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News
The week in pictures
This week in the world of drinks: The Glencairn Glass launches its second crime short story competition, Douglas Blyde attends the launch of Bushmills 1997 Rum Casks The Causeway Collection, and Balfour Winery toasts the completion of its 2022 harvest.
The Glencairn Glass has announced the launch of its second crime short story competition, inviting both experienced and novice crime writers to submit stories around the theme: “A crime story set in Scotland”. Entries are open now and run until 31 December, with the winner receiving a £1000 prize.
Artist and therapeutic poet, Shaquille Keith augured the release of Bushmills 1997 Rum Casks The Causeway Collection at a bespoke dinner served on Irish linen at the Iron Bloom events space, Shoreditch with his poem featuring the words, “celebrate freedom together, a drink between friends”. Distilled in February 1997 and then matured in first fill American oak rum casks for 25 years, the layered, gentle dram was paired with a dish of roasted whiskey pineapple which echoed its profile, as well as sour hibiscus compote and spiced crumble. Other dishes by the Barbados-born chef, Jason Howard, who was previously a sous chef at Hélène Darroze, Mayfair, included whiskey salmon sashimi with heart of palm paired with Bushmills 16, and 36-hour jerk pork belly and confit carrots with The Causeway Collection 2000 Port Cask. Meanwhile, raw chocolate enriched spiced beef rib with cassava paired met The Causeway Collection 1991 Madeira Cask. Bushmills 1997 Rum Casks The Causeway Collection has an RRP of £395 and is available via houseofmalt.co.uk
Kent-based Balfour winery has toasted the completion of its 2022 harvest, with winemaker Fergus Elias commenting: “This is Balfour’s biggest harvest to date and its most diverse with fruit coming from several new sites including Essex. We’ve got some fantastic Chardonnay in tank both still and sparkling. All grapes have come in with perfect numbers: The acids and sugars are perfect across the board.”
Academy and Golden Globe Award-Winning Musician, Mark Ronson performed at a recent event hosted by Australian wine brand Penfolds in Los Angeles.
The night concluded with a toast of the 2018 Grange to celebrate the new 2022 Penfolds Collection.
Lawyer turned photographer, Julian George, founded “The Future Plate” (thefutureplate.com) one year ago to bring to the fore, both visually and gustatorily, black chef talents and the depth of their multifarious cultures. This week, he worked with William Chilila, formerly of Akoko in Fitzrovia, on a menu including a rich 24-hour, gin-soaked, slow-cooked goats’ shoulder croquette, to accompany Amarula’s distinctively savoury African gin which is built around the lychee-like in form, marula berry which, says Chilila, can be as ripe as mango. A finalist from MasterChef The Professionals who grew up on a farm, Chilila’s culinary dedication is also apparent in his tattoos of both a carrot and plantain. Present at the event held at Not Another Store, Shoreditch, Charmelle Conning, the Global Brand Lead for Amarula, quoted an African proverb regarding the marula berry – “the harvest arrives in the elephant’s shadow” – to explain that for thousands of years across Africa’s sub-Saharan plains, elephants have been drawn by the scent of ripe Marula fruit to gather beneath their trees which lets local communities know that the harvesting season (March-April) has begun. Amarula African gin, which received a gold medal at the Spirits Business Gin Masters Awards, is available via Master of Malt and Whisky Exchange (£25.45/70cl).
Ahead of Day of The Dead (2nd November), Kew Gardens, which is London’s largest UNESCO World Heritage site, held a quartet of after-hours events for nocturnally inclined visitors in tandem with Maestro DOBEL tequila to celebrate in more ways than one, the spirit of Mexico. Guests were served “Diamond Margaritas” starring the brand’s pioneering cask aged, yet crystal clear, “Cristallino” incarnation within the glass houses of the botanical garden where ornate plants colourfully tower. Meanwhile, artworks by leading Mexican artists and a pop-up store curated by design expert and DOBEL collaborator Raffaella Goffredi of Revolution of Forms, remain at Kew for the duration of October. If you missed it, Maestro DOBEL Diamante™ tequila is available at Waitrose and at Annabel’s Club.
Pomerol property Chateau Beauregard celebrated past successes and new opportunities at a dinner at Claridge’s last Wednesday. Winemaker Vincent Priou and general manager Augustin Belloy demonstrated this balance perfectly. While Priou has guided the house through more than 30 vintages, Belloy, member of the Moulin family, represents the new investment and focus since they acquired it in 2014.
Rather than a straight vertical tasting, vintages were paired by their character: the elegant 2016 and 1998 wines, for instance. Vincent and Augustin were keen to show off recent years, even while young, as evidence of their work together: redeveloping the winery, committing further to organic viticulture, and selecting more exclusively for their first wine. Indeed, there was optimism aplenty through the night. Despite heatwaves and an early harvest, Vincent sees 2022 full of potential to stand among the greats (even if a good few years off featuring at their wine dinners).
Have you been out and about this week? Got somewhere you think we should visit? Let us know!