The week in pictures

Island-based Scotch whisky distillery Isle of Raasay has welcomed the festive season by creating a Christmas tree from whisky casks.

The ‘tree’, which has been constructed in front of the distillery has been made with 50 ex-Sherry and Bourbon casks stacked on top of each other.

Joseph McGowan, distillery operator, and Iain Robertson, head distiller, constructed the tree over the course of an evening, with the star made from a broken Sherry cask by lead tour guide Calum Gillie.

Rapper Lil Wayne was in the hot seat this week as he answered fan-submitted questions in the first episode of Bumbu Rum’s online video series, The Bumbu Room.

The video, which is available to watch on YouTube, is the first in a new online series that will see music producer DJ Khaled, American rapper Rick Ross, musician Dave East, and other celebrities quizzed by their fans.

In his video, hip hop star Lil Wayne was grilled on plastic surgery, Rihanna and Nicki Minaj, and Michael Jordan versus Kobe Bryant.

Ferdinand star John Cena has continued his partnership with Skyy Vodka with the release of a “spoofy video” to celebrate the 21st anniversary of the film Titanic.

The video, called Thoughts, was posted on Cena’s Twitter and sees the former wrestler raise a glass to “life, liberty, and the American spirit”. In the short film, Cena also ponders why Rose couldn’t rescue Jack in the film, all while in the iconic “flying” pose on the bow of a ship.

UK-based gin brand Warner Edwards brought tractor-driven advertising to the city of London to help raise awareness of its Victoria’s Rhubarb Gin.

The brand’s Farm-grown gin activation saw a tractor pull a billboard through the streets of London to promote Warner Edwards’ rhubarb-flavoured expression.

The Farm-grown gin activation has been launched in support of Hedgehog Street, a charity-led campaign dedicated to safeguarding hedgehogs throughout Britain.

Dimi Savvaidis from the UK was named this year’s winner of the Monin Cup after wowing the judges at the global final in France.

Savvaidis impressed the judges with his Three Nights in Paris cocktail, which combined Monin Original and Mango syrups with Tequila, vermouth and lemon.

Savvaidis, from The King of Islington, Dundee, triumphed over 45 other competing bartenders to walk away with the €5,000 prize.

SB travelled to sky-high London restaurant Duck & Waffle to sample its 12 Drinks of Christmas menu this week.

The menu, created by Richard Woods, head of cocktails & spirits at the London bar, includes 12 festive serves created in partnership with Bacardi and William Grant & Sons.

Highlights on the menu included the Panettone Flip, which combines Cognac, festive spices, panettone infusion and egg, and the Yule Mule, made with Grey Goose La Poire Vodka, Christmas spiced sugar, lime and ginger.

The Craigellachie Hotel in Speyside is celebrating its 125th anniversary this month.

The hotel, which was designed by Charles Doig and built by Sir Alexander Edward in the 1890s, re-opened in 2014 after a £3 million revamp.

The Craigellachie Hotel is home to the Copper Dog bar and the world-famous Quaich Bar, which boasts over 850 single malt whiskies.

To celebrate the launch of the brand’s latest travel retail-exclusive whisky, Bowmore distillery manager David Turner visited the World of Whiskies stores in Heathrow Terminal two and five to sign bottles.

Just 198 bottles of Bowmore 1997 Single Cask 20 Year Old are available to buy exclusively in World Duty Free’s World of Whiskies stores in the London airport.