in St Paul’s was this week transformed into a winter wonderland.

The rooftop will be open until 28 February next year, bringing the après-ski scene to the city, complete with festive winter warmer cocktails and sharing boards, live music and views of St Paul’s Cathedral and the London skyline.

Featuring a series of chalets, each decked out with timber-clad walls, twinkling lights and layered with faux fur cushions, throws and tartan blankets, guests will be able to enjoy the cosiest atmosphere. 

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