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The week in pictures

Islay Scotch whisky distillery Kilchoman celebrated the opening of its new visitor centre and still house this week.

Family and friends of the brand came together to mark the occasion at a gala event that featured a Scottish pipe band and a chance to sample Kilchoman’s range of whiskies.

The distillery’s new building extends from the gable end of its original still house. It contains two new stills, a new mashtun and six additional washbacks, doubling the distillery’s capacity.

Las Vegas speakeasy The Underground at The Mob Museum this week launched a new cocktail menu, featuring a host of Prohibition era creations.

Featuring cocktails made with  the Museum’s house-made moonshine, as well as other well-loved spirits, the new menu includes Bang the Rum Slowly, made with rum, pineapple, orgeat, lime, alchermes and bitters; the Plaza Antiqua, which combines mezcal, cinnamon-infused brandy, chocolate-infused vermouth and spicy bitters; and the Clover Club, made with gin, Lillet, lavender, raspberry, lemon and egg whites.

American rapper Future headed to the Barclays Centre in Brooklyn to help showcase 1800 Cristalino, the latest release from 1800 Tequila.

Future and 1800 Tequila attended the Brooklyn Nets’ game against Orlando Magic at the Barclays Centre, where Future enjoyed an 1800 Cristalino cocktail and watched the match from court-side seats.

The brand also debuted a banner ad for the new Tequila during the game.

American whiskey liqueur Southern Comfort this week revealed a New Orleans-inspired event, which will head to the UK on 4 and 5 March.

Southern Comfort Presents Mardi Gras will “celebrate the magic of New Orleans” with its “musical infusion”.

The two-day event will feature performances from New Orleans-based hip hop star Big Freedia, East London collective Hackney Colliery Band and DJ collective Pxssy Palace.

Botanical rum distillery Spirited Union has launched its inaugural Highballer cocktail competition, which tasks bartenders with creating the perfect Highball cocktail.

After creating their ultimate highball, competitors will be challenged to create a brand new botanical rum concept and will have the opportunity to distil their recipe in the Spirited Union Distillery in Amsterdam.

The winner will go on to have their own expression launched as Spirited Union’s 2020 Limited Edition Rum.

During the annual The Restaurant Association Gala Dinner, which took place on Monday (24 February), chef Brian Turner was awarded the Restaurant Association Award for Services to Hospitality.

Turner said: “It has just been such an exciting night and what a privilege to hold this award. I hold this award for lots of people, it is all about the hospitality industry and looking after people with food and drink. I’ve had such a good time in the industry and I can’t tell you how lucky I’ve been. Thank you to everyone at the Restaurant Association for the award for Services to Hospitality and to my friend James [Martin] for coming to present it.”

The event, which was held at The Savoy hotel in London, raised £25,000 (US$32,000) for charity Hospitality Action, which works to provide hospitality workers with financial, physical and psychological support.

To celebrate tomorrow’s leap year day (29 February), the American Bar at The Savoy hotel will offer a free cocktail to anyone who proposes in the London bar.

Guests at the world-renowned bar will be treated to a Leap Year Cocktail if they pop the question in the venue.

The cocktail takes inspiration from the Leap Year Martini that bartender Harry Craddock created for Leap Year celebrations at The Savoy hotel. The Leap Year Cocktail is made with Bombay Sapphire, sweet vermouth, orange liqueur and lemon juice.

SB headed to Moskovkaya vodka’s pilot activation for its new global pop-up project, Mosko Embassy. Held at The Doodle Bar by London Bridge yesterday (27 February), the event featured a masterclass that saw a group of bartenders, journalists and brand executives delve into the history behind Moskovskaya, as well as make their own Moscow Mules with the vodka and an array of Russian ingredients.

The workshop was led by Moskovskaya’s new global brand ambassador, Felicity Gransden. 

The pop-up is set to head to the brand’s key strategic markets, including Spain, Italy and Portugal.

London bar operator The Umbrella Project kicked off its 12-month series of pop-ups and takeovers with a guest stint at Bristol’s Filthy XIII.

The Umbrella Project, which operates The Sun Tavern and Discount Suit Company in London headed to the Bristol drinking den as the first stop in its series of activations, which will see the bar teams travel to Washington, Liverpool, Dublin, Paris and Sheffield.

At each event in the tour, The Umbrella Project Presents series will offer an exclusive menu showcasing a selection of the latest cocktails from The Sun Tavern and Discount Suit Company.

Matt Womersley was this week named manager of Carlisle drinking den The Howard Arms and its upstairs gin parlour, Said The Actress To The Bishop.

Womersley, who previously worked in a host of venues in Sydney and Perth, will now oversea operations at the two English venues, which recently received a £350,000 (US4450,000) investment to refurbish the two bars.

Womersley said: “I enjoy making sure the place is full of life and energy. It doesn’t matter if you are 21 or 92 ,you are more than welcome here.”

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