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Hamish Smith

Hamish Smith

Callooh Callay launches nostalgia-themed menu

Cocktail bar Callooh Callay has launched McMenu, a drinks list designed to take guests on a nostalgic trip through the lens of well-known food and drink brands.

Hamish Smith

The best liqueurs from the BBAs 2024

This week's instalment of the Bartenders' Brand Awards is the liqueurs category.

Hamish Smith

The best tonics from the BBAs 2024

In today's instalment of the BBAs, we narrow in on the tonic session. 

Hamish Smith

London, Birmingham and Edinburgh star at the CLASS Bar Awards 2024

Satan’s Whiskers took the title of Best Bar in the UK sponsored by The Lost Explorer at the CLASS Bar Awards 2024, which took place last night at Battersea Arts Centre in London.

Hamish Smith

Plans for Schofield’s London revealed

Joe and Daniel Schofield have begun the process of rolling out the Schofield's Bar brand, with plans afoot for a sequel venue in London, CLASS can exclusively reveal.

Hamish Smith

KOL Mezcaleria to unveil new range of house agave spirits

KOL Mezcaleria will next week unveil a new series of bottlings that explores little-known artisanal Mexican spirits.

Hamish Smith

Review: Twice Shy, London

Earlier this year Hamish Smith dropped by Elon Soddu's second London venue: Twice Shy. 

Hamish Smith

The best mixers from the BBAs 2024

Today in our BBAs highlights comes mixers, syrups and soft drinks. 

Hamish Smith

What’s on? Insider tips for the Edinburgh Bar Show

As media partner to the Edinburgh Bar Show, CLASS has asked its founders Iain McPherson, Jamie Faulds and Gary Anderson for their highlights of the inaugural three-day event (April 8-10).

Hamish Smith

Scarfes pivots to classical approach in new menu: From Scratch

Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London has shifted its emphasis from playful signatures to a more classical approach in its latest menu: From Scratch.

Hamish Smith

The Natural Philosopher to celebrate tenth birthday

Josh Powell’s Natural Philosopher will mark its tenth birthday this month with a party that celebrates the best cocktails of the East London bar’s decade in business.

Hamish Smith

The best agave spirits from the BBAs 2024

Today's instalment of the Bartenders' Brand Awards sees the highlights of our agave spirits session. 

Hamish Smith

Iain McPherson on the all-new Edinburgh Bar Show

Hamish Smith catches up with Iain McPherson on the all-new Edinburgh Bar Show, which takes place 8-10 April

Hamish Smith

The best gins from the BBAs 2024

In today's BBAs highlights we feature the best of our gin session. 

Hamish Smith

How to make Kiki Lounge's Queenie Martini

Crisp, oceanic, clean

Hamish Smith

The BAB Awards - the results

The BAB (Birmingham Association of Bartenders) Awards took place this week at Eighteen, an X+why space on the 18th floor of 103 Colmore Row with much of Birmingham’s hospitality scene in attendance.

Hamish Smith

Review: Hamish Smith heads out on Britain's "most ordinary bar crawl"

A high-profile appointment at a high street bar group turns Hamish Smith's lapsed attention to mainstream venues.

Hamish Smith

The best vodkas from the BBAs 2024

Kavka Tokaji Cask wasn’t only our Vodka Champion but a hair from being named the best product in the BBAs – it scored 91/100. “Wood, cream, vanilla, spice” noted judges on their way to issuing the Polish vodka a gold medal for its taste.

Hamish Smith

Gender equality platform The Ada Coleman Project to launch

The Ada Coleman Project, a dedicated digital space for women, is set to launch in April 2024.

Hamish Smith

The best rums from the BBAs 2024

In today's episode of the Bartenders' Brands Awards we feature the bartender favourite, rum.

Hamish Smith

The best cognacs from the BBAs 2024

Next up in our Bartenders' Brand Awards highlights we bring you the results of the cognac session. 

Hamish Smith

Schofields increase share in Seven Tails brandy

Bartender brothers Joe and Daniel Schofield have increased their minority interest in Seven Tails brandy.

Hamish Smith

The Savoy appoints 14th American Bar head bartender

Angelo Sparvoli has been named the 14th head bartender of the American Bar at The Savoy and will start his new role on March 25th.

Hamish Smith

UKHospitality welcomes apprenticeship changes

UKHospitality has welcomed the UK Government's proposal to sanction 20,000 more apprenticeships and reform the scheme by funding training for young people and cutting red tape for small firms.

Hamish Smith

Manchester Bar Awards - the results

The Manchester Bar Awards took place at Bunny Jackson's in Manchester last week, with many of the city's bartenders in attendance. 

Hamish Smith

The best American Whiskies from the BBAs 2024

First up in our serialised results of the BBAs 2024 is a big one in the bar world - American Whiskey. Here's how it went...

Hamish Smith

The BBAs 2024 - how does it work?

Hamish Smith expands on the three-step thinking that is at the heart of the annual Bartenders’ Brand Awards.

Hamish Smith

East heads west - the journey to Three Sheets the sequel

Brothers Max and Noel Venning are taking their established-in-Dalston Three Sheets name to a second London site, in Soho. Hamish Smith finds out what to expect from the entrepreneurial duo.

Hamish Smith

The Hide Bar to close its doors

After more than 17 years of service, The Hide Bar on London’s Bermondsey Street will close its doors at the end of March 2024.

Hamish Smith

The Bartenders' Brand Awards results go live

The results of the Bartenders' Brand Awards - CLASS magazine's drinks competition, which is judged by bartenders for bartenders - are now live on the Awards' dedicated website.