The World’s 50 Best Bars today announces the launch of its inaugural 50 Best Bars Scholarship, in partnership with The Blend – the global trade advocacy programme for the hospitality industry by Beam Suntory. This marks the first time in 50 Best’s storied history that the organization will offer a scholarship to an aspiring bartender. 
The 50 Best Bars The Blend Scholarship is open to any bartender from anywhere in the world aged 21 or over with fewer than three years’ experience. The winner will be rewarded with a trip to complete two bar stages (internships) in London and New York. The first will take place at Connaught Bar, the two-time winner of The World’s Best Bar title, in 2020 and 2021. The second will be at Katana Kitten, a previous winner of the Best New Opening Award in 2019 and currently ranked No.10 in The World’s 50 Best Bars 2021 list. The winner will then be hosted by The Blend Global Team for an experience of a lifetime in Madrid. Flights between these destinations will be included and the lucky winner will receive £500 per week living expenses to enjoy the host cities. 
The details
Applications will open on 19th May via The World’s 50 Best Bars website and close on 20th June. Applicants can find further information to help with their entry at www.theblend.world. The winner of the scholarship will be announced at the ceremony for The World’s 50 Best Bars later this year.
The launch of the 50 Best Bars The Blend Scholarship represents a key moment in the brands’ drive to prioritise development opportunities and experiences for aspiring bartenders across the globe. The theme of the Scholarship for 2022 is Future Positive, which comes with the ambition to cultivate practices and attitudes that will have a positive impact for the planet, for guests and the hospitality community. It will reward bartenders who take a low-waste or local approach to ingredients and push for greater diversity, better representation and balance within workplaces. Applicants will need to show a readiness to contribute to this outlook in order to be selected by the illustrious judging panel as the inaugural 50 Best Scholar (see The Selection Process below).
 
The team says
 
Mark Sansom, Director of Content for The World’s 50 Best Bars, says: “We could not be more excited to launch the 50 Best Bars Scholarship, in partnership with The Blend by Beam Suntory. It’s an initiative we have been planning for several years and it is truly excellent to be able to work with a brand such as Beam Suntory, which shares our vision to professionalise the craft of bartending and support bartenders with a future-gazing ideology. We look forward to receiving applications from all over the world as we give this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to someone that will undoubtedly set their career into overdrive.”
Agostino Perrone, Director of Mixology at Connaught Bar, says: "We at Connaught Bar are very excited to host the first-ever winner of the 50 Best Bars The Blend Scholarship for a learning experience with us. I look forward to assessing the applications and giving the opportunity to the deserving winner to take part in this amazing experience."
Further details, including the date and location of the awards ceremony for The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022, where the Scholarship winner will be announced, will be unveiled on 25th May.
Applications to 50 Best Bars The Blend Scholarship officially open on 19th May at 09:00 GMT+1. Enter at: Worlds50BestBars.com/scholarship 

The selection process
The 50 Best Scholar will be selected after a three-stage judging process, which will feature leading lights of the bar industry
·  Round One: Applicants will be asked to share their vision of Future Positive and what it tangibly means to them as a bartender as part of a video application and questionnaire format. A total of 25 applicants will be selected to go through to Round Two.
 
·  Round Two: The shortlisted candidates will be asked to design a drink inspired by the theme and that heroes one local ingredient as well as documenting the research, development and process that goes into making their chosen cocktail. For this second stage, 50 Best has recruited previous winners of its Sustainable Bar Award and other stalwarts of the bar industry. The guest judges include: Vijay Mudaliar (Native and Analogue, Singapore), Ashish Sharma (The Surf Club, Miami), Jean Trinh (Alquímico, Cartagena), Kelsey Ramage (The Trash Collective, USA), Claire Sprouse (Hunky Dory, Brooklyn) and Luke Whearty (Byrdi, Melbourne), to help select the top five applicants who will make it to the final round. 
 
·  Round Three: For the five finalists, the third stage will comprise a rigorous interview process with 50 Best; The Blend by Beam Suntory; a representative from B-Corp; Director of Mixology for Connaught Bar, Agostino Perrone and Masahiro Urushido, Managing Partner of Katana Kitten. 
The three finalists will be hosted at The World’s 50 Best Bars 2022 awards ceremony, where the winner will be announced. The internships will take place in 
(excerpt from a release)

One of India's top annual  bartender extravaganza, Diageo's World Cocktail competition has announced 13 finalists for the 2022 edition. 
​Here is where you can connect with these bartenders on Instagram or find them behind the bar in action at their place of work. 
Aashie Bhatnagar / @tiny_drinks / The Ritz Carlton Pune
Arati Mestry/ @the_negroni_moron / 7 Rivers Brew Co, Bengaluru
Kshitij Goel / @thecocktailtimes / The W; Goa
Kumar Mongalam / @kumar_mongalam / Farzi Cafe; Kolkata
Md Shabaz/ @md._.shabaz / The Saz; Kolkata
Navjyot Singh/@the_baldbartender / Lair; New Delhi
Prakhar Singhal/ @prakhar.singhal96 / Prost; Hyderabad
Pratik Gusain/ @pgmixologist / Elgin Cafe, 
Rohil Kalita/ @rohil_kalita / Hotel Four seasons, Bengaluru
Sahil Essani/ @sahil.essani / Tajmahal Hotel; New Delhi
Saurav Samanta / @cocktail_junction / Opa Kipos, Mumbai
Shobith Salian /@mr_liquidchef / Mato Mato, Thane
Sia Negi / @sianegi_ / The Leela Palace, New Delhi. 

