Hamish Smith

19 UK bars awarded pins in first Pinnacle Guide list

The Pinnacle Guide has launched its inaugural list, with 19 UK bars - more than half of those recognised - awarded 'Pins'.

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01 May, 2024

Hamish Smith

Grey Goose releases new vodka

Grey Goose has announced the launch of Altius, a limited-edition vodka produced with Alpine spring water and winter wheat and filtered at sub-freezing temperatures.

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01 May, 2024

Hamish Smith

The best world whiskies from the BBAs 2024

The BBAs world whisky category takes in all whiskies outside of American, Irish and Scotch - here's the top 5 from the session.

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30 April, 2024

Hamish Smith

Chris Edwards to launch Sister Ray in Liverpool

Hospitality operator Chris Edwards will launch café bar Sister Ray in Liverpool this May, promising to marry “laid back European cafe culture” with “New York bar scene vibes”.

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29 April, 2024

Hamish Smith

Sushisamba opens Samba Room lounge bar

Sushisamba in the City of London has opened Samba Room, a new 39th-floor cocktail lounge bar.

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29 April, 2024

Hamish Smith

The best non-abv spirits from the BBAs 2024

The non-abv spirits category is burgeoning. These were the big winners in the BBAs 2024.

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25 April, 2024

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.

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24 April, 2024

Hamish Smith

The best liqueurs from the BBAs 2024

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

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23 April, 2024

Hamish Smith

The best tonics from the BBAs 2024

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

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19 April, 2024

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.

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15 April, 2024

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.

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15 April, 2024

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.

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12 April, 2024

Hamish Smith

Review: Twice Shy, London

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

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09 April, 2024

Hamish Smith

The best mixers from the BBAs 2024

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

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08 April, 2024

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).

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04 April, 2024

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.

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04 April, 2024

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.

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03 April, 2024

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.

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03 April, 2024

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

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02 April, 2024

Hamish Smith

The best gins from the BBAs 2024

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

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28 March, 2024

Hamish Smith

How to make Kiki Lounge's Queenie Martini

Crisp, oceanic, clean

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28 March, 2024

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.

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26 March, 2024

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.

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25 March, 2024

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.

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25 March, 2024

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.

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25 March, 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.

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20 March, 2024

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.

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19 March, 2024

Hamish Smith

Schofields increase share in Seven Tails brandy

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

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18 March, 2024

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.

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18 March, 2024

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.

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18 March, 2024