The week in pictures

In lucrative TV tie-ins tie-ins, The Walking Dead comic series creator Robert Kirkman joined Skybound Entertainment CEO David Alpert this weekend, plus cast and crew, at a preview event for the upcoming release of Diageo’s The Walking Dead Kentucky Straight Bourbon Whiskey at this year’s Comic Con.

Hot on the heels of the spirits giant’s Game of Thrones whisky series, this new amber elixir has been launched under Spirits of the Apocalypse – a “strategic alliance” between Diageo and Skybound Entertainment.

The launch comes in the same week we learned just how lucrative these kinds of partnerships can be for Diageo. Diageo’s reported net sales grew 5.8% to £12.9 billion in the year to 30 June, up from 5% last year, as CEO Ivan Menezes told investors the company has “committed to consistent value growth”.

CFO Katherine Mikells said the growth came as a result of “continued premiumisation, improved capabilities in net revenue management and successful premium innovation performance.”

“This included the launch of “White Walker by Johnnie Walker” and sustained growth in premium innovations launched in prior years including Ketel One Botanical, Crown Royal Regal Apple and Tanqueray Flor de Sevilla.”

Raul Sanllehi, Head of Football Arsenal, and Baltazar Sánchez, Chairman Santa Rita (Photo: Santa Rita)

In more money-making partnerships, Arsenal F.C. has renewed its wine partnership with Chilean group Santa Rita Estates, and has also struck a new deal with AB InBev-owned London brewer Camden Town.

The renewed deal gives the wine business, which owns wine brands Santa Rita, Carmen and Doña Paula, exclusive pouring rights on still wines and sparkling wines from its portfolio across club level and general admission areas at Emirates Stadium.

Arsenal also secured a new deal with Camden Town Brewery, that will see the brewer set up three dedicated bars at the stadium for the start of the new season.

Wine brand Cono Sur branched out into experiential this weekend, with the launch of a wine tasting tour with a difference.

The series of complimentary ‘Perfectly Chilled Pinot Noir’ tastings took place on board a branded PediBus, inspired by the bicycles used to pick and collect the grapes on their Chilean vineyard estates.

The stunt coincides with Cono Sur’s new colour-changing Pinot Noir label, which changes from grey to blue when chilled.

Tuesday was a big night for spirits in London.

Baijiu, China’s national spirit, is actually one of the most-bought alcohol products in the world, but it’s still relatively under-the-radar in the UK.

Hoping to make a name for itself in the overseas market, premium baijiu brand, Fenjiu, held a masterclass for drinks industry educators and writers at London’s Ivy Club on 23 June. Five baijius were shown at the tasting, organised by Fenjiu’s distributor, Cheng International.

We spotted Adrian Smith, Colin Hampden-White and Helena Nicklin (aka The Three Drinkers) in attendance, as well as by Hao Min Li, general manager of Shanxi Xinghua Cun Fenjiu International Trade, who flew in for the evening.

Fenjiu was launched in the UK last year and is already listed in Harrods and is starting to appear in a selection of premium on-trade establishments. Recently, Fenjiu launched the UK’s first ever baijiu cocktail competition which drew competitors from top bars including Soho House, Annabel’s, Crazy Bear, The Art’s Club, China Tang and Corinthia

Meanwhile on the other side of town, Scotch fans schlepped to The Macbeth in Hoxton for a decidedly more raucous evening toasting the launch of Crabbie’s new single malt whisky, Yardhead.

Also on Tuesday, hotel distillery Ramsbury Estate officially opened its bar takeover at Dalloway Terrace, called Estate of Mind.

For the next two months, guests will be treated to a striking floral installation celebrating the English countryside, as well as a menu of cocktails using ingredients grown on the Ramsbury Estate in Wiltshire.

On the other side of the world, foodie trade shows Speciality & Fine Food Asia (SFFA) and Restaurant, Pub & Bar Asia (RPB Asia) broke both visitor and exhibitor records on their third annual event.

The 2019 edition drew in close to 4,200 trade visitors from the foodservice, retail and hospitality industries across Southeast Asia, with close to 200 local and international exhibiting companies from 27 countries and 15 national pavilions taking part over the three-day events this week.

Back in London, Scottish fine dining establishment Boisdale held a one-off dinner at its Mayfair branch on Park Lane, paired with wine from four iconic Californian wineries supplied by E&J Gallo.

The wines came from Californian gems such as Louis M. Martini, MacMurray Estate Vineyards, Orin Swift and J Vineyards, while head of fine wine for EMEA Edouard Baijot MW led proceedings.

Back in the day, music festivals revolved around mud, tinnies, debauchery, music and more mud.

And while that might still be true at Reading, a new wave of boujie festivals has started to dominate the summer season, incorporating everything from stand-up comedy to basket weaving in the schedule. Now, you can even get a WSET class at Latitude, and we’re not complaining.

The Wines of Germany Berlin Bar was at Latitude Festival in Suffolk last weekend. The team gave away samples to the ‘revellers’ and worked alongside the Wine and Spirit Education Trust to host regular masterclasses for interested attendees.

Latitude – which welcomes approximately 40,000 people per day each year – puts on the kind of show where visitors can sample German wines whilst bopping along to a line-up including George Ezra and Lana del Rey. Welcome to 2019.