The week in pictures

This week in the world of drinks: The Hidden Sea wins big at the People’s Choice Wine Awards, chef Miguel Barclay joins Campaneo to provide quality food and wine pairings on a budget, and London luxury hotel COMO The Halkin announces a pop-up with celebrated chef Tommi Tuominen and the Helsinki Distilling Company.

South Australian purpose-led wine brand The Hidden Sea is celebrating two big wins at the People’s Choice Wine Awards, for its red blend and Chardonnay expressions. The awards are chosen by knowledgeable consumers alongside wine educators and professional judges.

Miguel Barclay, the chef famed for creating delicious meals with a one pound budget, has partnered with Spanish wine brand Campaneo on a mission to bring budget-friendly food and wine pairings to the masses.

Jade Fowles, Senior Brand Manager at Kingsland Drinks, said “Miguel Barclay is a fantastic fit for Campaneo. His ‘One Pound Meals’ have struck a chord with consumers in recent years. Right now, we know shoppers are actively looking for budget-friendly wine and meals that don’t compromise on taste and quality. By partnering with Miguel in 2023 we hope to resonate with even more consumers who are seeking accessible, tasty wines.” 

And London luxury hotel COMO The Halkin has announced a two-week pop-up with the celebrated Finnish chef Tommi Tuominen and the Helsinki Distilling Company. Boasting a six-course menu crafted by Tuominen and two special days of drinks pairings provided by the Helsinki Distilling company, customers can book a slot from 21 March – 1 April. You can find out more by clicking here.

Highland Park brought a sense of the Orkney islands to Docklands for the release of their oldest whisky to date. Dating to 1968, 225 bottles of the surprisingly lifted, jasmine and lavender-scented, only reticently smoky 54 Year Old represent the 225 years of legal distillation at the remote location in Kirkwall close to Shapinsay and Balfour Castle. Douglas Blyde and fellow guests took a gentleman’s launch commissioned by Sir Richard Branson from Canary Wharf to Trinity Buoy Wharf, connected to London’s only lighthouse. Within, a botanical wonderland, replete with evocative smoke, moisture and rocks intended to capture the ambience of Highland Park’s situation had been realised, with guests invited to create their own Old Fashioned with the 12 Year Old using gathered plants and flowers as well as DIY ice ball carving. Dishes, including seared Orkney scallop with roe bottarga, sea herbs and truffle were subsequently prepared by Scottish/Caribbean in origin, James Cochrane (Restaurant1251), with each course given a different visual show via what could be described as a tabletop video ball and ceiling projections. Of the spirit, cared for by Gordon Motion, Highland Park Master Whisky Maker, four refill butts and six refill hogsheads were combined in February 2008 and refilled into first-fill European sherry butts, where the whisky continued to mature, followed by a final 14 years of maturation in ex-sherry casks. With an RRP of £39,000 via Berry Bros. & Rudd and The Whisky Shop, the distinctively shaped bottles are handsomely encapsulated in Scottish oak.

Have you been out and about this week? Got somewhere we ought to visit? Get in touch and let us know!