The week in pictures
On Monday SB headed to the Diageo World Class House opening in London, where as well as enjoying a tasting of Johnnie Walker Blue Label while munching popcorn and watching an exclusive screening of Johnnie Walker’s short film featuring Jude Law, we were able to sample a selection of five of the finalists’ cocktails.
At Diageo World Class House those in the know were able to enjoy a sample of Tanqueray 10’s Old Tom Gin via this traditional 18th century method, for the right price, of course.
Sotiris Savvides, of the Cyprus Bartenders Association has been busy honing his skills training for the World Cocktail Competition 2014, due to take place in September in Cape Town, South Africa.
Spotted: Colin Dunn standing in front of a new window at the Whisky Shop in Piccadilly designed to replicate Diageo’s single grain whisky brand, Haig Club, which was launched in collaboration with David Beckham and music mogul Simon Fuller earlier this year.
Taiwan finalist for Diageo Reserve World Class 2014 Jeffrey Chang prepares for the Tale of Two Martinis cocktail challenge at St Pancras Station, presenting both a traditional Martini and Martini from the future. After an impressive performance, he made it through to the final 16 the following day.
London’s Mamounia Lounge has launched a new weekly Moroccan Night to transport Londoners to the heart of Marrakesh. Traditional belly dancers will entertain guests while they dine on authentic Moroccan cuisine and sipping an array of carefully crafted cocktails, such as the venue’s signature Gold Digger cocktail.
Famous for being one of London’s top celebrity hangouts, this week Mahiki enjoyed the company of two of the music industry’s hottest new talents – Nina Nesbitt and Chloe Howl – who stopped by to enjoy some of the venue’s tiki tipples.
On Wednesday, the finalists of Diageo World Class were whittled down to the final 16 contestants in an X-Factor style elimination. The atmosphere in the Shaw Theatre was tense as the judges divided bartenders into three groups, before the auditorium erupted to cheers of joy and congratulations when it was revealed the middle 16 would be competing in the final rounds.
Once the final 16 of Diageo World Class were announced, they were then challenged to create and present two bespoke cocktails inspired by their literary heroes. Pictured above is French bartender, Mido Ahmed Yahi, who based his two drinks – The Green and The Daisy Whisper – on F. Scott Fitzgerald’s classic, The Great Gatsby.
London speakeasy, Barts invited SB down for an exclusive evening filled with cocktails and a very secret garden barbecue, with a choice of burgers and three different booze-infused sauces on offer: fresh tomatoes and vodka, Tequila and barbecue or spiced rum, mustard and mayonnaise. To accompany the food, Dragon Life cocktails were served up – made from Russian Standard vodka, dragon fruit, elderflower cordial, Lime and Gomme syrup – Michael “Jukebox” Moore took guests’ requests and entertained on the piano with renditions ranging from Jimi Hendrix and Coldplay to the Spice Girls and Beyonce.
Thursday saw the remaining 12 bartenders – including USA bartender Charles Joly – in the Diageo World Class Reserve 2014 take part in test not only of skill, but also speed, in the Up Against the Clock Challenge in Vinopolis.
Botran Rum hosted a star-studded event on Wednesday partying with the face of the brand’s most recent campaign, Emilio Estefan, as well as an array of other A-listers including Will Smith, Will Levy, Wilmer Valderrama, Eva Longoria, Andy Garcia, Lance Bass, George Lopez and many at a Botran Rum event on Wednesday.
Late-night venue Floridita has just launched Tuesday night salsa sessions, where guests can learn all the tricks and twists from Cuban Fury and Strictly Come Dancing’s choreographer Richard Marcel and his partner, three times world champion salsa winner, Yanet Fuentes, while sipping a selection of summer cocktails.
Three budding writers and directors from South Africa, Russia and the USA won the chance to bring their stories to life as part of the Jameson First Shot short film competition. Guided by the competition’s creative director Kevin Spacey and producer Dana Brunetti, the three winners were flown to LA for three weeks in June to shoot their films, directing Academy Award nominee, Uma Thurman, in various different roles from a disgruntled housewife and shop assistant to a psychiatric patient.
