The week in pictures
Patrón Tequila was the exclusive spirits partner of the 19th annual GQ Men of the Year Awards and category sponsor of the Patrón Tequila Solo Artist of the Year Award, which took place on Wednesday (6 September) in London. Scottish music producer Calvin Harris won the Patrón Solo Artist of the Year Award which was presented to him by his friend Ellie Goulding who is also seen holding a bottle of Patrón Tequila.
On Tuesday, some of the best UK chefs gathered to compete in the Balvenie Great British Game Restaurant Shooting Cup, hosted by Boisdale Restaurant, at the West London Shooting School. The competition sets chefs and restaurateurs against each other to shoot clays and targets. Mike Robinson, of the Harwood Arms who lost out by millimetres last year, was crowned champion in the competition and presented with his prize – a unique handmade Quaich presented by David Grant of Balvenie Whisky. The five teams competed in a range of simulated drives with an assortment of clays including Pigeon, High Pheasant and Rabbit and culminating in a five gun flurry all shot by a range of some of the finest guns.
On Wednesday, SB were invited to an exclusive dinner hosted by The One Group, to celebrate the launch of STK’s new Scotch whisky pairing menu – in partnership with Glenfiddich. Created by STK London’s culinary director, Barry Vera, and Glenfiddich’s UK brand ambassador, Mark Thomson, STK & Scotch will explore the unique flavour profiles and pairings between the single malt Scotch whisky, STK London’s USDA steak and world-inspired food offering. Each of the five courses on the STK & Scotch menu will be served alongside either a cocktail or neat serving of Glenfiddich, using five different expressions of the single malt Scotch whisky, which will increase in age with each course – giving diners the opportunity to experience a wide variety of flavour combinations.
On Tuesday, team SB went down to The Harcourt in Marylebone for The Vodka Masters 2016 in a drive to find and reward the finest vodka brands on the world stage. Three panels of judges tasted more than 110 vodkas from categories such as Ultra Premium Vodkas to Flavoured Vodkas.
Yesterday, The Spirits Business arrived at the Baltic Restaurant and Bar for The Global Travel Retail Masters 2016. The panel of judges included Kristiane Sherry, editor of The Spirits Business, Amy Hopkins, deputy editor of The Spirits Business, Antony Moss, director of strategic planning, WSET and Cognac expert Nicola Thompson. The judges tried more than 28 spirits from single malt to speciality, before tasting all of the masters from The Whisky Masters to pick the ultimate Master of the Masters.
Absolut ran a competition with Uber where four winners with their plus ones won a once in a lifetime experience – to fly with a private jet. On the day of the trip it was revealed to them that they were going to Ibiza for 24 hours of partying. Once the jet touched down in Ibiza, the experience included a private yacht ride where guest stop off for a swim in the Balearic Sea, dinner at open air lounge KM5 and a visit to legendary nightclub Space before it closes permanently this autumn.
The Ultimate Ardbeg ARDventurer challenge took the contestants on an extraordinary odyssey into essential Islay. Ten contestants from six different countries have converged on the isle to compete in the world’s most daring whisky challenge. Led by Ardbeg Distillery Manager Mickey Heads and survival expert Monty Halls, the ten, who include Ardbeg fans, journalists, commentators and bloggers from Canada, Germany, Japan, the UK, US and Sweden, will face a series of intrepid challenges as they vie to become the Ultimate Ardbeg ARDventurer. Armed only with essentials and a rather unusual ration pack, the ARDventurers will be immersed in the rain-soaked, windswept homeland of Ardbeg for three days… until a winner emerges.
The final of Gin Mare’s Mediterranean Inspirations competition has named Fabio Brusco, representing Spain and Robyn Wilkie, representing the UK as joint winners of its Mediterranean Inspirations competition, at a close final held in Ibiza. Brusco of San Rocco restaurant in Alicante, and Wilkie from 7 Tales by The Social Company in London, battled against six other bartenders from the US, Portugal, Germany, Austria and Italy to win a prize of €4,500 along with the opportunity to travel internationally with Gin Mare.
Tanqueray Ten has partnered with florist Rebel Rebel to create the Hanging Gardens of Kyoto Terrace, an installation inspired by Japanese gardens and the botanicals of the gin. Taking place at Aqua Kyoto in London, the installation aims to capture the last of the sunshine, in hope for an Indian summer and also to celebrate this season’s change. New cocktails on offer include the ‘Orchid Hinode’, a long drink with Tanqueray Ten, cherry liqueur and served with yuzu foam and ‘Calm Your Senses’ made with homemade camomile liqueur and blended with liquorice tea syrup and Tanqueray Ten.
Dubai Duty Free had reasons to celebrate after receiving two prestigious awards at the recent Gulf Business Industry Awards, which was staged at the Taj Hotel Dubai on Tuesday (6 September). The operation beat major competition to be named “Retail Company of the Year” while its executive vice chairman and CEO, Colm McLoughlin, was named “Business Leader of the Year – Retail”.
Earlier this week team SB was treated to cocktails and dinner at the newly revamped The Bar at The Athenaeum. The cocktails – all created from craft spirits by Italian bartender Giancarlo Mancino – combined unusual ingredients with inventive methodology, while the Galvin menu, developed by Michelin-starred chefs The Galvin Brothers, stirred up delight all round. The Double Bellini, pictured, was a favourite. Click here for the full story.
