The week in pictures

Ahead of BRIT’s breakthrough winner Tom Walker’s Glasgow concert, The Dam created two Irn Bru-based cocktails in honour of the singer-songwriter.

The Dam, in Glasgow, created the cocktails ahead of Walker’s hometown show at the Barrowlands venue. The Just You and I(RN BRU) – the OG Ginger Spritz is made with Arbikie Kirsty’s Gin, sparkling Sauvignon wine and Irn Bru, while the Dam’ Take Me On Tour combines Monkey Shoulder blended whisky, bitters and Irn Bru syrup.

Michael Woods, co-owner of The Dam, said: “Our bar team love making fine-tasting cocktails, and we thought we’d give Tom a bit of tongue-in-cheek support since it’s his big debut at the Barrowlands.”

The Perception at W London has unveiled its latest cocktail menu, which features a host of on-trend ingredients such as CBD oil, avocado, gold leaf and in-house infusions.

The menu of 25 signature cocktails includes The Millennial, made with Patrón Silver Tequila, Cointreau, CBD oil, avocado, lime juice, agave and red chilli, and the R.E.M, made with Old Curiosity Chamomile & Cornflower Gin, Lalicus, elderflower, lemon juice and Peychaud Bitters.

Cocktails on the bar’s latest menu are served in a host of visually-striking and Instagram-worthy vessels.

Irish whiskey maker Slane Distillery has launched a UK-wide cocktail competition that challenges bartenders to create the best low-waste cocktail.

The SuSLANEable Cocktail Competition opened entries to bartenders this week, with regional heats set to take place in London, Liverpool, Bristol and Cardiff later in the year. Independent judges and the Slane UK brand ambassador will choose three winners that will win a trip to Slane.

Co-founder of Slane Distillery, Alex Conyngham, said: “We hope this competition will get bartenders thinking about how to join Slane in reducing their environmental footprint, with the bonus of creating the UK’s most sustainable cocktails.”

On Tuesday, SB’s Melita Kiely headed to Sotheby’s in London for a real whisky treat – the chance to try a dram of The Dalmore L’Anima Aged 49 Years. A collaboration between The Dalmore master distiller Richard Paterson and Michelin-starred chef Massimo Bottura, only one bottle of L’Anima has been created and is currently being auctioned by Sotheby’s.
Aged in Bourbon barrels, González Byass casks that once held 40-year-old Pedro Ximénez Sherry, and Graham’s Vintage Port Pipes, the ‘one-of-a-kind’ bottling is expected to sell for between £65,000 and £100,000. The auction also includes dinner for two at Bottura’s Osteria Francescana in Modena, Italy. All funds will be donated to Bottura’s Food for Soul not-for-profit organisation.

American whiskey brand Cascade Blonde this week announced a partnership with conservation group American Rivers to clean more than 45,000kg of waste from waterways across the US.

Announced on Earth Day (22 April), the cleanup will see teams of volunteers collect plastic and other waste from rivers and lakes across America. Cascade has also pledged to remove plastic straws from all its events.

Following the cleanup events, whiskey fans will be invited to sample Cascade’s spirits and its Cascade Crush signature serve, made with Cascade Blonde American Whiskey, lemonade and an orange wedge.

SB travelled to London tiki bar Laki Kane for the launch of new tropical cocktail making guide, Let’s Get Tropical.

Written by the bar’s owner, Georgi Radev, the guide features more than 60 recipes with “easy-to-follow” instructions and images of how the finished cocktail should look. Each classic cocktail in the book is also accompanied by a number of twists on the original recipe.

During the launch of Let’s Get Tropical, guests were treated to a selection of cocktails mixed up from the book as well as tropical-inspired canapés.

London bar and restaurant Sketch has partnered with Islay gin brand The Botanist to create a menu of Martinis inspired by each room at the venue.

Cocktails have been inspired by The Glade, The Parlour, The Gallery and East Bar at the London restaurant, drawing inspiration from the sights, smells and feel of the unique rooms within Sketch.

Martinis on the menu include the Forest Martini, made with The Botanist Gin, nettle, linden blossom and served with a lemon twist and an aromatic spray made from soil, hogweed peat, douglas fir, and re-distilled The Botanist Gin, and the Herb Garden Martini, which combines The Botanist Gin, botanical tincture, Sichuan pepper and garnished with a lemon thyme twig.

Glasgow’s The Clydeside Distillery was this week awarded a Quality Assurance award by Scottish tourism board VisitScotland.

The Scottish distillery, which opened in 2017, was awarded a five-star rating from the tourism agency, highlighting its ability to “exceed customers’ expectations on an on-going basis”.

Tim Morrison, chairman of The Clydeside Distillery, said: “To be awarded a five-star rating from VisitScotland is a truly outstanding achievement and we are incredibly proud of the team’s hard work and dedication which has helped us reach this point. Providing visitors with the very best experience is our top priority and this underpins everything we do. We look forward to welcoming many more guests through our doors.”

Diageo-owned Bulleit Bourbon took its 3D Printed Frontier Lounge to this year’s Tribeca Film Festival, which kicked off in New York this week.

As part of the launch event for the 18th annual festival, Bulleit Frontier Whiskey hosted media and influencers for a night of celebration and groundbreaking 3D tech, including its D printed bar and cocktails.

Bulleit will host events throughout the festival, including the afterparties for premieres, including Crown Vic, which stars Alec Baldwin, Bridget Moynahan, and Plus One, featuring Maya Erskine, Jack Quaid and Beck Bennett.