The week in pictures

Team db was delighted to receive this surprise delivery this week from LVMH towers. From January, select bars and restaurants in the UK will be pairing glasses of Moët Brut Impérial with truffle popcorn specially designed by Notting Hill-based popcorn boutique, Pop, specifically to pair with the fizz. The popcorn proved dangerously moerish and disappeared disconcertingly quickly from its Kilner jar.

Continuing with the truffle theme, db’s Lucy Shaw was invited to a Barolo and truffle wine pairing dinner at Saville Row restaurant Sartoria hosted by the affable Sergio Germano of Ettore Germano in Serralunga d’Alba. Beginning with an intriguing and delightful sparkling Nebbiolo, among the wines Germano presented were the 2009 vintage of his approachable Serralunga Barolo, and a taste-off between two of his top drops: Barolo Riserva Lazzarito 2006 and Barolo Ceretta 2007 served from a magnum.

Among the manny truffle strewn delights served at Sartoria was a bowl of al dente homemade meat ravioli with lashings of white truffle, which paired exquisitely with Sergio Germano’s powerful yet elegant Barolos.

Team db headed to the Guildhall en masse this week for the annual IWSC awards dinner, where the great and the good of the wine and spirits world gathered to see who would be crowned top of their class this year.

Dining on lobster and beef among the gothic spires, we shared a table with Julian Dyer, general manager for UK and Europe of Australian vintage, Tesco’s Laura Jewell MW, and Rosamund Barton of R&R Teamwork.

db enjoyed a trip out to Heathrow’s Terminal Five to take a look at the new Hennessy Cognac travel retail pop-up, which is the first boutique opened by Hennessy outside the Cognac region, and the first liquor pop-up for World Duty Free.

The centrepiece for the store is a striking crystal “orgue”, which displays a range of Hennessy’s eaux de vie, with vintages ranging from the 1920s to the 1970s. Steve Small, Moët Hennessy Europe’s travel retail sales development manager, told db: “The orgue is inspired by the eaux de vie library at Hennessy. What we wanted to do is help share the story of Cognac and help people understand the art of blending that goes into each of our Cognacs.”

Over 50 fermented-malt enthusiasts joined Robin Appel and his Warminster Maltings team in the Bull, Highgate to celebrate the Maris Otter barley variety and the succulence of barleys grown in Britain.

Stephen Bayley and Benedict Allen talk at the Glenlivet guardian’s chapter expression sessions about the new Classic and Exotic expressions from the brand.

“Visionary performance philosopher” and National Geographic TV host Jason Silva hosts a Russian Standard Vodka evening at London’s Science Museum. Silva discussed the convergence of science and nature while unveiling the brand’s new global campaign.

As well as listening to Silva’s discussion guests at the Science Museum were able to enjoy a selection of Russian Standard Vodka cocktails.

The bartenders prepare the “Apple pie” cocktail at the bar’s official opening on Thursday night, which featured apple and cinnamon vodka for a taste of Christmas in a glass. Bar owner Nicholas Cash told db: “We’re trying to create a great place to hang out without the expense and without the pretension. One of the ways that New York is way ahead of London is fun places to go that aren’t really expensive.”

As well as some great cocktails, one of the highlights of the Hudson Hotel opening was this harpist who played along with a DJ set. It was really enjoyable hearing the harp play along to tunes from artists as varied as Talking Heads and Snoop Dogg.