The week in pictures
Pay no attention to the grey skies in June, summer is coming and Sipsmith is ready with its pop-up Punch House located at The House of St Barnabas in London’s Soho. The space has been designed to celebrate the newest addition to the London distiller’s portfolio, Sipsmith London Cup, inspired by the Punch houses of the 1800s where gin cups were traditionally served. The Sipsmith Punch House will be open every Sunday for 10 weeks throughout June and July serving a selection of historical variants created by master distiller Jared Brown.
On Thursday Hackney-based bar Behind This Wall launched its Summer Menu, which features a revived menu of remixed classics made up of three aperitif cocktails and three digestifs. The new list includes a basil vodka, cucumber and pickle juice Margarita with a black lava salt rim; a white mescal Negroni; and a saffron-infused Ramos Gin Fizz; along with seasonal highballs and a selection of sipping shots and alcohol free drinks. New beers and ciders from the Bottle Shop, Five Points, Beavertown and the Redchurch Brewery grace the taps and the fridges, while Tutto have laid out a bespoke new wine list. The launch also sees the installation of an exhibit by London social-photographer, Paolina Stadler.
Robert Schinkel stormed to victory in the first ever Glassology by Libbey design contest finals. Hosted during the Lisbon Bar Show 2016, Schinkel from The Netherlands, was crowned winner for his “trendy and iconic” glassware designs, which included a glass, Punch bowl and a spoon.
Frauke Timmermands, design manager at Libbey, said: “Robert and his conception are a perfect match with Libbey; he constantly wants to develop himself. His design is modern, but timeless. He was the perfect candidate to set a new standard.”
D&D London have officially opened the Pococello terrace at Cantina del Ponte and Pont Tropez at Le Pont de la Tour, which will be open throughout the summer. Guests were treated to refreshing cocktails and canapés at the venue’s official launch event.
The Appleton Estate Rum Bus has begun its eight-date UK tour of Foodies Festival events, starting in London’s Syon Park last weekend. Jamaican cocktails made with Appleton Estate Signature and Reserve Blends, plus serves of Appleton Estate Rare Blend 12 Year Old and Appleton Estate 21 Year Old were served throughout the weekend and will be offered throughout the bus’ tour.
Whisky lovers flocked to London’s Worship Street Whistling Shop last Saturday to celebrate Ardbeg Night and the launch of the limited edition 2016 Dark Cove.
On Thursday, SB ventured to London’s Hackney Wick for the launch of a new canal-side Mexican pop-up. Open Wednesday to Sunday throughout summer at Number 90 Bar & Kitchen, La Terraza offers bottomless frozen margaritas, as well as Tequila, craft beer, Mexican street food – and a cricket eating competition. Hosting a schedule of events ranging from life drawing to yoga sessions and acoustic sets, La Terraza will also feature some of Number 90s biggest DJ names at the weekends, as well as an open air cinema programme.
The fourth annual Hong Kong Rum Festival took place last weekend, with leading rum professionals including global rum ambassador Ian Burrel and Mahiki’s Georgi Radev on hand to help guests get to grips with the latest category trends.
Radev said: “Rum is becoming bigger and better with every passing year. Rum has grown more varied than ever before with rum available for everyone to try. A few years back rum was not as popular in Hong Kong or even Asia. Now it is all about rum and tiki culture – thanks to instigator Max Travers from the Hong Kong Rum Festival.”
The Cointreau Creative Crew UK Award Ceremony took place at Liberty London last week, where the top prize of a £20,000 grant was awarded to film producer Jessica Benhamou for her production Juliet Remembered. The newcomer award was presented to Tin Drum Pictures and the True Icon Award was bestowed upon model Lily Cole. Celebrity faces, including Naomie Harris and Laetitia Casta, were in attendance at the the event.
French brand Sauvelle ‘La Nuit’ Vodka hosted a lavish evening at Unit Gallery in London last week, complete with fire-eating performers, to mark the launch of its new limited edition electro-luminescent magnum and jeroboam bottles.
Reyka has teamed up with super-premium natural spring water Icelandic Glacial to create an “exceptionally pure” Martini, which launched exclusively at Jason Atherton’s deco-style bar, City Social, and will be available throughout June.
The Grey Goose Boulangerie Bleue headed to Lost Village Festival last weekend, where revellers indulged in Grey Goose Le Grand Fizz cocktails and sorbet inspired by the summer tipple.
This week, SB’s news and web editor Amy Hopkins headed to Ireland with Jameson for the unveiling of the brand’s entire Irish whiskey portfolio. During the trip, journalists took part in a tasting of the Deconstructed Series, led by Karen Cotter. The trip concluded with a roundtable discussion on the future of Irish whiskey, chaired by Hopkins. Keep an eye on SB next week for further details of the trip.
The final of the 11th biannual Havana Club Cocktail Grand Prix took place this week, which saw bartenders from more than 40 markets battle for first place. The results are due to be announced next week.
Our colleague Chloé Beral, events and marketing manager at SB’s sister publication the drinks business, uncovered a hidden gem near London Victoria which she shared with us this week, Clarendon Cocktail Club. The quirky venue not only serves delectable drinks including the Airplane and Drunken Mermaid – which requires you to sip through a straw full of cocoa balls – but also boasts a ping-pong table for added entertainment.