The second edition of the annual national ranking of the best bars in the country takes one more step towards the finale with the announcement of the shortlist of the 50 top-ranked bars and 20 top-ranked microbreweries. These lists are based on the votes cast by a jury of 200 bar enthusiasts and industry experts spread across 10 cities in the country.
 
Besides the Best Bar, each jury member was asked to vote in the following six categories:  Best Hotel Bar, Best Restaurant Bar, Best Independent Bar, Best Microbrewery or Taproom, Best Cocktail Menu, Best Bar Design. A special technical jury of 25 industry professionals also voted for two additional categories - Best Bar Team and Best Bartender.
 
The 50 top ranking bars and the 20 top ranking microbreweries are now eligible for the People Choice Awards for the Best Bar and Best Microbrewery or Taproom. These awards are based on an online public poll on social media. This poll will open on January 30 and end on February 15, 2022. 
 
The Best Pandemic Response Award, which has been specially introduced for the year 2021 for a bar whose owners and managers used the best of their creativity and innovation to keep their business running during the dark days of the covid-forced shutdown. The top 100 Bars were asked to submit their entries to share the measures they implemented that saved jobs and helped the bar stay connected with the community.
 
The best bar ranking for 2021 will be unveiled at the 30 Best Bars 2021 Awards ceremony. The Gala night which was to be held on January 19, 2022, has now been rescheduled keeping in mind the ongoing pandemic. The new dates will be announced as soon as the government eases restrictions.
 
There are a total of 53 bars on the 30 Best Bars 2021 list, as three sets of bars polled the same number of votes leading to three positions in the ranking being occupied jointly by two bars each. Out of the 53 bars, as many as 32 are new entrants. Only 21 bars survive from 30Best Bars 2019 top 50 list.
 
An interesting mix of cities feature in the 50 best bars list. New Delhi & Bangalore lead the way with 9 and 8 bars respectively. Mumbai & Goa follow with 7 bars each, Kolkata with 6, Chennai & Hyderabad with 4, Gurgaon & Pune with 3. Interestingly Jaipur and Guwahati also feature on the list, with one bar each.
 
A total of 21 microbreweries make it to the top 20 ranking, with two outlets polling the same number of votes. Bangalore, expectedly leads the list of cities with the best microbreweries, with 8 outlets on the list, followed by Mumbai with 4, Pune with 3, and Gurgaon with 2. Goa, Kolkata, New Delhi, and Chandigarh contribute 1 each.
 (Excerpt from a release)

Barcelona Wine Week (BWW), the flagship event of the Spanish wine, has decided to postpone two months and will finally take place in April from 4th to 6th of 2022. The decision has been endorsed by the organizing committee of the event, which brings together the main players in the wine industry in Spain, given the uncertainty and mobility restrictions generated by the current context and to guarantee a great edition.
The new dates of the event are endorsed by most of the viticultural firms and wineries participating in BWW, represented by the Spanish Wine Federation (FEV), the Spanish Ministry of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food (MAPA), Spain Export and Investments (ICEX), the Spanish Confederation of Wine Regulatory Councils (CECRV) and the Catalan Wine Association, among other bodies and institutions that make up its organizing committee. In this way, the second edition of the event, initially scheduled for February 7th to 9th, 2022, will take place next spring, at the Fira de Barcelona Montjuïc venue.
With the expected participation of more than 600 wineries and practically all Origin Denominations and Regulatory Councils, BWW is currently the largest international promotion showcase for Spanish wines. "It’s clearly international positioning has conditioned the movement, since our main objective is to increase the
business opportunities of the exhibiting companies, providing them business meetings and contacts with international buyers, distributors and importers to increase their exports or facilitate access to new markets”, explains Javier Pagés, president of the show.
New dates aim to celebrate the show in a more suitable context “that allows to preserve its value proposition, guarantee the maximum ROI (Return of Investment) to all companies and ensure the future projection of the exhibition, as per its successful first edition”, says J. Antonio Valls, managing Director of
Alimentaria Exhibitions, a Fira de Barcelona company who organizes BWW.
Valls expresses its confidence that “international trips and meetings are more standardized on the new dates”, a key factor of the show that invites more than 350 international buyers, interested in Spanish wine, from more than 40 countries. This Hosted Buyers program of the event gives rise to more than 4,000 business meetings with the exhibiting companies.
After this next edition, the show will be held every year, so it will return in February 2023, occupying the first place in the international calendar of wine events. BWW 2022 foresees the participation of more than 600 wineries and the visit of about 20,000 professionals. Its first edition in February 2020 was attended by 550
exhibiting firms and 15,600 professionals, 13% of them from 54 countries.
(Excerpt from a release)

Bengaluru, India
Salud Beverages, the makers of Ready to Drink brand G&T 2.0 is is now launching 3
more pour and enjoy variants; a Watermelon & Mint G&T 2.0, Salud Strong, and Salud Sonic. They are price at Rs 130 for 275 ml
WATERMELON & MINT G&T 2.0
The oh-so-cooling vitality of watermelon and the zesty thrill of mint meet for an experience like a summer holiday in a bottle.
STRONG (8% alcohol)
Classic English Juniper-crafted gin gets an update with an effervescent aerated twist and a stronger kick.
SONIC
SOda and toNIC – a classic Japanese mix – with an Indian twist highlights this low-sugar gin refresher with just 99 calories.
For more details , go to https://www.salud.co.in/

