Close Menu
Top 10

The week in pictures

Ahead of Saturday’s Super Bowl game in Miami, rum brand Bacardi headed to the US city with hip hop stars Meek Mill, Megan Thee Stallion and Swizz Beatz to bring “rum vibes to football fans”.

Before the game between Kansas City Chiefs and San Francisco 49ers, Bacardi took over the Kimpton Surfcomber Hotel and transformed it into a Caribbean-inspired fiesta.

During the party, guests sipped on refreshing selection of rum cocktails such as the Bacardi Mojito, Frozen Daiquiri, Rum Punch and Bacardi Cuatro Highball.

Also celebrating this year’s big game was Villa One Tequila, which was launched in 2019 by singer songwriter Nick Jonas.

Taking over Rao’s by the Beach in Miami, Villa One hosted a number of big names, including American football player Dak Prescott, TV personality Jonathan Cheban and American rapper G-Eazy.

As well as an invite-only dinner ahead of the game, guests enjoyed samples of Villa One Tequila and signature cocktails.

This week, the Spirit of Yorkshire distillery awarded its first bottle of whisky to John Napthine from Staxton, near Scarborough, following a prize draw.

Napthine received his prize, complete with a certificate and a bespoke wooden case made from the staves of a whisky barrel, at a presentation at the distillery.

He said: “I bought some limited edition nosing glasses for my family after enjoying a distillery tour at the Hunmanby Distillery, but never believed that I would win the first ever bottle of Filey Bay.”

On Tuesday (4 February), renowned bartender Salvatore Calabrese hosted a tasting of his recently launched Acqua Bianca liqueur in London.

Taking place at The Donovan Bar at Brown’s Hotel, the evening was a chance to sample the new liqueur, which Calabrese made in partnership with Dutch firm De Kuyper.

After a tasting of the “aromatic” liqueur, which is made with essence of ambergris, guests were treated to an evening of Acqua Bianca cocktails and canapés.

It was a busy week for Calabrese, who also made an appearance at the What is Distinctive tour, hosted by Banks Rum.

Bacardi-owned Banks Rum took over London bar Kwānt this week and invited a host of well-regarded bartenders for a discussion centred on what it means to be distinctive.

Hosted by bartenders Jim Meehan and Eric Lorincz, guests at the event sampled Green Tea Punch, Banks Rums 5 Island Blend and Banks 7 Island Blend, while listening to insights from the assembled professionals.

London restaurant and bar The Ivy Café, Richmond, unveiled a cocktail menu inspired by countries competing in this year’s Six Nations rugby tournament this week.

Available until 14 March, cocktails include the English Rose, made with Beefeater Gin, Pimm’s, elderflower cordial and Fever-Tree lemonade; the Irish Clover, which combines Jameson, Lillet Rouge, Cointreau, lime juice and a dash of Whiskey Barrel Bitters; and the French Iris, made with Beefeater Gin, Lillet Blanc, lemon juice, sugar syrup and Champagne.

Scottish football players David Gray and Kenny Miller partnered with Johnnie Walker owner Diageo to release a new film for the company’s This Round, No Rounds campaign.

The film, which was released on Twitter yesterday (6 February), highlights the benefits of being a “round dodger” and focuses on keeping the memorable moments of a football game exactly that – memorable.

During the film, the football stars are also seen encouraging football fans to test their alcohol knowledge by taking the Drink IQ Test, which can be found online at diageo.com/en/drinkiqquiz.

SB nipped just around the corner from its office to attend the launch of The Whisky Exchange’s new London Bridge shop this week.

Covering 2,162 square feet, floor-to-ceiling spirits displays wrap around the entire circumference of the new premises, while a light installation made with empty bottles hangs along the ceiling. The shop offers a selection of more than 2,500 wines and spirits, with everything from Bourbon and Scotch whisky, to Cognac, gin and vermouth, and even a smattering of low- and no-alcohol options.

Located in Borough High Street, the shop also features an education space that will be used to teach visitors about the spirits production process.

Torbjörn Liljehammar of European cruise liner Tallink Silja Line has been crowned winner of the Bacardi Legacy Cruise Competition 2020.

Liljehammar wowed the judges with his signature cocktail The Magellan, which combined Bacardi Reserva Ocho Rum, Blandy’s 10-year-old Sercial Dry Madeira Wine, vanilla and apricot syrup, lemon juice and orange bitters.

Following his victory, Liljehammar will now represent the global cruise channel in the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition global finals in Miami in May.

This week, UK-based Copper Rivet Distillery revealed that it welcomed more than 10,000 visitors to its distillery in Chatham, Kent, in 2019.

The Distillery, which opened its doors in late 2016, welcomed more than 8,000 guests on pre-booked tours, and 2,000 visitors who were attending events or eating in the 70-seat delicatessen.

According to the distillery, 92% of its visitors came from Kent, 1.5% from Essex, 1% from Sussex and the remaining visitors hailing from outside of the south east.

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