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The week in pictures

This week, Johnnie Walker owner Diageo signed a new 10-year loan deal that will see its Claive Vidiz Collection of Scotch whisky remain at Edinburgh’s Scotch Whisky Experience.

The 3,384-bottle collection, which forms the focal point of the tourist attraction, will remain at the experience for a further 10 years, until 2029.

The collection was gathered over 35 years by Brazilian businessman Claive Vidiz. The oldest bottle in the collection is a Buchanan’s whisky dating back to 1897.

London bar and restaurant Quaglino’s hosted Italian bar Il Locale for a pop-up to celebrate the Negroni.

Florence’s Il Locale travelled to London to commemorate the 100th anniversary of the Negroni cocktail alongside the bar team at Quaglinos, with each bar showcasing its signature Negroni during the course of the evening.

The event was the first time that Il Locale hosted a pop-up in London and forms the start of Quaglino’s own series of pop-ups and residencies.

Paris cocktail bar Little Red Door this week unveiled its latest drinks list, which is inspired by “untranslatable words”.

Created by the bar’s multinational team, the new menu, called A Way With Words, looks at phrases from “different societies and cultures that do not have a direct translation into English”.

Drinks on the menu include the Mauri, made with Porter’s Tropical Old Tom Gin, ocean plants, Baldoria Dry and bubbles, and the Na’eeman, which combines fermented agave wine, apple verjus and mastiha soda.

London French restaurant Le Pont de la Tour have partnered with fellow French brand, Babelle to create a menu of cocktails paired with canelé.

Each cocktail on the bar’s newest menu will be served with a matching flavoured canelé, a baked caramelised crust with a soft custardy heart.

Four cocktail pairings have been created, with each drink taking its inspiration from Babelle’s most popular flavours; passionfruit, dark chocolate, raspberry and white chocolate and salted caramel. Cocktails include the Lili Passion, made with mezcal, passion fruit puree and syrup, lemon juice, coriander bitter and an egg white, served alongside the Lilikoi canelé, which is filled with passion fruit curd and topped with a dark chocolate heart.

SB’s deputy editor, Melita Kiely, joined Venezuelan rum Santa Teresa at Coya in Mayfair, London, on Monday night for the launch of the brand’s second instalment of its trade advocacy programme: The Club 1796 Dinner Series.

Guests were treated to a selection of bespoke cocktails, carefully designed by Coya’s bar manager, John Toader, each designed to highlight the “distinct” profile of Santa Teresa 1796 rum. Enjoyed across four courses of delectable dishes, the dinner was accompanied by the story of the Santa Teresa brand, told by UK brand ambassador Geoff Robinson.
“After an incredible first year sharing stories and wisdom with our friends in the drinks industry on the history, origin, craftsmanship and purpose of Ron Santa Teresa, we are delighted to expand the Club 1796 family even further,” said Robinson. “At Santa Teresa we believe in the spirit of community and what can be achieved when we work together.”

Italian low-abv liqueur brand Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto has launched its Art of Italicus cocktail competition for the second year.

The competition, which this year invites bartenders from 13 countries to enter, challenges the on-trade to create an aperitivo-style cocktail inspired by any form of art. Participants are also encouraged to submit suggested food pairings as part of their entry.

Prospective participants should submit their cocktail recipes online at artofitalicus.com.

London bar and event space Number 90 celebrated its fifth birthday this week.

The Hackney bar and kitchen served up a host of creative cocktails for assembled guests, including its signature Margarita, Bloody Mary and Apricot and Ginger Spritz.

The London venue specialises in locally sourced food and drinks and regularly hosts events featuring international music, art, comedy and film.

UK food and drink produce was showcased at an event in Japan this week as part of the government-backed Food is Great campaign.

A host of wine and spirits brands were on show in Japan at Osaka’s British Food and Drink Tasting Gallery, where renowned Japanese mixologist Ryu Okada and chef Makiko Miyoshi were tasked with showcasing the products and ingredients for a Japanese audience.

Guests at the event included hospitality industry members and distributors, and all were given a taste of the food and drink at the chef’s table.

On Wednesday, SB hotfooted across the city to Hicce in King’s Cross for the inaugural Franklin & Sons Supper Club.

Hosted by bartender Rich Woods, who was recently appointed one of three brand ambassadors for Franklin & Sons, the evening comprised a series of four courses, each accompanied with a cocktail specifically put together by Woods.

The dinner was a celebration of Franklin & Sons’ new dual-flavoured tonic waters, which includes Rosemary with Black Olive, Pink Grapefruit with Bergamot, Rhubarb with Hibiscus and Elderflower with Cucumber.

At this year’s Cocktails in the City, Halewood-owned spiced rum brand Dead Man’s Fingers has partnered with Trader Vic’s to serve up its latests signature serve.

Taking place at The Vaults, London, between 4 and 6 April, Cocktails in the City will see the famed tiki bar mix up the Carbis Bay Sunrise, which is named after a bay in St Ives to celebrate Dead Man’s Fingers’ Cornish roots.

The cocktail is made using the brand’s Spiced Rum, together with Crabbie’s Ginger Wine, rhubarb syrup, fresh lime, a dash of Angostura, and a splash of Franklin & Son’s Rhubarb & Hibiscus Tonic.

Greek spirits brand Roots has announced the return of its Back to the Roots cocktail competition, which this year will focus on low-abv serves.

The competition invites bartenders across the UK, France and Italy to submit their recipes for Roots-based cocktails, with a winner from each country travelling to the Athens Bar Show in November.

Bartenders have until 15 May to submit their recipes at backtotherootsproject.com.

This week saw Campari-owned Bulldog Gin partner with Notion Magazine once again.

The London dry gin brand partnered with the music and fashion magazine for the launch of Notion Magazine’s latest issue at Hanger, London Fields, for an evening of performances from up and coming artists – including Ms Banks, Shy Fox and Skinny Malone.

As part of the partnership, Bulldog will host quarterly issue launch parties.

The House of Suntory partnered with the Nobu Hotel in Shoreditch, London, to celebrate the start of sakura season. The bar at the Nobu Hotel has transformed its terrace into a floral city escape.

Following a media launch on 4 April, the terrace, called Hanami, will be open to the public from today (5 April) offering exclusive cocktails, bespoke food offerings and afternoon tea.

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