After a hugely successful first edition that ranked and celebrated the 30 best bars in the country in 2019, Tulleeho and Man's World Magazine in association with Teacher’s now announce the second edition of 30 Best Bars India 2021.
Based on a nationwide poll of more than 200 bar enthusiasts and industry experts from a countrywide longlist of over 500 bars, the rankings and awards show honours India's 30 best bars, bartenders and bar teams whose impeccable service has set new standards in the country. The ranking for the year will be unveiled at the 30 Best Bars India 2021 Awards ceremony at The Leela Ambience Gurugram on January 19, 2022.
Announcing the second edition of India's 30 best bars, Mr Vikram Achanta, Founder  and CEO Tulleeho  says,"The past two years have been extremely hard for everyone, and the bar industry was no exception. It saw its share of business devastation with many bars shutting shop for good, a flurry of job cuts and staggering losses. It was certainly a grim phase for the businesses to navigate ,yet most sailed through despite the hard times, which is worth every bit of appreciation.30 Best Bars India 2021will be a celebration of the bar industry's resilience and its promising future."
Award Categories & Voting Process:
The first stage of thepoll over the last few months led to the creation of a Long List of
over 500 bars spread over more than a dozen cities in the country, based on the recommendations of 11 jury chairs and 70 bar enthusiasts & experts from across the country. The Long List is currently being pruned to a Short List of 100 bars based on three criteria, vote each of the bars got in the Long List jury poll, the size of the
bar industry in the individual cities, and geographical representation.
In the second stage, a jury of more than 200 bar enthusiasts, industry experts, connoisseurs and writers will vote for the 30 Best Bars in the country from the 100 bars ShortList, as also the best in the following categories,
Best Hotel Bar
Best Independent Bar
Best Microbrewery
Best Cocktail Menu
Best Bar Design,
Best Restaurant Bar which will recognize the best of bars in restaurants which are otherwise known for their dining experience.
Besides the awards listed above, five more important awards will be presented at the ceremony.
People's Choice Award for the Best Bar
Best Microbrewery based on a national online poll
Best Vintage Bar will recognize a bart hat has been at the forefront of service and quality for more than 30 years and selected by MW & Tulleeho teams with inputs from industry experts.
A second nominated award will be the Industry Legend Award, which recognizes the lasting contribution of an industry veteran.
A one-off special award for 2021,Best Pandemic Response, will honour a bar that "turned defeat into victory" by reinventing itself during the pandemic through innovative new lines of business, which not only helped them survive the bad times but also saved jobs and continues to be an essential revenue stream
Cocktail Carnival:
In the run-up to the 30 Best Bars India 2021 awards, 30 Best Bars in association with our sponsor partners will host a series of Masterclasses  for the bartending community, Cocktail Workshops for consumers and a vibrant, week-long celebration of the best of the bar scene across 6 to 7 cities in India.
(Excerpt from a release)
Top 100 Bar shortlist 2021 

 Brand Finance, the world's leading brand valuation co published its annual report 2021 on  alcoholic drinks, wines, beers, spirits and some highlights are as below:

• World’s top 50 beer brands lose 16% of cumulative brand value due to COVID-19 pandemic
• Despite unfortunate name association, Corona is once again world’s most valuable beer brand, brand value US$5.8 billion
• Mexico’s Victoria is strongest beer brand, AAA brand strength rating
• Chinese baijiu brands dominate spirits sector: Moutai, Wuliangye, Yanghe, Luzhou Laojiao and Gujing Gong Jiu make up top 5
• Don Julio is strongest spirits brand with AAA brand strength rating
• Moët et Chandon is most valuable and strongest wine & champagne brand
• Dom Pérignon only brand in wine & champagne sector to increase brand value, up 2%

World’s top beer brands lose 16% of total brand value
The total value of the world’s top 50 most valuable beer brands has declined by 16%, from US$94.9 billion in 2020 to US$80.2 billion in 2021. Most brands in the Brand Finance Beers 50 2021 ranking have been negotiating the effects of social distancing measures brought about by the widespread global lockdowns over the last year, which severely diminished demand for beers and wider alcoholic drinks.
​Corona has retained the title of the world’s most valuable beer brand, despite recording a 28% drop in brand value to US$5.8 billion. As the bestselling imported drink in the United States, with an additional presence in over 120 countries, the Mexican brand has also recently become one of the fastest growing grocery products in the United Kingdom.

Moët et Chandon fizzes in first place
The total value of the world’s top 10 most valuable champagne and wine brands has declined by 10%, decreasing from US$7.4 billion in 2020 to US$6.7 billion in 2021. This is a natural consequence of the COVID-19 pandemic, where restrictions on socialising and the shutdown of the hospitality sector limited opportunities for wine and champagne brands.
Despite recording an 11% drop in brand value to US$1.2 billion, Moët et Chandon has retained the title of the world’s most valuable champagne and wine brand for the 2nd consecutive year. While the brand continues to negotiate the fallout of the COVID-19 pandemic, Moët et Chandon remains one of the most renowned and prestigious luxury items in the world, aided by its numerous celebrity partnerships and association with high calibre events such as the Golden Globes and Royal Ascot.
Dom Pérignon is the only brand in the Brand Finance Champagne & Wine 10 2021 ranking to record a growth in brand value this year, following a 2% increase to US$820 million. Owned by the champagne house of Moët et Chandon, the prestigious vintage champagne has remained in the public eye over the last year, most recently through a campaign with Lady Gaga and Nicola Formichetti, where proceeds from sales of the limited-edition Dom Pérignon Rosé 2005 will be donated to charity.
​Chilean wine brand, Concha y Toro, is a new entrant to the list entering the ranking in 10th position with a brand value of US$293 million. With distribution in 135 countries, Concha y Toro is the largest wine producer and exporter in Latin America. Over the last year, the brand has benefited from a sizeable uptick in sales, particularly in the United Kingdom and Nordic countries. With plans to focus on its premium brands portfolio and further expand its Casillero del Diablo range, Concha y Toro is showing no signs of slowing down in the coming year.
(Excerpt from a release)

