The week in pictures
The Lakes Distillery celebrated its first anniversary on Wednesday. The distillery has had around 70,000 people visit since its opening, and has already been named a ‘Top 50 Cumbrian Icon’. “We are situated in one of the most stunning places in the world,” said Paul Currie, founder and managing director of The Lakes Distillery. Around 80,000 litres of spirit, including gin, vodka and whisky have been produced at The Lakes Distillery, but its first single malt Scotch won’t be released until 2018.
Bacardi brought together a variety of musicians, artists and creatives to discuss the work they’ve put in to making it in their fields under the given theme, ‘The Art of the Hustle’. BK the Artist, Matsuya, Lil Dicky and Swizz Beatz all joined in the roundtable discussion; which was moderated by radio host Papa Keith. The debate was the latest event in the rum brand’s Untamable Artist series.
Made in Chelsea star Caggie Dunlop teamed up with rapper Big Narstie this week, mixing drinks to promote Alize Cocktails. The pair made three “How-to” cocktail mixing YouTube videos, in a bid to drive up pre-Christmas sales.
Following the rebranding of Tomatin Distillery Co.’s core range, the brand took over Edinburgh Waverley station to officially unveil the new look. Joined by their campaign shepherd and softly groomed poodle, the team at Tomatin invited whisky aficionados, bloggers and press to experience ‘The Softer Side of the Highlands’.
Mercado de Mezcal launched in California, offering American mezcal fans a new way to buy the Mexican drink. The company now offers an unprecedented selection of rare and popular Mezcals, which can be purchased online.
The team behind drinks consultancy Salts of The Earth and award-winning cocktail bar and restaurant, The Shrub & Shutter, launched their new café and cocktail bar, First Aid Box, this week. Based on the concept of health, nutrition and “doctors orders” with their own unusual alcohol-based twist, First Aid Box serves Alchemy Coffee and fresh juices throughout the day, with the addition of our health inspired cocktails long into the evening. Expect cocktails such as the Brockwell Park Bramble, pictured, a combination of Whitley Neill gin, fresh lemon, and sugar, served with a chambord syringe.
Langley’s No.8 Gin hosted the Rolls-Royce Enthusiast Club’s (RREC) Celebration of Design & Luxury in the Saatchi Gallery. Langley’s No.8 are set to continue their ongoing exclusive gin partnership with RREC in 2016, featuring in the new publication alongside providing their bespoke branded bar at this year’s event. A showcase of Rolls-Royce and Bentley exhibits were on display to celebrate the history of the luxury motor car manufacturer, including brand new Rolls-Royce and Bentley engines, a Ghost engine, and a Silver Cloud III chassis.
The Scotch Whisky Association has announced a new partnership with Scotland Food and Drink in an ambitious drive to push Scotland’s food and drink export sales to over £7 billion by 2017. The deal aims to bolster the booming sector, which had £5.1 billion worth of export sales in 2014. Scotch whisky makes up around 80% of all Scottish food and drink exports, and alone is worth £4 billion in exports.
Dutch liqueurs producer De Kuyper unveiled the winner of its second national bartender competition, the De Kuyper Cocktail Challenge, earlier this week. Cocktail fans voted bartender Dudley Delhagen of Redbank, New Jersey, the winner of the US competition for his entry, The Smoked Blossom, pictured. His creation combined John DeKuyper & Sons Fleur Elderflower Liqueur with Connemara Irish Whiskey, fresh lemon juice, simple syrup and orange bitters.
SB‘s Amy Hopkins accompanied Lucy Shaw, managing editor of the drinks business, to check out the new Mr Fogg’s Tavern in Covent Garden. Continuing with the same quirky theme made famous by its flagship Mayfair location, Mr Fogg’s Tavern sheds some light on the life of Phileas J. Fogg’s theatre and gin-loving aunt Gertrude Fogg. Settled at the upstairs gin parlour, we sampled a selection of delightful cocktails and scrumptious bar menu.
It’s been a busy week for Mr Fogg’s Tavern, which also played host to The Botanist gin’s cocktail competition final. Nikolett Macza, of Nightjar, impressed the panel of judges, including The Botanist brand ambassador Abigail Clephane, with her cocktail Druid’s Botanist Cup’. Made using The Botanist Gin infused with mahonia flowers and rowan berries, Caol Islay whisky, Unicum Plum liqueur, damson jam, conifer bitters, bee pollen and lemon, Nikolett presented her cocktail in a pine cup and garnished it with frankincense ‘holy smoke’.
