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The week in pictures
This week in the world of drinks: db attends a tasting of Cantina Tollo’s wines from Abruzzo The Shard, Douglas Blyde judges at the winter edition of the Acqua Bianca cocktail competition, and Plzen, Czech Republic, celebrates the 180th anniversary of the Pilsner.
Members of the drinks business team attended a tasting of hidden gem Italian wine region Abruzzo, Cantina Tollo at the Oblix restaurant in London’s The Shard.
Pictured, Amy Burton, the victor of the winter edition of the Acqua Bianca cocktail competition at Clays of Moorgate, with judges, Salvatore Calabrese, known as “The Maestro” and Douglas Blyde of Drinks Business. Burton’s “Citrus Storm” fused Acqua Bianca liqueur with three-year-old Havana Club rum, homemade citrus and Earl Grey sherbet echoing components of the liqueur, then plum bitters, leading to a notably long, balanced, nuanced aftertaste. Likely the world’s most aromatic liqueur, Acqua Bianca was created by Calabrese to exploit the attributes of ambergris, a supposed aphrodisiac substance ejected from the stomachs of sperm whales. Acting as a remarkable anchor and amplifier of scents, ambergris was traditionally used in perfumery, and, noted Calabrese, was present in an original recipe for Planter’s Punch. In Acqua Bianca, it is combined with citron, bergamot, rose and peppermint. Burton wins a £200 bar tab to redeem at Calabrese’s bar, The Maestros Donovan Bar at Browns Hotel as well as a £100 Clays Voucher to use at the extremely high-tech simulated clay shooting “pegs” within Clays itself, a venue managed by one of Calabrese’s son, Jon who came to hospitality following a career with the metropolitan police. Citrus Storm will be available on the menu at Clays Bar henceforth. (clays.bar / acqua-bianca.com)
Pilsner Fest came to Plzen, Czech Republic, to celebrate the 180thanniversary of the iconic Pilsner Urquell, first brewed in the city on 5th October 1842.
Ard Bossema, Pilsner Urquell Global Brand Director said: “Our 180th anniversary is an emotional milestone. Our golden pilsner is now the world’s favourite style of beer. It’s also a celebration of the passion, consistency and integrity that’s gone into crafting every drop for over 180 years. In a world where things are evolving at lightning speed, we’re proud to say we haven’t changed a thing – from the way we brew our beer to the way it’s poured with three fingers of foam.”
During Frieze Week, Maison Ruinart staged a duet of standout, sustainably-inclined dinners at north London’s Park Village Studios inspired by the mantra of the artist, Jeppe Hein, “Right Here, Right Now”. A plant-based menu crafted by Trinity chef, Adam Byatt and realised in collaboration with caterer, Opus 11, opened with a meditation whereby a single raisin of Chardonnay was, when unveiled from a cloche, thoughtfully celebrated, with Hein musing on the journey it underwent from dormant vine to flower to table. Dinner continued with seaweed “caviar” served directly on the palm, a tea brewed from an edible tablescape including ceps, followed by a whole truffle baked in a butterless brioche, and culminated with a milk ice cream evoking the chalk of Champagne, ladled with London honey. Amongst the Champagnes served, the mineral, expanding Dom Ruinart Blanc de Blancs 2010 was crafted from fruit largely drawn from the Côte des Blancs.
Newcomer to the UK and woman-owned BuzzBallz Cocktails sponsored the Enterprise Vision Awards at a ceremony in Blackpool’s iconic Empress Ballroom. Dedicated to promoting female entrepreneurship, the awards celebrate women’s success in business. The cocktails launched across the country this summer, and have already secured their place in a large selection of on pubs, bars, hotels and leading independent retail outlets across the country.
And Viñedo Chadwick was a glittering ambassador for Chile at the London launch of the Rolls-Royce Enthusiasts’ Club’s new ‘Strive for Perfection’ publication. The special Platinum Jubilee event was held in honour of Her late Majesty Queen Elizabeth the Second and featured Viñedo Chadwick 2014 as the “Legend from the Andes”.
Have you been out and about this week? Got a hot tip for us? Let us know!