Malibu Island Recipes Limited Edition is a new expression from Pernod Ricard which will be launched across 19 countries, including the UK, Australia, Korea and the Netherlands in April. The new bottle, designed by the Brand Union features a colorful display of images and showcases four cocktail recipes.Each recipe is rendered as part of an illustration on the bottle and features Malibu and a single mixer.

Ok this is something special. Elitist? Yes. Covetable? Totally.  There are only 23 bottles of these in the UK. This is ultra premium rum done properly. Of course the £1000 price point is ludicrous but that’s pretty much the point. Enough fawning here are the facts… hand-crafted using traditional rum-making methods by Cuba’s leading Maestro Ronero Don Jose Navarro, just 1000 bottles are available globally and is made from a blend of the finest and oldest rum reserves only available at the Havana Club cellars in Cuba. The bottle? A hand-blown crystal decanter taking inspiration from Havana’s architecture and decorative arts the etched ‘Giraldilla’ on the crystal stopper represents the symbol of the Cuban capital Havana. Each bottle of Maximo Extra Añejo comes in a lined wooden case, with a certification of origin and a note of authenticity to indicate its identity out of the 100 bottles.

If you have a spare £1000 a full bottle is available at Harvey Nichols & Harrods but for those just wanting  a snifter Maximo is being served at Milk & Honey and Artesian Bar in the Langham Hotel.

We are guessing one isn’t being biked over for a Friday afternoon treat.

Having been awarded a Gold Medal at the San Francisco World Spirit Awards in 2008 Havana Club Cuban Barrel Proof is now launched in the UK. The blend is finished in specially selected younger oak casks in order to ‘reawaken’ its oak aroma and bouquet and give it some welly.

Really this is a sipping rum but you could try it in an Old Fashioned or an El Presidente. Cuban Barrel Proof is 45% ABV and available in 70cl bottles at an average RSP of £35.99. Currently stocked at Bungalow 8, Quo Vardis and Montgomery Place in London. Created by master rum blender Don Jose Navarro in Cuba, they say:

“He combines the ancient traditional method of rum making with absolute precision to ensure each blend is the best in the world.  The delicate handling ensures a unique texture which skillfully combines the contrast of a light and smooth flavour of a delicate classic sipping rum with the intensity and complexity of a carefully aged rum.”

We say: Bike one over now please.

Hoppers are the first of their kind - a ’soft-brew’ with authentic beer ingredients including hops and malt with the refreshing tang of fruit.  Created by ‘The Juice Brewery’ the soft brews feature a frothy head when poured and are aimed at adults drinkers who don’t want to feel deprived by choosing a healthy ’soft’ option. Hoppers are currently available in three flavours: Apple, Citrus and Blackcurrant.
www.juicebrewery.com.

Entrepreneur Victor G. Harvey has created a new super premium Vodka called “V. Georgio”.  The vodka is infused with real fruit with an acai berry vodka and a V.I.P. version which is infused with cranberries, guarana and caffeine in their range. The vodka which launched in Miami recently, will be distributed in the US by Southern Wine and Spirits.
www.vgeorgio.com/

Noilly Prat, the French maker of one of the world’s best-selling brands of Vermouth, is changing its recipe by introducing its current European blend to the U.S. market and discontinuing the old American blend that’s been sold for years. The bottle design has also had a sleek new update with the new blend scheduled to go on sale during January 2009.

The latest limited edition designer collaboration is between Chivas Regal and British fashion designer Alexander McQueen. McQueen’s design features royal blue leather detailing and comes topped with a hand-enamelled cap in the colours of the Union Jack flag. Individually numbered in a limited edition run of 2,000 bottles. 300 pounds, or roughly $490.00

Camus Cognac has unveiled the first in a series of new limited editions, Camus Cuvee 3.128. The new line is a blend of three unique eaux de vie from leading vineyards belonging to one family. There are just 3,068 bottles available in the batch. Once it is sold, another new limited edition will come to market, mixing a range of other, different blends.

The Cuvee 3.128 comes in a crafted Baccarat crystal decanter designed by renowned French artist Serge Mansau, and is accessorised with a necklace of pearls, carrying a strong Camus brand identity. The packaging display case comes in what is described as a “haute couture” style, with the decanter appearing in a semi-raised position for better visibility. The price point is US$2,500.

[Via The Moodie Report]

The first limited-edition bottle for RTD Smirnoff Ice has been revealed as part of the brand’s 10-year anniversary celebrations.

The bottle, which glows in UV light, is designed to create a dramatic visual impact on-premise. It will replace standard packs from November, for a limited time only.

“By developing a limited-edition, glow-in-the-dark bottle, we are offering licensees a unique, fun way of maximising Smirnoff ice during sales in the lead-up to Christmas, which is an important sales period for RTDs,” said Diageo GB brand manager for Smirnoff Ice Ellie Rogers.

[Via Morning Advertiser]

Until the end of the month UK department store Harvey Nicks is offering personalised tableside Martini service. Cocktail butlers visit your table, allow you to choose between the classic gin or vodka martiniis - shaken or stirred - with a twist of lemon or an olive etc etc. The martini is mixed table side and served in a Boston shaker, allowing you to top up when you fancy.

Get me in that fifth floor express lift now.