The Asia's 50 best bars in a virtual ceremony announced the 50 best bars of Asia 2021 and Sidecar was the only Indian bar to be in the top 50. It not did come in the top 50 again but went up the ranking from 40 to number 16.  The rest of the list is as follows

1. COA, Hong Kong, China 
2. Jigger & Pony, Singapore 
3. The SG Club, Tokyo, Japan 
4. Indulge Experimental Bistro, Taipei
5. Sober Company, Shanghai, China
6. Manhattan, Singapore,
7. Atlas, Singapore
8. No Sleep Club, Singapore 
9. Bar Benfiddich, Tokyo, Japan
10. Caprice, Hong Kong, China 
11. The Bamboo Bar, Bangkok, Thailand 
12. Bar Trigona, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia 
13. Charles. H Seoul, South Korea 
14. Native, Singapore
15. Hope & Sesame, Guangzhou, China
16. Sidecar, New Delhi, India 
17. Bar Mood, Taipei, Taiwan
18. Bee's Knees, Kyoto, Japan
19. Room By Le Kief, Taipei, Taiwan
20. The Diplomat, Hong Kong, China (
21. 28 HongKong Street, Singapore
22. Tropic City, Bangkok, Thailand
23. Tell Camellia, Hong Kong 
24. AHA Saloon, Taipei, Taiwan
25. Quinary, Hong Kong, China 
26. The Pontiac, Hong Kong, China
27. High Five, Tokyo, Japan
28. The Wise King, Hong Kong, China
29. Barbary Coast, Singapore 
30. Penicillin, Hong Kong, China 
31. Union Trading Co, Shanghai, China 
32. Speak Low, Shanghai, China
33. Union Brasserie, Bakery and Bar, Jakarta, Indonesia 
34. Bar Cham, Seoul, South Korea
35. Backstage, Bangkok, Thailand
36. Tippling Club, Singapore
37. JungleBird, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
38. The Curator, Manila, Philippines 
39. D.Bespoke, Singapore
40. Darkside, Hong Kong, China
41. Alice, Seoul, South Korea
42. The Old Man, Singapore
43. Bar Trench, Tokyo, Japan
44. Le Chamber, Seoul
45. MO Bar, Singapore
46. Vesper Bangkok, Thailand
47. Three X Co, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, 
48. Teens of Thailand, Bangkok, Thailand 
49. Sago House, Singapore
50. ​Star Bar, Tokyo, Japan 

Mumbai, India
Are you looking for a cheap hotel management course in Mumbai or  anywhere in India? Then it time you stop looking for cheap courses! Cheap often comes at the expense of quality and hence you lose on valuable 3 years and money also. So it is better to look for hotel management alternatives than to do a hotel management degree for the sake of it. 
What should you look for in a hotel management college?
- Faculty & Curriculum. Speak to someone experienced and take opinions for the same. 
- Alumni connect. You can speak to alumni from that institution to get a first hand perspective. 
- Infrastructure. Does the college have proper labs for practical learning? Some college may be located in large campuses with mediocre facilities, so don't be fooled by the façade. 
- Location. Better to be close to metro cities for better industry connect unless if these colleges in non-metros are exceptional. Do not consider a college because it is close to you. 
Try to aim for the best as this will be your foundation, the learnings, the friends that you will make for life and the proud alumni status that you will treasure. 

What if you cannot afford hotel management fees ?
No problem, you can still achieve the same like a hotel management by starting off with a vocational course in kitchen, bakery, bartending  etc. 

Bartending course versus a hotel management degree?
Pros:
- Broadly one will start at a similar salary like a hotel management graduate
- One can start working post HSC or 12th  or graduation in any other stream after taking a bartending course
- A Bartending course gives one exactly those skills that most hotel management students lack
- One can start working and earning early at a young age.
- A lot of bartenders with a bartending course background follow the same career as hotel management graduates.
Cons:
- One will have to complete a bachelor's degree for future growth or getting into certain hotel chains.  One can do a degree by distance learning whilst working.
- A non hospitality graduate lacks knowledge about food and other departments of the hotel  and hence will need more effort to put whilst working. 



The Happy High Bartending Academy, Mumbai offers a 4 week full time program for 12th pass candidates or graduates with good level of conversational English.  The courses are designed by industry professionals for the industry. You can find more about the bartending institute in Ghatkopar, Mumbai here 

Mumbai, India
The Happy High is happy to announce virtual whisky workshops this festive season starting Rs 3000 + GST per head for a minimum group of 30 people. The workshops will include gyaan sessions on the category replete with degustation of different malts. These workshops can be facilitated in Mumbai, Delhi, Gurgaon, Pune, Bengaluru only. 
These workshops work well well for employee and client engagement or as a refreshing plug in between long virtual off-site and team meetings. Friday evenings can also be made more memorable with this experience. 
Kindly write to contact@thehappyhigh.com for more details

Mumbai, India
The Happy High Bartending institute in Ghatkopar, Mumbai has now announced a part time course in bartending for current hotel management students. The course will be conducted in the evening two times a week over a period of 2 months. 
" Most hospitality curricula in the country isn't focussed on bartending and hence the need for a bartending course for hotel management students. Our course focusses on elements that will help students to stand confidently behind a bar. Our pedagogy includes go-to-market assignments and hence fosters holistic learning" said the academy's founder Ajit Balgi
The admission for the current batch is still open, candidate from 2nd and 3rd year of hospitality schools with good conversational English are welcome to apply. You can find more about the course here.We have had students from from ITM IHM Nerul Bharati Vidyapeeth and Anjuman I Islam hotel management colleges. 

Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, announced that a staggering £240,000 was raised at auction for local causes that support the Speyside community. Having attracted over 13,000 bidders from 55 countries, the limited-edition bottles of Glenfiddich 2007 (Cask No. 25427) Spirit of Speyside Distillery Edition 2020 was a not to be missed opportunity for whisky lovers. Glenfiddich released only 450 bottles of this exceptional whisky, to celebrate the Spirit of Speyside festival, cancelled this year in light of Covid-19. The Glenfiddich Spirit of Speyside Distillery Edition 2020, which has spent 13 years maturing in the darkness of Glenfiddich’s Warehouse 26, was originally handpicked by Master Distiller Brian Kinsman to honour the annual Spirit of Speyside Festival

The auction drew international interest, sparking competitive bidding online from the moment the auction went live to the all-important last hour rush, resulting in 13,000 bids overall.
 “We are thrilled with the success of this auction. The money raised will help so many people in the Speyside community, a community that is as important to us today as it was to William Grant over 130 years ago when the distillery first opened". Comments Claudia Falcone, Glenfiddich Global Brand Director.
 
On average each lot sold for approximately £480. The most sought after bottle numbers include 1 of 450 and 2 of 450 which in turn sold for £6,800 and £3,200 respectively. The final amount raised of £240,000 will go directly to support local Speyside causes most affected by the Covid-19 crisis; and will be split between NHS Grampian, Moray Food Plus and Keirans Legacy. 

Mumbai, India
Diageo India today announced ‘Raising the Bar’, a 75-crore programme committed to support bars, pubs and restaurants serving alcohol to welcome customers back and recover following the COVID-19 pandemic. “Raising the Bar” will be a two year programme to support the revival and recovery of qualifying bars, pubs and restaurants serving alcohol across New Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru and other cities. ​

Diageo designed the “Raising the Bar” programme following a global survey of bar owners to identify key priorities to support reopening. Their top priorities included hygiene measures, digital support and practical equipment and training to transform how their outlets will work when they reopen. The programme will provide targeted non-cash support including physical equipment needed for outlets to re-open like ‘hygiene kits’ with high-quality permanent sanitizer dispensers, medical grade hand sanitiser and a range of personal protection equipment (such as masks and gloves); help to bars, pubs and restaurants serving alcohol to establish partnerships with online reservations and cashless systems; mobile bars and outdoor equipment.
​
 Following resumption of business operations and the sale of alcohol in bars, pubs and restaurants, outlets will be able to register their interest for the “Raising the Bar” programme via www.diageobaracademy.com. Bar owners will receive regular updates on best practice training and resources and be able to participate in global surveys to share insights, as they build back their businesses.

“The Indian Hospitality and F&B industry has witnessed unprecedented loss of revenues. This has impacted many start-ups and MSMEs as well as the livelihood of millions of people. Pubs, Bars and Restaurants are an integral part of our communities, bringing people together to socialise and celebrate - something we have all missed during the lockdown. Diageo has always had strong linkages with the Hospitality and F&B industry, jointly curating unique experiences for consumers. The revival of this sector is vital to the economy and to the success of our business. ‘’Raising the Bar’’ is our commitment to qualifying Pubs, Bars & Restaurants that serve alcohol. This support extends to providing enhanced safety measures when they resume operations so that their business and employment can revive, enabling our consumers to feel confident once again to socialise and lead normal lives.’’ Said Anand Kripalu, MD & CEO Diageo India
(Excerpt from a release)

 

 

Mumbai, India
COVID19 and the lock down has changed the way people are consuming bytes to watch their favourite series or lap up online courses on platforms like Udemy, Coursera, Upgrad etc. The Happy High Bartending Academy, Mumbai has risen to the occasion to provide online sessions for Indian bartenders and beverage professionals as much as it is curating sessions for home bartenders or the drink enthusiast. 
For Indian Bartenders and hotel management students is the "8 Spirited Days" a series of 8 online sessions covering different spirits everyday including history, drinking rituals etc. Much of the knowledge shared is not part of curriculum in hotel institutes. Participants for the sessions came from hospitality organizations like the Leela, Oberoi, ITC, Royal Caribbean, Roseate etc. and also from Duty Frees of Muscat and Hyderabad.  Hotel Management students from IHM Mumbai, IHM Aurangabad, Rizvi Mumbai, ITM Mumbai, Don Bosco Mumbai etc. have given it a thumbs up too. It is priced at Rs 2499 + GST and it includes a certificate for the participants. 

Mumbai, India
A career in bartending may not be be the first career choice for many but it can certainly open a range of opportunities for 12th pass candidates. In this article we look at why bartending can be a career in India and what is the eligibility to be bartender in India.

