The week in pictures

This week, the final of Diageo Reserve’s World Class Bartender of the Year 2018 GB final took place in Scotland, where Daniel Warren from Last Chance in Nottingham was crowned the winner.

Warren wowed the judging panel with his signature serve made from a peated terroir cordial, Johnnie Walker Blue Label, 70 Club House bitters and a thin slice of tobacco box Cedarwood.

He said: “This year’s competition has been tough, the challenges really tested my technical abilities as a bartender and also my hospitality skills and it’s not over yet! I can’t wait to see what the Global Final in Berlin brings.”

Pernod Ricard-owned vodka brand Absolut this week launched the UK’s first digitally-enabled donation buses.

The buses will be travelling through the streets of London for the next four weeks, allowing passengers to donate to Stonewall, Britain’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality.

The four-week campaign, devised by Absolut, Exterion Media, Posterscope and Havas, includes two London buses wrapped in rainbow-flag colours that will travel on route 14 and 19 in the capital.

UK-based gin brand Brockmans has named Kal Ruparell from Leicester as the winner of its World Gin Day cocktail competition.

Ruparell triumphed over more than 200 other entries with his Betty Brown cocktail, which is made from Brockmans Gin, quince cordial, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto, Campari and saline.

Ruparell said:  “I am extremely pleased and proud to have successfully competed against so many bartenders from so many countries around the world. I see this as a win for all the bars in Leicester, helping put the city firmly on the map”.

The Spirits Business teamed up with sister publication The Drinks Business to take on the annual Diageo pub quiz this week.

In the quiz, the team was able to turn around its fortunes after years of bottom place – or second to bottom in stronger years – finishes to come in second place.

The team, which included members of SB and DB‘s editorial and sales teams, finished in second position, just three points behind reigning champions CNBC and ahead of teams from UK broadcasters BBC, ITV and Sky.

The “world’s first” vodka museum opened its doors in the Polish capital of Warsaw this week.

The Polish Vodka Museum is dedicated to celebrating the history of Polish vodka and is housed in the revitalised Koneser Praga Center in Warsaw.

The museum will take visitors on a journey through several centuries of vodka history and includes multimedia installations, film screenings and the Vodka Academy Bar.

Earlier this week, SB‘s Nicola Carruthers headed to London-based bar Oriole in Smithfield Market to try the new cocktail menu.

The drinks menu takes inspiration from the “adventurous spirit of a bygone era of global discovery” and presented with vintage-style Top Trump cards. The cocktails feature ingredients and flavours of the Old World (Europe and Africa) and New World (The Americas).

The Longflint Drinks Co has descended on London’s Shoreditch for a six-week series of pop-ups under the banner #ReadyForAnything.

The bar residency hopes to bring the brand’s approach to flavour to east London, alongside a programme of DJs, drink-making workshops and cocktail collaborations.

The first night of the residency kicked off this week, with the Bethnal Green-based brand preparing to party in the east end until the end of July.

SB‘s Nicola Carruthers headed to the Charles Dickens Museum in London for the official launch of Surrey Copper Distillery’s first product – a gin inspired by Charles Dickens’ novel David Copperfield.

Guests from all areas of the gin industry gathered to taste cocktails made with Copperfield London Dry Gin, followed by a tour of the museum after hours. 

Bacardi-owned Tequila brand Patrón hosted a father and son Tequila tasting in luxury London department store Fortnum & Mason.

In celebration of Father’s Day, the Tequila brand’s ambassador led guests through a tasting of Patrón’s portfolio, including its blanco, reposado and añejo expressions.

SB travelled to Australian restaurant Wander in London for an evening of Australian food and drinks pairings with Starward Whisky.

The Australian distillery hosted a group of journalists and introduced them the brand’s range, which includes expressions aged in Australian wine casks and solera barrels.

Guests enjoyed Starward whisky alongside Australian small plates such as lamb ribs, steamed oysters, sourdough bread with Vegemite butter and lovage linguine with crab.

At an awards ceremony in Oxford, The Oxford Artisan Distillery (TOAD) has been named OXLEP New Business of the Year 2018 and was also runner up in the Retail Award category.

The award comes less than a year after TOAD opened as Oxford’s first distillery and is in recognition of the company’s contribution to Oxford’s business and tourism scene.

CEO and founder, Tom Nicolson, said: “We are all very proud to have been nominated for two prestigious awards – and both before our first birthday!”

To celebrate Father’s Day, Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum teamed up with North West Barber Co & The Parlour bar in Clitheroe to offer a bespoke farther and son shave and haircut experience.

The package included a haircut and traditional wet shave, as well as the Shave and Haircut cocktail – made with Sailor Jerry, cola and stout.

The celebrations also included a chance to win a limited-edition bottle of Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum and a free haircut.

The Glenlivet held a celebratory event in London on Thursday to mark the launch of its latest single malt – Captain’s Reserve. The whisky has been finished in Cognac casks to create a “new taste exploration”.

To show how cask-finishing can influence flavour, The Glenlivet partnered with numerous well-known names from the worlds of food, photography and drinks through an exclusive immersive experience centred around “finishing touches” for guests.

Pictured above from left to right are: The Glenlivet master distiller Alan Winchester; Michelin-starred chef, founder of St John restaurant Fergus Henderson; beverage and still photographer Addie Chinn; and Bar Swift founder Bobby Hiddleston.

Flor de Caña has appointed Mateo Ortiz Lima as its UK brand ambassador. He moved to the Nicaraguan rum brand from Belvedere in May this year and brings more than 10 years’ experience managing cocktail bars across the UK with him.

As UK brand ambassador, Lima will be tasked with working with bar, restaurant and hotel staff nationwide to build awareness and promote all Flor de Caña products.