Hamish Smith
Hamish Smith
New Ardgowan Distillery to make 1m litres of single malt
Ardgowan Distillery has announced work will begin this year on its new distillery following an £8.4 million equity investment.
—14 June, 2021
Hamish Smith
Ellie Goulding acquires stake in seltzer brand Served
Singer and songwriter Ellie Goulding has acquired a “significant stake” in the British hard seltzer brand Served.
—08 June, 2021
Hamish Smith
A quarter of Britain's licensed premises still to reopen
One in four (23.7%) of Britain’s restaurants, pubs, bars and other licensed premises have yet to reopen despite the return of inside service, new research from CGA and AlixPartners reveals.
—03 June, 2021
Hamish Smith
The Nomad's first international outpost opens in London
The Nomad – the US’ pre-eminent food and beverage hotel - has opened in London, four years after taking the keys to its Covent Garden site.
—27 May, 2021
Hamish Smith
Ron de Jeremy rebranded as Hell Or High Water rum
One Eyed Spirits has replaced ex-porn star Ron Jeremy as the face of its rum, rebranding to Hell or High Water.
—20 May, 2021
Hamish Smith
CLASS Spring Edition launches
CLASS magazine returns this spring to coincide with the indoor opening of bars in the UK
—18 May, 2021
Hamish Smith
The reopening and recovery of England's bar industry
It’s been six long months since we last saw bars open indoors in England. Hamish Smith looks back – and forward.
—17 May, 2021
Hamish Smith
Lyndon 3 Pandemic 0
Hamish Smith talks to Lyndon Higginson about launching hospitality venues in the most inhospitable of climates.
—12 May, 2021
Hamish Smith
Simon Thompson to open World Heritage site (sports) bar
Present Company owner Simon Thompson will launch a bar in the UNESCO World Heritage-listed Royal Albert Docks in Liverpool this summer, CLASS can exclusively reveal.
—04 May, 2021
Hamish Smith
In-venue testing holds the key, says leading doctor
Rapid testing in hospitality venues could avoid the introduction of vaccine passports, while still allaying a potential rise in Covid infections when indoor service returns, according to a leading doctor.
—29 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
Cocktails in the City returns to London
Cocktails in the City will return to London this summer, with a series of three weekend events across June, July and August.
—28 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
Tequila trailblazer Tomas Estes passes
Tomas Estes, one of the drinks industry's most loved and respected figures, has passed away peacefully at his home in Oregan.
—27 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
The best of the best from the BBAs 2021
The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is our annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. We finish this series with the best of the best, including the BBA's 2021 Supreme Champion.
—27 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
The best of the rest from the BBAs
The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is CLASS’ annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. Our penultimate article of the series rounds up the highlights of the smaller categories in this year's BBAs.
—27 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
The best non-abvs from the BBAs 2021
The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is CLASS’ annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. The fast-growing category of non-abv aperitifs, spirits and wines is next.
—26 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
Havana Club enters spiced market under lure of Gen Z
Havana Club has finally entered the spiced rum market with the launch of its new Cuban Spiced spirit drink.
—23 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
McClintock named World Class GB champion
Mark McClintock has been named Diageo World Class GB Bartender of the Year 2021.
—22 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
The best softs and mixers from the BBAs 2021
The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is CLASS’ annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. Next up is the highly competitive softs and mixers category. The BBAs follows a three-step process to mirror buying behaviour, with each product blind-tasted, judged on value for money and finally by design. For more on the methodology behind the BBAs, read more here.
—22 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
The best ciders from the BBAs 2021
The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is CLASS’ annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. It's cider's turn to go under the microscope - here's our top five.
—21 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
Hospitality tops unemployment charts
The Office for National Statistics has revealed that hospitality businesses suffered the most jobs losses in the last year, accounting for 43% of the national total.
—20 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
The best beers from the BBAs 2021
The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is CLASS’ annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. Up next is the beer top five.
—19 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
The best cognacs from the BBAs 2021
The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is CLASS’ annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. Here we unveil the results for cognac.
—15 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
The best American Whiskies from the BBAs 2021
The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is CLASS’ annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. Next up in our results, is a key category for some of the most popular classic cocktails: American Whiskey.
—14 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
Bacardi Legacy returns after pandemic break
Bacardi Legacy will take place in June, the rum company has announced.
—13 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
The best rums from the BBAs 2021
The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is CLASS’ annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. In our next instalment of results, the top scorers in the rum category.
—12 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
Schofield’s Bar: the exclusive story of 2021’s biggest opening
Schofield’s Bar – the long and globally anticipated debut venue of bartender brothers Joe and Daniel Schofield - will open for service on Wednesday 14 April.
—09 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
Registration opens for CLASSROOM ft. Edrington-Beam Suntory
CLASS is now taking registrations for its next digital tasting event: CLASSROOM in association with Edrington-Beam Suntory.
—08 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
The best liqueurs from the BBAs 2021
The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is CLASS’ annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. In the fourth article of our serialised results, we reveal which liqueurs fared best.
—08 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
The best brandies from the BBAs 2021
The Bartenders' Brand Awards, now in its fourth year, is our annual product testing - by bartenders, for bartenders. In the third of our serialised results, we look at brandy.
—08 April, 2021
Hamish Smith
The government to consult hospitality on rent debt
The government has called for evidence on commercial rent debts, signalling a step forward in addressing arrears accumulated by hospitality tenants during the pandemic.
—07 April, 2021