Who is the bartending career after 12th in India for?
- For students who don't want to study further
- For students  who do not have the financial ability to do hotel management
- For students looking to start earning early and do their graduation through correspondence 
- For students of HSC Science, HSC Commerce and also HSC Arts
- For BCom, Bsc, BA graduates looking for a job oriented course in Mumbai

What is the eligibility to be a Bartender in India in good bars?
- Good command of conversational English to get placed in good bars
- A bartending courses to cover core basics of the profession including customers service

Scope for Indian Bartenders in India and abroad?
- Start with a salary of 12000-20000 Rs in India and grow gradually
- With 2-5 years of experience start earning RS 80000 upwards in locations like Dubai, Maldives etc
- One can become a liquor brand ambassador after around 5 years of experience and earn 50-80000 Rs in India
- Bartenders can choose to be entrepreneurs and start their Bar Consultancy

The Happy High sees potential in job focused bartending courses and hence launched their own bartending institute in Mumbai in early 2020. The Happy High Bartending academy in Mumbai will endeavor to become the best bartending institute in Mumbai but focusing on skills that are relevant and help candidates find the best jobs all in a span of 4 weeks.  Leave us a line on contact@thehappyhigh.com for more details on the bar school and counselling.

If you are someone who is thrilled by all things whisky, the fact that The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards is coming to India is something that is sure to leave you all excited.  Yes, a precursor to The Spirit of Speyside Whisky Awards scheduled to be held in April 2020 in Speyside, this event will be held on 15th February, 2020 at the Park Juhu in Mumbai. 
An initiative of The Dram Club, Mumbai,this interesting event packs a punch with several activities for whisky connoisseurs, whisky aficionados and just anyone who loves and drinks whisky. The eclectic mix of activities planned during the event on 15th February include:

Opening Lunch: 4 course Glenlivet Paired lunch with Sarita Pereira
Time: 12:30pm to 2:00pm
No. of Guests: 40 
Price of the Ticket: Rs. 5,000/- per head.

Blind Tasting & Voting for Speyside Whisky Awards:
No of Guests : 60
The Blind Tasting Sessions will be where the votes for the Speyside Festival will be recorded in batch of 20
people. The schedule of the tasting sessions is as follows:
1. 3:00pm to 3:45pm
2. 4:00pm to 4:45pm
3. 5:00pm to 5:45pm
 
Glenfiddich Masterclass with Angad Singh Gandhi- Brand Ambassador India, Glenfiddich
2:15PM to 3:15PM
No. of Guests: 25
Ticket Price: Rs. 2,500/-
Glenfiddich India Brand Ambassador, Angad Singjh Gandhi will be hosting a Speyside Special Masterclass for
the guests. Glenfiddich is one of the most known whisky distilleries from Speyside. Angad will take teh guests
through the history and philosophy of whisky making with a selection of some of the finest malts from this
Speyside Distillery.

Amrut Masterclass
3:30PM to 4:30PM
No. of Guests: 25
Ticket Price: Rs. 2,000/-
Amrut brand team will be hosting its first ever Masterclass with their range in Mumbai as a part of the
Speyside Whisky Festival. They will bring some of the exclusive range of expressions for the event.

GlenGrant Whisky with Dessert Pairing
4:45PM to 5:45PM
No. of Guests: 25
Ticket Price: Rs. 2,250/-
GlenGrant Brand Manager- Suchana Sharma will be conducting a Masterclass of Glengrant 10 & 18 for the
guests and the experience will be curated as a Whisky & Dessert for the guests. The dessert will be curated
keeping in mind the taste profile of the whiskies and will suit and complement the flavors.

Paul John Masterclass with Michael D’Souza (Master Distiller at Paul John Distilleries)
6:00PM to 7:00PM
No. of Guests: 25
Ticket Price: Rs. 2,000/-
Paul John is the Indian single Malt which has been making news across the world and winning some of the
most Prestigious awards at various international whisky awards. Their Master Distiller Mr. Michael D’Souza will
be curating an exclusive tasting for 25 guests of which 5 will be invitees and rest who have bought the tickets.
The line-up will have some of the newer expressions which are recently launched.
​
 About Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival Whisky Awards
A unique award show that honours some of Speyside’s finest single malt whiskies, this award is truly one of its kind in the sense that, it is the only one that is judged by actual whisky consumers from all over the world.  The eight finalists this year are spread into four categories and the two whiskies in each category will be judged by consumers spread all across including countries like Canada, India as well destinations in the UK and Europe.  The winners are expected to be unveiled at the opening of the 2020 Spirit of Speyside Whisky Festival in April 2020.
The Finalists for the Festival Awards 2020 are:
 • 12 Years Old and Under: Aberlour 10 Year Old and Cardhu 12 Year Old
• 13 to 20 Years Old: Benromach 15YO and Glenallachie 15YO
• 21 Years Old and Over: Glenfiddich Grand Cru 23YO and Glenfarclas 25YO
• Non Age Statement: Tamnavulin Sherry Cask Edition and Cardhu Amber Rock
(Excerpt from a press release)

Mumbai,India
The Copitas team of Four Seasons Hotel Bengaluru showcased a first ever preview of their cocktails in Mumbai during the festive season. Ahead of the momentous opening of this chic destination bar in Bengaluru, this very special takeover was a preview of this stylish new addition to Garden City’s nightlife.
 
From their base at AER, one of Mumbai’s most celebrated bars, located in Four Seasons Hotel Mumbai, the core team of 5 from Copitas  showcased their prized cocktails as a never seen before, must-try experience.  Copitas is the soon-to-be-unveiled, atmospheric bar at Level 21 at the newest luxury hotel in Bengaluru. Slated to become an address for those who wish to be seen unwinding in style, this high energy address will serve cocktails with a Bengaluru flair.