And to show we aren’t so London centric the pic is of the Edinburgh store where the service is available  - as indeed it is at:

Fifth Floor Café, London 
Second Floor Restaurant, Bristol 
First Floor Restaurant, Dublin 
Second Floor Restaurant, Manchester 
Forth Floor Restaurant, Edinburgh 
Fourth Floor Café, Leeds

Gold Cuvée is on sale at the VOM FASS concessions in Selfridges. It’s a sparkling white wine produced with pinot and has real, edible 22 carat gold flakes!

How goldly giddy! 

They say: 
“Did you know that nobility in Medieval Europe infused their drinks with gold flakes as a sign of their wealth and early 19th century health resorts added gold leaves to their mineral water believing that the flakes offered therapeutic benefits?”

We say: No we didn’t - but we are beyond sold.

Attention all Beamers:

Celebrating seven generations of the Jim Beam family, Beam Global Spirits & Wine Inc. has launched a new limited edition version of Jim Beam Bourbon called The Distillers Series. The recipe is described as a dark amber liquid that’s aged seven years to 90 proof and will be available in the US in January 2009.

Sushi Vin is a new white wine developed to be eaten specifically for sushi, it’s a blend of Chardonnay, Malvasia Bianca and Muscat with a fruity aroma that goes well with rice and fish. The wine is available in Brazil (Sao Paulo itself has the largest Japanese population outside of Japan). The manufacturer is Vinicola Valmarino. Well if Pasta Wine can be a hit why not this? We are going to start special niche product posts from now on. 

The trend for niche energy drinks continues apace and this time it’s a drink especially formulated for golfers. 418 comes in a Berry Flavor and is available in the US from Layfield Energy.

They say:

“Designed to provide an energy source, act as an anti-inflammatory and provide cognitive support.”

We say: 

Really? Do golfers really need their own energy drink? 

Continuing the increasingly ubiquitous pop-up store trend - Moët & Chandon are launching a temporary boutique- Atelier Moët - during the festive season on London’s New Bond Street.

Opening on the 3rd December customers will be able to buy personalised bottles of Moët, customised with Swarovski crystals, for delivery the next day  at £50 per bottle, or to take home that day for £75.

A little pricey for these crunchy times but cute all the same.

The iconic rum brand Sailor Jerry have announced they are to launch exhibitions of Norman Collin’s artwork in spaces across the UK. Norman Collins is the tattooist behind the seminal tattoo branding of Sailor Jerry and is revered by vintage tattoo fans across the world. (As such, this was a bit of a no brainer really.) 

The art shows will take place this month in music venues, including King Tut’s in Glasgow, Cargo in London’s Shoreditch district and Trio in Leeds. There will of course be sampling and promotions at the events.

Beam Global are launching a new, ultra premium and thoroughly modern American Rye called (ri)1 - Rye One. Beam are hoping to appeal to the cocktail market, and American Rye is one of the fasted growing spirits in the States. We really like the minimalist branding and reckon this could be a hit.  

Last week I was having a minor drinks dilemma over what to serve for my birthday pre-dinner drinks. First off I was set on offering two different cocktails - a passionfruit Mojito or an Old Fashioned (for those Mad Man fans), however after the numbers grew slightly and I realised that I’d be distracted all evening with shaking and muddling  - I turned to the punchbowl. I bought my fantastically kitsch, faux-cut-glass-bowl from a charity shop for £4.50 - complete with punch cups hanging around the bowl and I love it.  

Twenty minutes before the guests arrived I made a version of the classic Bombay Punch - replacing the Champagne with Prosecco, and the Maraschino with Chambord Black raspberry liqueur, I muddled some mint leaves and fresh raspberries and scattered some whole leaves and fruits on the top. It went down a treat and served about 30 glasses. 

There are distinct murmerings of a cultural revival on the horizon - The Hawksmoor in London has been serving Punch for two years, the bar in Chicago’s new Trump Tower is currently serving Punch, and Death & Co in the East Village have flirted with it. Now we think it’s time for a fully fledged comeback of the punchbowl. It has strong retro charm, it’s easy to update, it’s hassle free, it’s credit crunch friendly, everyone can help themselves and it has something of The Ice Storm/Abigails Party about it. What’s not to love? My raspberry and mint Bombay Punch recipe is after the jump. What do you think? Anyone else doing Punch? 

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We went to the Absolut Masquerade Pop-Up bar/space/vintage fashion store for the opening night and over the weekend on Redchurch Street in London. Inconjunction with designer Daisy De Villeneuve and Mint vintage clothes store Absolut took over a space and decked it out with varying sizes of the limited edition sequinned Absolut bottle, free cocktails and vintage clothes for punters to try on. It was fun. Cocktails however were on the average and unimaginative side- vodka and tonic and a cosmo anyone? But all in all it was kinda cool and looked great. We particularly loved the Konstantin Grcic cocktail glasses. There must be a warehouse full somewhere left over from last year.  More pics after the jump…

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Graphic designer Ricky Salsberry is behind this range of newly designed environmentally-friendly aluminum bottles for Great Lakes Brewery. Rebranding of Great Lakes Brewery includes new mark and packaging with an updated set of panoramic black & white photography or illustrations for the case and bottle. www.greatlakesbrewing.com/