The week in pictures

Eddie Redmayne and Cuba Gooding Junior are pictured drinking Champagne Taittinger at the BAFTA Awards, which took place at the Royal Opera House in London on Sunday. 

Meanwhile, Idris Elba was snapped signing a Methuselah of Taittinger backstage during the BAFTAs.

The bottle was signed by a host of winners and citation readers and will be auctioned by BAFTA to raise money for their charitable work at a later date.

The new Whisky Exchange in London entertained its first whisky tasting on Tuesday night. Billy Leighton, head blender at Midleton Distillery (pictured), led a tasting for the launch of Redbreast Single Cask.

It is the first ever single barrel offering from the Irish producer, and it will be available globally from this month. The new expression reinforces brand-owner Irish Distillers’ “commitment to rejuvenating the quintessential Single Pot Still Irish Whiskey style”, they said.

db was pleased to receive its membership pack to new London wine club 67 Pall Mall this week and looks forward to trying its extensive wine offering soon – it promises no fewer than 500 wines by the glass.

The Drinks Business Pinot Noir Masters took place this week at the Princess of Wales pub in Primrose Hill, London.

Hervé Deschamps, Perrier-Jouët’s cellar master, was awarded the highly prestigious distinction of Chevalier de l’Ordre des Arts et des Lettres. In the presence of the Minister for Culture and Communication, Ms Audrey Azoulay, the ceremony took place on 17 February at the Ministry of Culture and Communication.

César Giron, chairman and CEO of Martell Mumm Perrier-Jouët, said: “A real spokesperson for the House around the world, Hervé Deschamps upholds its values and know-how.”

A Parliamentary reception held at Westminster this week saw Martin Thatcher, chair of the National Association of Cider Makers (pictured), say the industry had experienced five years of steep decline with sales contracting by 20%. NACM is calling on the Government to cut duty by 1.2p per pint to help return the industry to growth.

(Photo: Eoin Holland)

Jameson Irish Whiskey has launched a limited edition bottle design ahead of St Patrick’s Day,

The new bottle is designed by Dublin street artist James Earley to mark Jameson’s #BeOriginal celebrations in Dublin on the big day on March 17.

db swung by Low Slow and Juke on Tuesday, the latest subterranean cocktail den to open near St James’s Park, right on the doorstep of New Scotland Yard. Formerly the Abbey pub, Low, Slow & Juke offers a slice of Americana via gritty industrial interiors, lashings of slow-cooked meat and killer cocktails like the Smoked Cherry Manhattan, Cinnamon Old Fashioned and Vanilla & Fig Flip.

We particularly liked the Pink Duchess, a blend of rosemary-infused Hayman’s Old Tom gin, yellow chartreuse, basil, strawberries and balsamic vinegar. Libations were accompanied by chili and caramel chicken wings, cubes of deep-fried mac ‘n’ cheese, beef brisket and pickles, and St. Louis ribs.

db was more than happy to raise a glass to Stir PR on Tuesday, which marked its 5th birthday at the London EDITION hotel’s oak-paneled Punch Room. 

Cocktails included the team’s signature punch, comprising The Botanist gin, lemon juice, oak moss syrup, orange blossom water and jasmine tea, and Gentlemen’ Sour, comprising Gentleman Jack whiskey, lemon jice, simple syrup and maraschino cherry. Wine flowed courtesy of Sensi 18K Prosecco, Matua and Penfolds. On the food front, canapés included salmon sashimi with green chilli, pistachio and mint, as well as pork belly, quince paste and hazelnut.

Finally, Madame St Germain herself invited bartenders and buyers to a very risqué brunch at Balthazar in London’s Covent Garden for a lively masterclass in the art of mixing French liqueur St Germain.

Hosted by Madame St Germain, the event saw guests treated to a St Germain cocktail-paired brunch and burlesque cabaret show.

db was delighted to be invited to Christchurch Cathedral in Dublin to toast the 120 millionth glass of Santa Rita wine enjoyed in Ireland. The Chilean has grown to become company is the biggest selling wine brand in Ireland, an achievement celebrated in style with a lavish black tie bash kicked off by a speech from export director for the UK and Ireland Terry Pennington (pictured).

During the evening guests were treated to traditional Irish music and dined on sea bream ceviche, fillet of Dexter beef and a decadent chocolate fondant. Among the wines on show were the 2010, 2001, 2000 and 1999 vintages of Casa Real, the jewel in Santa Rita’s crown made by Cecilia Torres.