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Class Bar Awards 2025

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The Art of Italicus Aperitivo Challenge announces its UK 2024 winner
Award-winning Italian aperitivo brand, ITALICUS Rosolio di Bergamotto is delighted to announce Brandon Stead from 45 West Gin and Cocktail Bar in Leicester as the UK winner of the 2024 Art of ITALICUS Aperitivo Challenge. Brandon has secured a spot in the upcoming final in Rome, where he will have the opportunity to compete for the Global title and a once in a lifetime trip and mentorship with Cafe La Trova by Julio Cabrera in Miami.
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by Sponsored Content
20 March, 2024

News

Port Ellen Distillery reopens after more than 40 years
Diageo has announced that Port Ellen Distillery has reopened on the island of Islay more than 40 years after closing its doors.
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by Oli Dodd
20 March, 2024

News

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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by Hamish Smith
20 March, 2024

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Q&A: Elliot Oxley from Alchemist on Passoã and the Porn Star Martini

1/ Hey Elliot, tell us about yourself and your role at Alchemist.
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by Sponsored Content
19 March, 2024

News

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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by Hamish Smith
19 March, 2024

News

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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by Hamish Smith
18 March, 2024

News

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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by Hamish Smith
18 March, 2024

News

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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by Hamish Smith
18 March, 2024

News

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. 
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by Hamish Smith
18 March, 2024

News

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...
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by Hamish Smith
15 March, 2024
BBAs

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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.
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by Hamish Smith
15 March, 2024

News

Drinking out still a priority for Britons says new research
Two thirds of British adults say that eating and drinking out is still a priority for them despite the cost-of-living crisis according to new research from Zonal in partnership with CGA by NIQ and UKHospitality.
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by Oli Dodd
14 March, 2024

News

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.
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by Hamish Smith
11 March, 2024
Class mag

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CLASS Spring 2024 launches
Access the digital magazine here. Not subscribed? Bartenders can sign up for a digital or hard copy here. 
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by
11 March, 2024

News

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.  
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by Hamish Smith
08 March, 2024

Sponsored Content

Franklin & Sons delivers first Sip & Savour training session
There are training sessions, and then there are next-level cocktail workshops that bring together top bartenders from around the country to learn and collaborate with each other. Sip & Savour, the first in a series of events from premium mixer brand Franklin & Sons, part of a year-long bartender advocacy programme, was no ordinary training session.
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by Sponsored Content
07 March, 2024

News

Stray launches menu created by women of Manchester’s bar industry
In celebration of International Women’s Day, Stray has launched a menu with each of the ten cocktails created by one of Manchester’s leading female bartenders, owners and operators.
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by Oli Dodd
06 March, 2024

News

The Bottle Cocktail Shop announces debut menu
Islington-based The Bottle Cocktail Shop has announced the launch of its debut menu built with the aid of data collected during the first year of the bar’s operation.
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by Oli Dodd
06 March, 2024
Engine gin

News

Disaronno owner Illva Saronno buys Engine gin
Illva Saronno Holding, the owner of Disaronno and The Busker,  has announced the acquisition of Engine gin to “strengthen its presence in the gin world”.
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by Eleanor Yates
01 March, 2024
Connaught Bar book

News

Connaught Bar unveils cocktail book
Connaught Bar has announced the launch of its first book The Connaught Bar: Recipes and Iconic Creations.
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by Hamish Smith
29 February, 2024

News

Mezcal brand The Lost Explorer enters tequila
Having worked for three decades as head distiller of Diageo’s Don Julio, maestro tequilero Enrique de Colsa has partnered with The Lost Explorer to create its first tequila line.
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by Shay Waterworth
26 February, 2024

News

Chelsie Bailey takes role at Be At One owner Stonegate
Chelsie Bailey has been appointed head of drinks development for bar and pub group Stonegate.
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by Hamish Smith
26 February, 2024

News

UKBG to host third Japanese spirits themed competition

The UKBG & Japanese Sake & Shochu Makers Association have annouced the third edition of the Great Honkaku Shochu & Awamori Contest.
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by Hamish Smith
22 February, 2024

News

Speciality Brands to distribute Takamaka and Chichibu
Spirits distributor Speciality Brands is adding Takamaka to its rum portfolio, alongside signing an exclusive partnership with Chichibu Distillery, taking over from Speciality Drinks.
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by Eleanor Yates
16 February, 2024

News

The Drinks Trust launches annual industry survey for 2024
The Drinks Trust has launched its annual industry survey aimed at achieving a better understanding of the wider drinks industry and hospitality community.
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by Eleanor Yates
12 February, 2024

News

Iain McPherson and ECW founders launch Edinburgh Bar Show
Iain McPherson of Panda & Sons has teamed up with Edinburgh Cocktail Week founders Jamie Faulds and Gary Anderson to launch a new three-day international bar show in the Scottish capital.
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by Hamish Smith
07 February, 2024

News

Brass Monkey owner takes over Nottingham's Tilt
Liam O’Brien of Nottingham’s Brass Monkey has taken over another of the city’s longstanding bars, Tilt.
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by Hamish Smith
07 February, 2024
Terroir Tapas

News

Award-winning low-waste restaurant bar Terroir Tapas closes
Terroir Tapas, a pioneer of sustainable practices in the UK hospitality industry, has announced it has closed due to financial difficulties. 
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by Hamish Smith
06 February, 2024

News

Velvet Bar launches icon-inspired menu
Velvet By Salvatore Calabrese, set in the Corinthia London, has announced the launch of its new menu ‘The Quote Book’, CLASS' sister title Drinks International has exclusively revealed.
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by Eleanor Yates
01 February, 2024

News

Maura and Alex Lawrence Milia relocate to Mexico
Maura Lawrence Milia of Connaught Bar and Alex Lawrence Milia of Mr Lyan group will move to Mexico to team up with Walter Meyenburg of Hanky Panky and form the Mexico City-based bar group MWA.
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by Oli Dodd & Hamish Smith
24 January, 2024