Mumbai, India
​Glenfiddich, the world’s most awarded single-malt whisky continues to push boundaries of experimentation with the never seen before single-malt curation- ‘Glenfiddich Experiments’. The ground-breaking initiative is a result of collaboration between Glenfiddich and Malabar Secrets, a niche state-of-the-art natural spice flora extracts brand.  Glenfiddich has reinvented the norm and redefined the single malt serve in India with Glenfiddich Experiments. 
 
The event was hosted at Mumbai’s first members’ only workspace and social club, The A. Romil Ratra, CEO at The A and a leading hospitality veteran co-hosted the evening with Angad Singh Gandhi, India Brand Ambassador, Glenfiddich. Building on the experimentative spirit of Glenfiddich, the culinary team at The A curated an exclusive menu by integrating select local herbs and spices, taking inspiration from the essence of 3 elixirs, i.e. Sweet Obsession, Dufftown Confluence and Bittersweet Symphony and finished the experience with a global appeal.

The ‘Glenfiddich Experiments’ experience re-defines the rules of traditional single malt serve by exploring and handpicking exotic ingredients that are specialties of India’s diverse landscape and bringing them to magically fuse with Glenfiddich’s best. Carefully curated by the Glenfiddich India Brand Ambassador, Angad Singh Gandhi, the highlight of these serves are the specially designed elixirs that uplift the sublime Glenfiddich 12-year old to even greater heights. Comprising of three exceptional elixirs- Bitter Sweet Symphony, Dufftown Confluence, Sweet Obsession that have been formulated by bringing together fine ingredients such as the fragrant Mysore jasmine, spicy Malabar clove, Kerala black pepper, cinnamon from the Western Ghats, bitter orange from Nagpur, the Kashmir peach, spiced coriander from Karnataka and other unique handpicked spices to create the perfect background for aromatic elevation. 
 “Glenfiddich as a brand believes in breaking whisky rules and challenging traditions, we believe in the philosophy of what can’t be done, must be done at the Glenfiddich distillery. Our collaboration with Malabar Spice to launch ‘Glenfiddich Experiments’ is in sync with our history of seeking the extraordinary and continue to bring out revolutionary offerings.”  said Payal Nijhawan, Head of Marketing, William Grant & Sons India.The Glenfiddich Experiments menu is a celebration of thoroughly researched recipes with ground-breaking experience and innovative additions that promise to be a revolution for single-malt lovers. (Excerpt from a release)

Mumbai, India
​Sofitel Mumbai BKC, Accor’s French luxury brand launched the 2019 edition of Sofitel Wine Days scheduled from September 21st to October 31st, 2019. Sofitel Wine Days is the hotel group’s annual global celebration of France’s unique winemaking heritage and culture. Carrying forward this legacy, the initiative brings all 120 Sofitel Hotels & Resorts worldwide together to celebrate the essence of French wine at each destination.  
 
On the occasion of Sofitel Wine Days, the luxury hotel will be hosting exquisite events, engaging sessions, and meetings with local wine experts in the city. Events hosted by master sommeliers will provide guests an opportunity to embark on an odyssey full of surprises, providing a platform to discover exotic flavours and varieties of wine. To mark the inauguration ceremony, the 5-star hotel invited wine connoisseurs to discover ‘une belle sélection’ of wines in celebration of the grape harvest season in France.  Providing an ideal opportunity for guests to discover Sofitel's French Art De Vivre, the business hotel will be offering wines from Alsace, Bordeaux, Corsica, and Rhône paired with classic dishes from each of these regions by Executive Chef Neeraj Rawoot and his team of talented chefs.
 
Through the ongoing global celebration, the luxury hotel looks forward to delighting amateurs and aficionados alike, as they discover the secrets of wine.

Mumbai, India
VBev introduces leading Single Malt brands The Dalmore Highland Single Malt & Jura Single Malt from the Whyte & Mackay portfolio in India. Whyte & Mackay was founded on the docks of Glasgow in 1844 by James Whyte and Charles Mackay, who laid the foundations for the company which has since gone on to produce some of the most highly-awarded and respected whisky brands in the world. The portfolio includes its flagship Whyte & Mackay Blended Whisky, award-winning Single Malts The Dalmore, Jura, Tamnavulin, Fettercairn, and Shackleton. Most recently the producer has created and launched new brands including The Woodsman, Wildcat Gin, Whisky Works with more innovations to be announced. 

. The rising economic prosperity among the middle class and millions of new consumers entering the legal drinking age each year continues to position India as an increasingly important market on the global premium whisky map. The Scotch Whisky Association (SWA) reported that India hit a record high in 2018 having sold 112.6 million bottles valued at 4.7billion pounds bumping it up to one of their top export markets for scotch whisky. “We are elated to introduce Whyte & Mackay’s iconic whisky portfolio to the Indian market. We have curated an offering for the Indian whisky consumer at every stage of their journey of discovery. The Dalmore Highland Single Malt, revered globally by collectors, connoisseurs and seasoned single malt drinkers will be a perfect fit in the growing luxury single malt segment. The extraordinary Jura Single Malt, the only single malt from the Isle of Jura, we foresee will carve a niche among the new single malt drinkers. John Barr Reserve, critically acclaimed for its unmatchable quality in the blended scotch segment caters to consumers transitioning from premium Indian whiskies to the blended scotch category.” said Sumedh Singh Mandla, Chief Executive Officer, VBev.  The price is in Maharashtra Jura 10 Rs 7500, Dalmore 12 Rs 10500 and John Barr blended scotch at Rs 2650. ( approximate prices)
( Excerpt from a release)

Vienna, Austria 
This year’s Austrian Wine Summit will get underway from 23–29 May, almost 200 journalists from thirty-nine countries will travel through the nation’s winegrowing regions at the invitation of the Austrian Wine Marketing Board (AWMB), with special attention paid to those regions situated at the country’s borders. The wine summit will culminate in a one-day conference addressing the history of Austrian wine, on 26 May in Vienna, where the book Wine in Austria: the History – to be published in December – will also be introduced.

