The week in pictures

Brewdog marked the opening of its new bar in Brighton in typically irreverent fashion by parading a taxidermy donkey along the seafront, offering patrons a “taxidermy taxi” ride from the pier to the venue. Visitors to the new Brighton BrewDog bar, which opens today, can flag down the novel means of transport using #TaxidermyTaxi at @BrewDogBrighton.

“We’re delighted to be launching in Brighton, and what better way to get locals in the door than personally delivering them there with a donkey Taxidermy Taxi service”, said BrewDog co-founder James Watt. “We always like to fit in with the culture of our latest venue’s city with suitable BrewDog irreverence. Tradition is great, but not as good as something with an extra kick of eccentricity, a rule we also apply to our beers.”

The newest venue, which has a capacity of 120 over one floor with 30 beers on tap, will be Brewdog’s 31st worldwide.

In sunnier times… Emanuele Barrasso of R&R Teamwork and Sophie McLean of Bancroft Wines made the most of the summer sunshine this week during a decadent picnic in Hyde Park, which was made effervescent by a bottle of Nyetimber rosé that paired a treat with strawberries.

db’s Lucy Shaw headed to Home House in Portland Square this week for a classic cocktail session with Jo Seymour-Taylor of Stir PR. Among the sips enjoyed were the gin-based, pale pink Clover Club, Don Draper’s favourite, the Old Fashioned, and a twist on a whisky sour made with Tequila and rosemary.

Barry Wax, creator of the “virtually indestructible” wine suitcase VinGardeValise, paid a visit to db towers this week all the way from America to drop off one of his suitcases that he’s kindly donated to us to give away. To win in, tell us in 500 words or less where you’d go and how you’d fill yours if you won. Email your answers to lucy.shaw@thedrinksbusiness.com by next Friday 4 September for a chance to win. Good luck!

We received these snaps from Chateau Léoube in the Côtes de Provence, which began its harvest last Thursday. A total of 45 pickers are currently toiling in the vineyards hand-selecting the best grapes at a rate of 20,000 tonnes per day.

The grapes are said to be “juicy, sweet and in perfect condition, promising a great vintage”, according to a spokesperson for Léoube. Earlier this year the château released its answer to Italy’s Super Tuscans – a “Super Rose” wine produced in Lalonde – staking its claim on the premium rosé market.

Heineken Rugby Legends (L-R) John Smit, Scott Quinnell, Jonah Lomu, Will Carling and Matt Dawson at Somerset House

Heineken launched its Rugby World Cup 2015 campaign in style last week by transforming iconic London landmark Somerset House into a rugby stadium to mark the start of the brand’s World Cup campaign. Heineken Rugby Legends Jonah Lomu, Will Carling, John Smit, Matt Dawson and Scott Quinnell joined around 900 guests at the event, which featured a 270 degree projection across Somerset House. 

Maxxium UK hosted a Bourbon masterclass exploring Beam Suntory’s Bourbon Legends for bartenders on Monday at London’s Satan’s Whiskers.. Featuring the Jim Beam small batch collection, Knob Creek, Basil Hayden’s, Baker’s and Booker’s, the masterclass was led by Amanda Humphrey of Maxxium UK’s MIXXIT team.  

Also part of the line-up was a cocktail showcase featuring Knob Creek and Basil Hayden’s serves, led by Andy Loudon of Satan’s Whiskers, Jonathan Lee of Christopher’s and Chris Dennis of Sovereign Loss.

Credit: Goodwood Revival

Goodwood Revival, an annual event bringing together vintage motors and sartorial splendour, has teamed up with The Savoy’s inimitable Erik Lorincz, head bartender of the American Bar, to create a signature serve to celebrate the launch of this year’s event.

Inspired by the Mercedes 1950’s Silver Arrow, the gin-based Silver Reviver cocktail will be on sale at the American Bar at the Savoy from September.

Make you own at home using the recipe below:-

• 35ml Bombay Sapphire Gin
• 30ml Fresh lemon juice
• 15ml Cocchi Americano
• 15ml Kummel liqueur
• 15ml Sugar syrup
• Dash egg white

Pour all ingredients into shaker and shake hard. Strain into cocktail glass and garnish with edible silver.

Goodwood Revival will take place from 11 September to 13 September.

David Robertson pictured outside The Engine Shed on St Leonard’s Lane, Edinburgh

Single malt whisky distilling is poised to return to Scotland’s capital after a 90 year absence, following the City of Edinburgh Council’s decision to enter into a lease with a new distillery at the Engine Shed near Holyrood Park. Whisky expert and former Master Distiller for The Macallan, David Robertson, is behind plans to open the Holyrood Park Distillery – a £2 million boutique micro-distillery and visitor experience at the Engine Shed building in the heart of the city. The proposal is now subject to a planning application.

A collection of wines crafted by young winemakers during the second years of their internship with the Cape Winemakers Guild Protégé Programme in South Africa are set to be auctioned to raise money to further fund the programme. The wines, which this year includes a 2014 Pinot Noir from the Hemel en Aarde Valley, a Pinotage from the Durbanville Wine Valley and a Muscat de Frontignan from Constantia, will be sold at various gala dinners, and at the annual Nedbank Cape Winemakers Guild Auction, taking place in Stellenbosch on 3 October this year.