The week in pictures
Wray & Nephew Overproof Rum celebrated all things rum at its Jamaica Rum Tings in Brixton last weekend, when the brand also held its Jamaica Independence Day Party. Taking residence at the legendary Jamm – heart of Brixton’s music scene and home to some of the biggest names in music – the party featured an exclusive reggae set from headliners and Reggae royalty Dillinja and a very rare set from old school favourite LTJ Bukem, among other special guests.
On Tuesday, sb was invited to Tony Conigliaro’s Bar Termini to sample the newest addition to his bottled Negroni range – Robusto. The new expression takes the classic Negroni recipe and cooks the ingredients sous-vide for four hours to “deepen and intensify” the flavour. It will join Negronis Superiore, Rosato and Classico on the Bar Termini menu when it officially launches on Saturday.
British MP Liz Truss visited two London distilleries this week for Beefeater Gin and Sipsmith. During her visits, the environment secretary spoke of her hopes to see gin exports reach £4 billion to match the UK’s whisky industry.
SB past and present gathered at iconic London restaurant Quaglino’s this week for an indulgent evening of Tanqueray No. Ten cocktails from a bespoke cocktail menu at the venue’s recently launched Giovanni’s Gin Garden. The installation sees the bar decorated with emerald vines, lanterns and pale lilac wisteria silk, with natural jasmine, honeysuckle and passionflower branches. Drinks on the menu included offerings such as the Venetian Martini – which arrives in unique Tanqueray cocktail glasses – and the Tanqueray and Tonic Mojito, as well as pre-bottled creations like the Carbonated Strawberry Aviation. The garden is open until the end of August, and will be hosting an ‘end of summer’ brunch celebration on Saturday August 29.
Bartenders are undoubtedly upping their game when it comes to vying for one of the few last remaining spots in our Wenneker Swizzle Masters semi-final, due to take place in October. The latest round required entrants to design a Punch recipe using Irish whiskey with Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old and at least a dash of Wenneker Liqueurs. Stealing the show was Joshua Powell with his cocktail All in Dew Time, which was described by the judges as a “cut above the rest”.
From limited edition Martini cocktail collections and food pairing menus, to a series of exclusive Boulangerie Francois terraces across London, Edinburgh and Manchester, it’s been a busy summer for Grey Goose vodka who took to Facebook this week to share some summer snaps.
Last week a new record was set for the biggest Cosmopolitan cocktail in the world. Created in Jastrzębia Góra, Poland, Cocktail Bar Max chose to celebrate its 18th anniversary with the giant concoction. Made in a real glass of 1,100 litres, the record-breaking Cosmopolitan comprised 300 litres of vodka, 200 litres of Giffard Triple Sec Liqueur, 300 litres of cranberry juice and 200 litres of freshly squeezed lime juice. Seven bartenders were needed to fill the giant coupe with the last tipple from the batch served at precisely 5.53am last Friday.
Buffalo Trace master distiller Harlen Wheatley surveyed crops recently planted at the distillery’s new adjacent plot of land. The corn, rye and barley will be used to make a stand alone single estate Bourbon brand, for which the name, age, and price have yet to be determined.
Chilgrove Gin, the first English gin distilled from grapes, presented signature cocktails at some of the highlights of regatta week as official sponsors of the Aberdeen Asset Management Cowes Week. Serves included the Chilgrove Pink Admiral Martini and refreshing long-pour, the Chilgrove Bright & Breezy. They were created by the co-founders of Chilgrove Gin (left), Celia and Christopher Beaumont-Hutchings, in collaboration with Charlie Shotton of Fever Tree (right).
The Wine & Spirit Education Trust celebrated a record number of candidates completing its qualification for the 13th running – quite the feat. UK candidate numbers increased 11%, while the US overtook China as the second largest WSET market, which still experienced 13% growth. These numbers round off what has been described as an “extraordinary” year for WSET. Most notable of the year’s achievements was recognition by Her Majesty the Queen with a Queen’s Award for Enterprise in International Trade.
The Spirits Business also hosted its much anticipated Global Cognac and Brandy Masters 2015 at London’s One Canada Square where a panel of expert judges blind tasted a hoard of bottlings and awarded the best in show with the coveted “Masters” title.
