The week in pictures

(L-R) James Corden, Adrian Grenier and Oscar Isaac attend The Venture Final Pitch event at the Herbst Pavilion on Friday, July 24, 2015, in San Francisco

Actors Adrian Grenier and James Corden were among guests to the final of The Venture, Chivas Regal’s global search for the world’s most promising social entrepreneurs in California. Every year Chivas Regal splits a $1m fund, this year rewarding five finalists at the final pitch event which took place on Friday. Algramo from Chile was awarded the largest share of the fund, receiving $300,000 to further develop the pioneering food distribution enterprise.

Quaglino’s in Mayfair has transformed its bar into a bountiful gin garden for the summer. Named after the restaurant’s founder, John ‘Giovanni’ Quaglino, the garden features an elaborate, vine-wrapped pergola hanging with wisteria and abundant with jasmine, honeysuckle and passionflower.

Better still, the venue has teamed up with Tanqueray on a bespoke gin cocktail menu including a Venetian Martini, a Tanqueray & Tonic Mojito, and a Strawberry Aviation. Guests are encouraged to make their own cocktails using foraged ingredients from the garden.

The Famous Grouse Experience two new cats, Glen and Turret. Credit: Fraser Band

The Famous Grouse Experience at Glenturret Distillery announced the arrival of its latest employees this week: two kittens who have take on the role of the site’s “Official Mousers”. Called Glen and Turret, the male kittens are the latest in a long line of distillery cats, filling the void left by previous feline incumbent Peat, who died in an accident last year.

db ventured to London’s Borough Market on Wednesday to check out the “world’s first” breathable cocktail pop-up by food and drink alchemists Bompas & Parr.

Called Alcoholic Architecture, the event required guests to don a fetching plastic poncho before entering a dimly lit “cloud” accented by dramatic lighting and sounds, while breathing in an alcoholic cocktail vapour. Spirits and mixers are turned into a cloud of alcohol with the help of humidifiers creating an environment of 140% humidity.

Having inhaled our first cocktail of the night, we were keen to return to more conventional drinking methods and headed to the launch of Zetter Townhouse’s Seymour’s Parlour in Marylebone, hosted by cocktail maestro Tony Conigliaro.

Inspired by Sir John Soane’s museum, cocktails at Seymour’s Parlour have a historical twist with guests treated to six of its signature serves. The Madeira and walnut sour was a particular favourite of db’s.

Wines of Argentina set the standard for summer wine bars, propping up its brand new mobile bar, made from a shipping container, at the Foodies Festival in Clapham last week.

The bar will visit several UK festivals over the coming months promoting the Wines of Argentina. After its initial activity, the van will be made available to individual brands and producers, with the intention of it becoming a communal promotional tool for the Argentine wine community.

Bemused passengers had their luggage replaced with free cases of beer as part of a promotional stunt by Carlsberg at London City Airport. Instead of seeing their luggage appear out of the baggage carousel, cases of beer with the message “Take Me, I’m Yours” greeted weary travellers. Secret camera footage showed their initial disbelief transform into delight as they realised it was a stunt and quickly grabbed a case.

Today marks the end of Wines of Germany’s 31 days of German Riesling – which has seen the organisation spend the last month sharing their love of Riesling across the UK. Here is a snapshot the month’s activities.

London’s original tiki bar, Trader Vic’s at the Hilton Park Lane, has launched a series of rum cocktail masterclasses. Beginning with an introduction to the world of rum mapping out its different flavour profiles, guests are encouraged to shake their own Mai Tais before kicking back and enjoying them at the bar. Hawaiian shirts optional.

Meeznah (Frankie Dettori) winning Goodwood in 2011. Credit: George Selwyn

English sparkling wine producer Nyetimber is having a busy summer season. No sooner has it launched a mint green Nyetimber bus from a converted vintage Routemaster to tour events like Henley than it has partnered with Goodwood Racecourse to bring bubbles to thirsty guests at Glorious Goodwood. The three-year hook-up will see a bespoke Nyetimber bar open in the Gordon Enclosure where guests can sip its Classic Cuvee or Rosé and enjoy sweeping views of the racecourse from near the winning post. As part of the deal, the fizz will also be on pour at of other hospitality areas throughout the estate.  

Photo credit: Matthew Hickman

Mozzarella bar Obica has created a savoury-sweet apéritif in collaboration with Luxardo to be served at its four restaurants across London this summer. The Obicà Luxardo Spritz features a sweet Piennolo cherry tomato, Luxardo Aperitivo, a dash of lemon juice, lemon extract, Prosecco, freshly ground black better and a basil leaf, which sounds just the ticket for when the sun finally reappears.