The week in pictures

Vin-X Wine Investments CEO, Peter Shakeshaft, was asked by Natwest to toss the match coin at the Six Nations game against Wales on the weekend. He was joined by England captain Dylan Hartley and Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones.

It was announced this week that Scotch whisky brand Monkey Shoulder is shaking things up with a mobile mixer, but it’s not just any mobile mixer.

The giant 2,400 gallon cocktail shaker in the guise of a cement mixer is due to take to the road in a series of pop-up appearances across America.

The famous traffic cone-wearing Duke of Wellington statue in Glasgow got a new companion this week. Sailor Jerry Spiced Rum’s statement hula girl was spotted touring Glasgow town centre on Thursday. Her parade marked the opening of Jerry’s Open House; an all-in month-long pop-up in Finneston from 15 February to 15 March inspired by Norman ‘Sailor Jerry’ Collins and celebrating the city’s thriving art and music scene.

Oregon brewery BridgePort is the latest brewer to join the space race after it launched its flagship IPA into space using a specially-designed helium balloon this week.

After receiving clearance from the Federal Aviation Administration the bottles were launched from the desert of West Texas and flew for an hour and a half, reaching a height of 22 miles before travelling back to Earth. The brewery notes that the 22 mile peak is fitting given that the space mission was launched to celebrate the 22nd anniversary of their flagship IPA.

Hop Stuff Brewery was the official beer partner for NGO Street Child’s The Craft Half. A trail half marathon through Wimbledon Common, The Craft Half is particularly distinctive due to the fact that runners are rewarded with half pints of Hop Stuff at fuelling stations every two miles.

Participants celebrated crossing the finish line with the ultimate ‘Half-ter’ Party.

The overall winner in the drinks book category was Peter Liem’s book Champagne.

It was a standout year for drinks books at the André Simon Awards this week with Peter Liem (above, right), Dave Broom and Victoria Moore (below) all picking up prizes for their work.

At the awards ceremony on Monday night it fell to judge Joe Fattorini (above, left) to talk through the books and announce the winners.

Despite just 40 drinks books being submitted as opposed to 113 food books, Fattorini said he was “lucky enough to have judged in something of a marquee year”.

This year’s special commendation went to Victoria Moore’s The Wine Dine Dictionary

Hollywood actor Chris Hemsworth paid a visit to the Barossa Valley this week, joining the team at Pernod Ricard’s Jacob’s Creek winery as part of his role as an ambassador of the producer’s Double Barrel range.

Charles Back, the third generation owner of Fairview estate in South Africa survived a brutal crow bar attack at his farm in Paarl this week, during which he suffered a number of broken bones.

After a trip to hospital, however, he still managed to make it into work the next day to demonstrate what “real work commitment looks like”. What a champ!

L-R: Miles Beale, chief executive of the Wine and Spirit Trade Association, Boris Johnson MP, Paul Sorrentino, VP and general manager at E&J Gallo Winery.

Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson MP toured the UK headquarters of the world’s largest family owned wine producer to find out how Brexit will impact the wine trade.

The visit to E&J Gallo’s offices in Uxbridge was organised by the Wine and Spirit Trade Association. The MP for Uxbridge and South Ruislip was shown around Gallo’s offices in his constituency from where it has been operating for over 25 years.

Johnson said: “It’s been fantastic to visit another international business that has chosen to locate in Uxbridge and South Ruislip. After 25 years in Uxbridge, E&J Gallo is an important part of the community and local employer. I was fascinated to learn of their involvement along the whole supply chain, even owning sand mines to make their own bottles!”

The Moët Truck received a Valentine’s make-over this week, dressed up in beautiful pink and white flowers for a three-day installation at Whole Foods Kensington.

Taking centre stage in the display was the house’s flagship Rosé Cuvée in its 2018 limited edition ‘Capsule Collection’ gift box, which is inspired by Madame de Pompadour – the 18th century ‘It Girl’ who championed Moët & Chandon at the French royal court.

Gonzalez Byass UK hosted its annual portfolio tasting this week which took place at RIBA London on Monday.

Over 140 wines and wineries from Spain, Australia (including the newly acquired re-distribution, Ashton Hills), New Zealand, France, Portugal, Chile and Hungary were in attendance. Gonzalez Byass also hosted three sold-out masterclasses during the day, these included Disznoko Tokaji with director Laszlo Meszaros, Neyen and the Apalta region with winemaker Rodrigo Soto and ‘looking into the future of Sherry’ with winemaker Antonio Flores.

Marian Beke and The Gibson bar team served 300 original cocktails at his party to celebrate the launch of his Copperhead Gin The Gibson Edition at The Gibson bar, London on Monday.

Ingredients such as balsamic and red wine grenadine, preserved peppercorns with brine, and pickled vermouth enhance the savoury notes of the new gin.

Colin Matthews, CEO of Loch Lomond Group, and Martin Slumbers, Chief Executive, The R&A

Independent Scotch whisky distiller, Loch Lomond Group, has agreed a five-year partnership with The Open golf championship for its Loch Lomond Whiskies brand.

The partnership with The R&A includes support of the Ricoh Women’s British Open and will showcase globally the full range of Loch Lomond Whiskies. As part of the partnership with The Open, Loch Lomond Whiskies will create a variety of limited editions, aimed at both golf fans and whisky aficionados alike.

In honour of International Margarita Day next week, premium Tequila brand Patrón has created a line of Margarita-flavoured fizzers which can be dropped into a glass of Tequila to create an instant cocktail.

Like a bath bomb, when the fizzer hits the liquid, it starts to disintegrate. After the entire ball has disappeared, the cocktail, which will not be fizzy, is ready.

Rather than the traditional lime, the Margarita fizzers are flavoured with passion fruit and jalapeño, lychee and chia seed, tomato and thyme, celery and elderflower, pickled plum and kelp tea, and orange marmalade with Sherry. Each combination was inspired by Patrón’s Margarita of the Year Competition.

Highland whisky distillery Tomatin created a red herring Tinder profile for one of its ‘single’ malts looking for love for Valentine’s Day this week.

The Legacy single malt, which describes itself as having ‘a mature edge’ and enjoys being amongst friends, can be seen in the foreground of the profile. Growing up in the Scottish Highlands, the malt lists loving the great outdoors and travelling as part of its interests and hobbies.

David Palacios, President of the CRDO Navarra, raises a glass of rosé at a dinner at Corbin & King’s The Beaumont hotel in London following a Navarra wines masterclass an Asia House hosted by The Drinks Business. During the masterclass Palacios highlighted the diverse range of wine styles made in the region.

While Navarra is best known for its rosé wines, the region also produces an array of attractive reds predominantly made with the Garnacha grape.

And finally… Beefeater joined the pink gin party this week with the launch of Beefeater Pink – a pink gin made with strawberries. Master distiller Desmond Payne spent months perfecting the final recipe, which marries fresh strawberry flavour with Beefeater’s traditional juniper and citrus notes.

Brand owner Pernod Ricard were keen to show off the gin’s versatility during a round table discussion at the Beefeater distillery in Kennington this week, and created four different cocktail serves featuring Beefeater Pink, from a classic G&T to a Pink Gin Collins and a Beefeater Pink Daiquiri.