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The week in pictures

This week, Scottish gin and vodka maker Eight Lands kicked off a new partnership with Edinburgh cocktail bar Nauticus.

Eight Lands celebrated the partnership with an evening hosted by Alex Christou, founder of Eight Lands; Kyle Jamieson, co-founder of Nauticus; and Jamie Jones of drinks agency Scotch + Limon.

Over the course of the evening, Jamieson (pictured) and the rest of the team at Nauticus served up a menu of bespoke Eight Lands cocktails made with the brand’s organic gin and vodka.

The Old Storehouse Temple Bar in Dublin this week set a new Guinness World Record as four bartenders went head to head to create the most Irish Coffees in three minutes.

At an event on Saturday (25 January), which was hosted by comedian Paddy Courtney, bartenders including Rory McGee, of The Shelbourne Bar; Jane Meehan, from Russels Saloon; Séamus Óg Birt, bartender at Me & Mrs Jones; Sean Whelan, from Café en Seine; and Max McPherson, of Bootleggers, faced off to create the signature Irish serves.

After three minutes, McGee came out on top having served up a record-breaking 49 Irish coffees.

UK-based gin brand Greenall’s partnered with pub operator Greene King to kick off a series of gin yoga sessions.

Gin fans in the UK can head to Greene King venues across the country to take part in gin yoga classes, which aim to encourage everyone to get a “bit of balance”.

Each class will include 40 minutes of yoga and ends with a Greenall’s Wild Berry Gin and Tonic or a Greenall’s Blueberry Gin and Tonic.

Restaurant chain TGI Fridays hosted the final of its UK Bartender Challenge, which saw Rob Stephens from Basildon in Essex claim the top spot.

Stephens wowed the assembled crowd and judges with his flair techniques and the “great taste of his Long Island Iced Tea” to walk away with a £2,000 (US$2,600) prize.

After winning the UK contest, Stephens will travel to Nashville, US, in March where he will take part in the World Bartender Championships.

Italian bartender Giulia Cuccurullo, of Artesian in London, was crowned the winner of this year’s Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition.

The final of the competition, which took place at Hacienda Patrón, Mexico, saw 21 bartenders from around the world tackle a host of challenges.

Cuccurullo impressed the judges with her winning cocktail The Bridge, which was a combination of Patrón Silver Tequila, rhubarb cordial, fortified wine blend, tomato water and salt solution.

Japanese shōchū brand Iichiko has launched an Olympics‐inspired US bartending competition.

To celebrate the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the brand is inviting American bartenders to create imaginative shōchū‐based cocktails inspired by their favourite Olympic‐sanctioned sports.

The Grand Prize is an all‐expenses-paid trip for the winner to Japan to visit Tokyo and and Kyushu Island, the home of Iichiko.

Reyka Vodka has launched a running club for London bartenders, which will see participating runners compete for the chance to win a place in the Reykjavik Marathon.

The Reyka Runners group will host weekly 5km and 10km running meets in Victoria Park, London.

Participating bartenders will have the chance to win items of bespoke running gear as they reach different running milestones. The two runners that complete the highest distance by the end of 2020 will be taken on an all-expenses-paid trip to run the Reykjavik Marathon in 2021.

Australian whisky maker The Gospel Distillers this week appointed Zach Morgan as its national brand ambassador.

Morgan, who joins the team after managing Melbourne bar The Attic at Black Pearl, will focus on rye whisky education, promoting rye whisky as the base in classic whisky cocktails and will create cocktails for the brand.

Morgan said: “To me The Gospel is an exceptionally exciting addition to the Australian scene, a range of an American-style rye that is entirely Australian. I’m excited to be a part of The Gospel and introduce the brand to Australia over the coming years.’’

Ahead of the most romantic day of the year, Valentine’s Day, sky-high London bar Sky Garden has created a loved-up cocktail in partnership with VII Hills Gin.

The bar team at Sky Garden has created the Hills of Love cocktail, which was influenced by the city of Rome – also the inspiration behind VII Hills Gin.

The limited-edition cocktail is made with VII Hills Gin, wild strawberry-infused wine, chocolate liqueur and coconut protein.

Alcohol education charity Drinkaware partnered with UK supermarket chain Asda to promote responsible drinking.

At a one-day event, Drinkaware stalls were set up in 47 Asda stores across the UK, where trained Drinkaware ambassadors encouraged customers to take part in its Drink Free Days initiative.

Ambassadors also handed out alcohol assessment scratch cards to encourage customers to reflect on their drinking habits. Around 3,300 customers visited a Drinkaware stand during the event.

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