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Slideshow
The week in pictures
Tennis player Boris Becker, and Spanish footballer Carles Puyol (Picture: Patron)
We’re right in the belly of the beast that is Awards Season now, and suffice to say the premium spirits are in full flow. On Monday, Patrón Tequila returned to Monaco’s Jimmyz Nightclub for the third year in a row as the official sponsor for the Laureus World Sports Awards afterparty.
Broadcaster Amanda Davies co-presented the awards.
Guests, who included tennis player Boris Becker, and footballer Carles Puyolwere and Cesc Fàbregas, were welcomed with the “Hot Mexican”- a warming Patrón Añejo cocktail served in silver mugs, as well as sipping on margaritas and a bespoke serve called the Patronic (which is just Tequila and tonic, if we’re honest).
Our eyes on the inside told db that after a few drinks, Boris Becker was the last one on the dance floor having a bit of a dance off with Brian O’Driscoll. Keep up the good work, Patrón.
The Prince of Monaco was there for the awards, but for once didn’t attend the after party. Maybe he’s more of a mezcal guy.
Also on Monday, Beluga vodka provided the serves for the Fabulous Fund Fair at London’s Roundhouse. The evening was organised by Russian supermodel Natalia Vodianova to help raise money for the Naked Heart Foundation, supporting children with special needs and their families.
Beluga teamed up with the winner of the Beluga Signature competition, Alessandro Venturi, to craft an “Italian” cocktail menu: the guests were treated to fusions such as vodka with caviar, elderberry liqueur and orange bitters.
Speaking of Tequila…it’s National Margarita Day today, or “Friday” as it’s known to the author. Never ones to miss a self-fulfilling marketing campaign, Jose Cuervo Tradicional is calling all Margarita fans to be part of a collaborative online project to create the “world’s first social media Margarita masterpiece” by sharing pictures of themselves enjoying their own Margarita traditions using the hashtag #LiveTradicional.
The Cuervo #LiveTradicional campaign will also include the UK wide Cuervo Tradicional Margarita Rumbles in May. Bartenders in London, Manchester and Bristol will battle it out to win the ultimate title of best Margarita judged by hundreds of consumers.
The brand have collaborated with a number of influencers and bloggers, and are offering drinks discounts at bars such as London’s Cafe Pacifico to tempt punters into a Tequila-fuelled Friday celebration.
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#livetradicional my lovely tribe @baaaf459 @katiecrunchie22 @chameleons17 @donznimes
At the time of publication we weren’t even 12 hours into the 22nd, but consumers have been posting their Tequila shots since last week. Steady on…
On Monday, the culinary world gathered for the inaugural World Restaurant Awards.
The main prize, that of Restaurant of the Year, went to South Africa’s Wolfgat, which is based in a 130-year-old seaside cottage and specialises in local seafood and foraged plants. It also picked up the Off-Map Destination award. Show off.
France’s Le Clarence in Paris took home ‘Original Thinking.’ Chef Christoph Pele said: ” I feel that my approach, my inspiration, my instinct have been appreciated by the jury, and that obviously makes me immensely happy.”
La Mère Brazier in Lyon, meanwhile, won the Enduring Classic’ award. In the small plate section, Alain Passard, chef and owner of three Michelin-starred L’Arpège in Paris, won the award for best Instagram account of year, and French-born Alain Ducasse of three Michelin-starred The Dorchester, won Tattoo-Free Chef of the Year.
Tom Parker-Bowles and Joe Warwick get on the rum at the World Restaurant Awards. (Photo by David M. Benett/Dave Benett/Getty Images for Zacapa Rum)
But before the ceremony, Guatemalan brand Zacapa Rum was drafted in to mix up the reception drinks, whipping up rum Old Fashioneds with small plates.
While the restaurant world got loose on rum, Chef’s Table star and game-changing Italian chef Massimo Bottura got in the whisky business.
Bottura has partnered with Scotch producer The Dalmore to create a one-off, limited edition whisky for charity.
‘L’Anima’ (‘soul’ in Italian) is a blend sourced from some of the distillery’s “most exquisite” ex-Bourbon, Sherry and Port casks to create just one, single bottle.
It’s the Osteria Francescana chef’s first venture in the spirits business.
The decanter will be offered by Sotheby’s as part of its spring online auction which runs from 25 April to 9 May.
Sotheby’s expects it to realise around £65,000, and the winning bidder will also be invite for a dinner for two at Osteria Francescana.
All proceeds from the sale will go towards the charity ‘Food for Soul’, which helps communities fight against food waste by offering meals to poor and vulnerable people around them.
In Winery Dogs, Hampshire-based Exton Park just hired a new recruit; Poppy the Border Collie puppy.
The nine week-old pupper is “already posing like a pro,” according to the winery’s Instagram account.
“Every serious wine business needs a mascot,” it said. “expect to see more of this one!”
LOOK AT ITS FACE.
Vivienne Westwood Models Kim McCuaig and Lara McGrath (Photo: Ridgeview)
While we’re on the subject of English wine, Ridgeview winery partnered with iconoclastic British designer Vivienne Westwood at her London Fashion Week show.
Mad as Hell as ever, Dame Westwood brought politics into her show, highlighting her own views on climate change and Brexit.
This year’s show was called ‘Homo Louquax’ – meaning chattering man, and was held within the 18th century church in St John’s Smith Square in London.
Ridgeview’s fizz was in full flow as guests backstage were welcomed with a glass of Bloomsbury NV, and the winery team were there to present their products.
Premiumisation has taken the drinks industry by storm, and in these environmentally aware times, Westwood’s show delivered a comparable message; “Buy less, Choose well, Make it last”.
Tamara Roberts, Ridgeview’s CEO, called the punk designer “a true icon who is passionate and outspoken in her beliefs and has no fear in constantly pushing the boundaries.
“It was a privilege for our Ridgeview sparkling wines to be a part of her ground-breaking show”.
In Metro.co.uk headlines that write themselves, you can now sleep in a wine barrel, thanks to rustic accommodation which has been set up at Douro wine estate Quina de Pacheca in 2017.
Each of these suites is intended to replicate the barrels used by the winery today.
db raised a glass of Champagne to Cassidy Dart MW (pictured centre, wearing pink tie) before he leaves London for China. Director of wine at Pol Roger Portfolio, Cassidy spent his last day at the UK agency business on Tuesday this week, before the Pol Roger team laid on farewell drinks at its office in Battersea. Cassidy leaves Britain for Beijing to follow his wife, who has a teaching job in the city.
Harriet Tindal MW, one of the latest to join the ranks.
And finally, the Institute of Masters of Wine has announced six new Masters of Wine, from six different countries, taking the total number of people to hold the title worldwide to 384.
The new MWs are: Edouard Baijot MW (France), Nicholas Jackson MW (USA), Brendan Jansen MW (Australia), Jonas Röjerman MW (Sweden), Harriet Tindal MW (Ireland) and Jonas Tofterup MW (Spain).
You can read more about the newest recruits here.