Close Menu
Top 10

The week in pictures

Diageo’s international alcohol education theatre programme Smashed has delivered “encouraging results” in transforming Scots’ attitudes to drinking.

The “hard-hitting” drama about a group of friends caught up in trouble because of alcohol misuse toured 37 schools across Scotland, reaching more than 9,000 students.

Each performance was followed by an interactive workshop where pupils were invited to ask the cast questions about the issues brought up during the play and explore the consequences portrayed by the actors.

Bombay Sapphire kicked off its Find your Canvas initiative with the Painted by Everyone art installation in the US, which features two paint-wielding robotic arms.

The Painted by Everyone activation will see gin fans across the US add their own patch of paint onto the canvas, which is on display at Row DTLA in Los Angeles.

From 28 August to 1 September participants can log onto paintedbyeveryone.com to select a colour and add their mark onto the canvas, which when finished will be exhibited at The Other Art Fair Los Angeles.

London bar Diddy’s this week unveiled details of its latest cocktail menu, which centres on simplicity and features cocktails divided into four sections.

Split between Spritz, Margaritas, Sours and Negronis, the menu sees classic cocktails infused with a “few modern twists”, such as the Sbeergliato – a twist on the Negroni Sbagliato made with Pilsner instead of gin and Prosecco.

The Hackney bar’s latest drinks list also features the Ancho Reyes Negroni, made with Campari, vermouth, mezcal, and Ancho Reyes.

Hendrick’s Gin and creative agency Space have launched the second Portal to the Peculiar, which is disguised as an ATM machine near London Bridge.

Open from 29 August for four days, the Automated Transport to the Marvellous takes imbibers “to the world beyond the mundane” where they can interact with the brand and discover more about Hendrick’s Gin.

Tickets for the 45-minute experience are available to book through Eventbrite now.

Bacardi-owned Santa Teresa hosted its Ruck and Rum touch rugby tournament in London recently, with bartenders from across the capital going head to head.

The matches were the culmination of the brand’s Alcatraz Cocktail Challenge, which invited 23 bars across the UK to create and list a Santa Teresa cocktail on their menu for five weeks.

Hosted by Santa Teresa and charity The School of Hard Knocks, the tournament saw bartenders from across London come together to play touch rugby, learn more about the history of Santa Teresa and enjoy Santa Teresa cocktails.

Edinburgh Gin this week unveiled a new coastal-themed terrace at London’s OXO Tower Restaurant, Bar and Brasserie.

Inspired by Edinburgh Gin’s Seaside expression, the activation has transformed OXO Tower Bar’s terrace with a maritime theme.

Running for six weeks, the terrace includes a bespoke cocktail menu made using Edinburgh Gin Seaside and other gins from the range.

Black spiced rum brand The Kraken is offering free cocktails to anyone with a ticket to see Stephen King’s IT: Chapter Two on its release day.

Kraken has partnered with RoadTrip Bar in London’s Old Street to offer complimentary Kraken Pennywise cocktails to anyone seeing the film on 6 September.

Named in honour of Pennywise the clown, the cocktail is made with Kraken Rum, raspberry, sage, lime and sugar.

Yorkshire gin brand Whittaker’s hosted the grand opening of its new distillery in Nidderdale, Yorkshire. Whittaker’s Gin, which launched in 2015, welcomed friends, family and local businesses to the launch of its new distillery, which was officially opened by David Lascelles, Earl of Harewood (pictured left).

Throughout the launch event, guests were treated to gins from the brand’s range, mixed with Double Dutch tonics, as well as wine from Domain Vintur in Provence, which will be available to buy from the distillery’s shop.

Tonic water and mixer brand Merchant’s Heart invited bartenders and press to take part in a G&T master class as it launched its canned tonic range.

Some of London’s top bartenders were partnered with members of the media to teach them to create the perfect G&T using the range of Merchant’s Heart mixers. Serves created included pairing the brand’s Light Tonic with Haku Vodka and sliced ginger, and matching Roku Gin with Merchant’s Heart Hibiscus, cucumber and sliced raspberries.

It looks like you're in Asia, would you like to be redirected to the Drinks Business Asia edition?

Yes, take me to the Asia edition No