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The week in pictures

This week, Patrón Tequila launched its 2019 Margarita of the Year competition, giving members of the public the chance to vote on their favourite creation.

Patrón’s Margarita of the Year contest features eight twists on the classic Tequila-based cocktail, created by bartenders from around the world – including Jacyara de Oliveira in Chicago, Adrian Martinez in Guadalajara, Cristian Bugiada in Rome and Jay Khan in Hong Kong (pictured).

This year, consumers will be able to choose from Margaritas such as the Paseo Margarita, made with coconut and basil; the Pasifika Margarita, which contains pineapple and coconut; the Golden Hour Margarita, containing turmeric and pineapple; and the Flamingo Park Margarita, which contains grapefruit.

Pernod Ricard-owned Olmeca Tequila has crowned the Pineapple Express Tequila Shot Tail, created by a group of Russian bartenders, as the winner of the Colossal Shot Kings competition.

The contest, which is the first ever crowd-sourced shot ritual contest in the world, challenged teams of bartenders to evolve the Tequila shot ritual.

Team Russia impressed the judges with its creation of the Pineapple Express Tequila Shot Tail, which was made with Olmeca Tequila, pineapple, lemon and sparks of flaming cinnamon. The shot was inspired by the 2008 film of the same name, starring James Franco and Seth Rogan.

The Whisky Exchange hosted its annual Old & Rare Show in Glasgow last weekend.

The show saw more than 600 visitors descend on the Grand Central Hotel to taste a host of unique old and rare whiskies.

Around 635 drams were available, ranging in price from £2 for a 10ml of Connoisseur’s Choice Caol Ila 1984, to £200 for a dram of The Macallan 1940. The show also included a number of talks and masterclasses, including one hosted by ex-Macallan managing director Willie Phillips and The Whisky Exchange co-founder and owner Sukhinder Singh.

Ian Macleod Distillers has recruited motorbike engineer Tyler Lunceford to create a bespoke bike for its Islay single malt Scotch brand, Smokehead.

The custom motorbike, called The Smoker, will be built by US-born Lunceford at his workshop in Leith. Its construction will be documented in a new online video series.

To build the custom Ducati motorbike, Lunceford, known as the ‘Ducati Whisperer’, took inspiration from vintage racing bikes. The completed bike will be revealed in September.

London bar and restaurant Bluebird Chelsea announced this week that it is set to be home to the world’s first all-avocado restaurant, The Avocado Show, from 11- 24 March.

The Avocado Show will pop up in London to serve its signature menu of avocado-based dishes, including The Avo Garden, a salad composed atop an avocado; The Bun Burger, a wagyu beef patty with bacon and toppings served between two avocado halves; and the Benny Boy, poached eggs with house-made hollandaise served atop crispy bacon slices and avocado halves.

The Cafe will be decked out with an abundance of foliage and greenery, bringing The Avocado Show’s vibe to King’s Road.

Bacardi-owned gin brand Oxley Gin kicked off its inaugural cocktail competition this week.

The contest challenges bartenders to create their own twist on the Gimlet, and will see heats take place in London, Edinburgh and Manchester.

The first round took place in Manchester on Monday (25 February), with the Edinburgh competition set to take place on 5 March. The winner of the contest will take away their own bespoke, co-branded fridge.

London restaurant Monsieur Le Duck has teamed up with The Cocktail Trading Company to create a duck-filled cocktail.

Created by Cocktail Trading Company co-owner Andy Mil, Duck à L’Orange features Armagnac washed with smoked duck fat, orange marmalade and honey sherbet.

The cocktail is made using leftover duck fat from the restaurant and is said to be savoury, sweet and citrus, and the “perfect accompaniment” to the restaurant’s duck-focused menu.

Pernod Ricard-owned Irish Distillers launched the newest spirit to join its Method and Madness range at an event in Cork this week.

Method and Madness Irish Micro Distilled Gin was debuted at the brand’s home in Ireland in a ceremony that also saw the unveiling of ‘Mickey’s Belly’, Ireland’s oldest gin still, which was first commissioned in 1958 at the microdistillery in Midleton.

Led by master distiller Brian Nation and apprentice distiller Henry Donnelly, the gin is a “reimagining” of Irish Distillers’ pot still Cork Crimson Gin in 2005, which was based on recipes, botanicals and methods found in a notebook from the 1790s, written by a rectifier in Cork, called William Coldwell.

The Edinburgh Whisky Academy is preparing to launch its Diploma in the Art of Tasting.
The inaugural Diploma in the Art of Tasting Whisky will take place on Wednesday 3 April at Arniston House in Midlothian, Scotland, and is the first sensory course of its kind.

The new course will teach whisky fans about flavour development, aroma and the influences of oak. John Ramsay is the senior course lecturer and he will bring his 40 years of experience to each session.

Sushi restaurant and cocktail bar chain Sushisamba will host its Carnival Weekender this Saturday and Sunday.

From 2-3 March, the fusion restaurant will host a carnival-themed party, featuring Bossa Nova music-filled brunch and live performances by hip-swaying samba dancers, booming batucada drummers and DJs.

The restaurant will serve up a Brazilian-inspired menu of specials created by regional executive chef Andreas Bollanos complemented by a table-side Caipirinha service.

This week, SB was treated to cocktails created by Matt Hollidge, who operates The Amateur Mixologist Instagram account, served up alongside desserts from Great British Bake Off contestant Selasi Gbormittah.

The pair were hosting a special evening of desserts and cocktails in partnership with appliance manufacturer Smeg.

Over the course of the event, SB enjoyed a three course dessert menu, which included dish made with mousse, jelly, date soil, cherry confit, beet crisps, chard rhubarb and amaranth, and cocktails including one crafted with Kakuzo Earl Grey Tea Vodka, Belsazar Red Vermouth, custard, lemon, Chartreuse and Betters Bitters Mount Fuji.

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