Week in pictures

Plan B, Raymond Blanc, db‘s victorious quiz team and a close encounter of the clown kind. It’s been a busy couple of weeks in the drinks industry.

UK artist Plan B headlined Jack’s Birthday Gig on Barbecue Hill, yards from the Jack Daniel’s distillery in Lynchburg, Tennessee, US.

French chef Raymond Blanc gets cosy with UK presenter Sir Terry Wogan after hosting a special Martel Cognac dinner in the window display of Harrods department store in London.

Tim Atkin MW unveils the results of the International Pinot Noir tasting, held today at Texture in London. Germany scooped seven of the top 10 spots, but it was Oregon’s Antica Terra which took first place, with Au Bon Climat second.

Killer safe! Jack Daniel died from blood poisoning which stemmed from injuries he sustained when kicking this safe in his office.

Jack’s Birthday Cocktail Competition winner Dean MacGregor of the Sahara Bar in Reading, UK, celebrates his success with Jack Daniel’s master taster Jeff Norman (l), Bacardi Brown-Forman’s Nidal Ramini (second from right) and Jack Daniel’s master distiller Jeff Arnett (r).

The fruits (de mer) of our labour enjoyed at Hix Oyster and Chop House after a hard day’s foraging on the beach in Lyme Regis, Dorset, with Mark Hix.

Churros and hot chocolate washed down with a warming glass of Rioja at Pix tapas bar as part of the London Restaurant Week Wines From Rioja Tapas Trail

Chef Mark Hix holds a sprig of sea purslane aloft, freshly foraged from the beach in Lyme Regis, Dorset, at his Hix Oyster and Chop House restaurant.

Mixologist Nick Strangeway serves up much-craved Talisker-fuelled hot toddies after a strenuous morning’s foraging on the beach in Lyme Regis.

Plan B takes to the mic at Jack’s Birthday Gig, supported by Steve Cropper (centre) and the New Silver Cornet Band.

Veuve Clicquot launched its 2004 vintage with a comparative tasting in bottle, magnum and Jeroboam at the Andaz Hotel in London

Mixologist JJ Goodman shows db‘s Lucy Shaw how to make the perfect dessert cocktail at the Patrón Tequila supper club at the Rebel Dining Society in Hackney

Creepy champions! db‘s victorious team celebrates winning the 2011 Côtes du Rhône Halloween Quiz in London. L-R chief sub editor Tania Sansom; staff writer Lucy Shaw; news and web editor Alan Lodge and staff writer Rupert Millar.

db‘s Alan Lodge was given quite a fright when he was nearly run over in Nashville, Tennessee, and turned to apologise to the driver of the car that only just managed to miss him. This is the sight that greeted him.