#WeekInPictures: Savoy traditions, stage stars and a Bordeaux milestone
From a cocktail born at The Savoy more than a century ago to a London tasting devoted to Bordeaux 2016, the week moved between heritage, theatre and the continuing life of the wine trade.
A Hanky Panky at The Savoy
The Savoy toasted world Hanky Panky Day, 25th March, where the drink is served with the exactness Ada Coleman set in motion when she created it at the American Bar for Sir Charles Hawtrey who requested a drink with punch. Cygnet 22 Welsh gin layered with Cocchi Storico di Torino, Dopo Teatro, Barolo Chinato, finished with Fernet Branca. Held at -20°C, the cold tightens the bittersweet, herbaceous line while a tangy lift sits cleanly at the edge. Under Thanos Tzanetopoulos, with Markus Basset guiding the wider programme, the lineage is kept taut: a drink born of a single exchange, still delivered as if it has only just been asked for.
The current interpretation draws on Cygnet 22 Welsh gin with Cocchi Storico di Torino, Cocchi Dopo Teatro, Barolo Chinato and Fernet Branca. Served at –20°C, the chill narrows the bittersweet edge and keeps the herbs and citrus line in sharp relief.
Under the direction of Thanos Tzanetopoulos, with Markus Basset guiding the wider programme, the drink remains a small piece of London bar history delivered with care.
Theatre celebrated in London
The Standard Theatre Awards gathered figures from the London stage at a dinner hosted by the publication’s proprietor Evgeny Lebedev. Among the evening’s winners were Rachel Zegler (left), recognised for her performance as Eva Peron in Evita at the Palladium, and (centre) Hayley Atwell, awarded Best Actress for Much Ado About Nothing.
Cate Blanchett (right) and Stephen Fry received special honours for their contribution to theatre. Guests included Jack Guinness, Emma Thynn, Marchioness of Bath and Poppy Jamie, with Laurent Perrier Champagne, St Germain spritz and Botivo among the drinks served through the evening.
Rum success on television
El Supremo 8 Year Old Rum was named the favourite in a tasting on Channel 4’s Sunday Brunch on 22 March. Rum ambassador Ian Burrell prepared three cocktails using newly launched rums, with guests Laurence Llewelyn Bowen, Ritu Arya and Babátúndé Aléshé all selecting El Supremo as their preferred choice.
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Produced in Paraguay at the CAPASA distillery, founded in 1909, the rum is made from sugarcane juice reduced slowly over an open fire to produce miel de caña before distillation and ageing. The spirit spends time in Paraguayan Incienso Marrón wood before finishing in French oak.
Bordeaux 2016 revisited
Lay and Wheeler brought together more than 60 producers and over 250 guests at Banking Hall in the City to mark the tenth anniversary of the Bordeaux 2016 vintage. The tasting offered a chance to assess how the wines have developed over nearly a decade in bottle.
Buying director Robert Mathias MW described 2016 as a vintage of remarkable quality across the region, with many estates moving towards greater precision and restraint in style. The tasting formed part of a wider selection of Bordeaux 2016 wines that Lay and Wheeler will now offer to collectors and drinkers alike.
A Virginia perspective on American single malt
Douglas Blyde met Amanda Beckwith, director of Liquid Development at Virginia Distillery Co., to understand how an idea carried forward with “the courage of your convictions” becomes something legible in the glass, from hammering bungs into barrels at Willett Distillery to working under the late Dr Jim Swan, her path runs through banking, and historically led literature. The result is a collection of Virginia-shaped American single malts brought together slowly in a subtropical climate.
New podcast discusses politics and journalism over wine
Launched on Thursday, wine educator and former BBC political producer Abbie Bennington (left) has launched a new podcast pairing great wines with career-defining stories from media and politics. Each episode blends personal anecdotes, wine education and a light-hearted tasting challenge.
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