Focus on borderland vineyards
Every two years, the AWMB conducts Austria’s biggest wine tour for the international press, the Wine Summit, and this year’s edition will be addressing a very special theme. AWMB managing director Willi Klinger is looking forward to the days ahead, saying in eager anticipation: “For many years, I have wanted to devote a comprehensive visit to the vineyards on Austria's borders, national borders which did not exist until after 1918; demarcations which suddenly cut excellent terroirs in two. Now, on the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the peace negotiations in the suburbs of Paris, this year’s summit will bring top journalists from all over the world to take a closer look at what has been going on in our winegrowing regions at the borders since the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, and we’ll also use this opportunity to introduce our neighbours here and there.” 197 journalists, 857 wines, 425 Austrian winegrowers From 23–29 May, 197 journalists from thirty-nine countries will travel through the Austrian winegrowing regions bordering the neighbouring countries Slovakia, Hungary, Slovenia and the Czech Republic. In addition to guests from major export markets such as Germany and the USA, numerous media representatives from emerging or developing markets such as Canada and China will be attending the summit. From the “Dreiländerblick” (three-country view) in Schrattenberg (Weinviertel), over the Bridge of Andau (Neusiedlersee), and the “Weinblick” observation point (Eisenberg) all the way to the “Grenztisch” (a table that literally straddles Slovenia’s border with the Südsteiermark), the tour groups will be stopping at various borderland vineyards and stations along the frontiers. There they will receive in-depth information from accredited specialists regarding the historical background, as well as the influence of the situation at the border on local viticulture. Numerous wine tastings will round out the extensive travel programme, some also featuring wines from the neighbour countries. In total there will be 826 wines from 425 Austrian winegrowers and 31 wines from 20 international growers presented for tasting. Parallel to the itineraries that range along the borders, there will also be an introductory visit to Austrian wine country for those journalists coming for the first time. This group will focus on classic wine regions along the Danube.

Highlight: A day’s conference addressing Austrian wine history
The centrepiece of this year's wine summit will be a one-day conference on 26 May for all participants at the Palais Niederösterreich in Vienna, especially dedicated to the history of Austrian wine. At the conference, the approximately 500-page book Wine in Austria: the History, which will be published in December, will also be presented. It was conceived by Willi Klinger and then came to fruition under the academic direction of 21 May 2019 Professor Dr Karl Vocelka. More than thirty authors contributed about two and a half years of work to this study, which treats the development of viticulture in Austria since its beginnings in prehistory. The end of the conference-day will be punctuated with a big, casual Heurigen evening. Mr Klinger summarises: “At the Heurigen we want to raise a toast with all our Wine Summit guests and a good glass of Austrian wine, in a convivial and friendly ambience. I am convinced that the representatives of the international media will be able to take completely new perspectives on Austrian wine home with them from their travels and, as a result, be better able to spread the word into the world.”
(Excerpt from a release)

Bengaluru, India
​Grover Zampa Vineyards, the most awarded wine producers and the pioneers of wine-making in India, have extended their offerings by unveiling a new visitor centre at their Bangalore winery, situated in the verdant Nandi Hills. Launching a slew of new amenities, the transformation comes as a part of the brand’s overarching efforts to appease patrons, both local and international, with unique experiences to enjoy the many tangs of wine.
 
From humble beginnings to an insignia of conviviality, Grover has always stood for its heritage, rich culture and exceptional craftsmanship. Exuding the same through a unique event designed for wine connoisseurs and afficianados, the brand offered a first-hand escapade of their winemaking tradition along with a guided tour of their winery and new visitor centre. The event also witnessed the launch of exclusive wines from the brand’s stable - Vendanges Tardives: a rich, intense, full-bodied aged dessert wine of uncommon grace and elegance; delivering floral notes and traces of spice and apricot; La Réserve Royale Brut: a sparkling vino , traditional method , partly fermented in barrels and aged for more than 30 months, this wine delivers a complex bouquet of lemon zest, flowers, fresh hazelnuts and brioche; and a new vintage of Insignia: a dry wine with medium body leading to an intricate and meandering trail of fruit-berries, coffee and chocolate, with a hint of black pepper.  The culinary partner for the event was Conrad who curated the food served at the event which was a melange of different appetizers, mains and desserts.
 
The celebration introduced the brand’s very first restaurant and lounge, Lounge de La Réserve, on ode to the brand’s flagship wine – La Réserve; serving a fusion of Indian and Continental cuisines, providing patrons the opportunity to enjoy piquant wine pairings and delicacies. The new visitor centre also houses Cave the La Reserve, a tasting room specifically designed to conduct tastings and masterclasses in the right environment and Boutique the La Reserve, for cellar door sales of the wines. The event was complemented with an all-encompassing wine masterclass, hosted by India’s first Master of Wine – Sonal Holland at Cave the La Reserve. The evening culminated in an after-soiree, where the who’s who of Bangalore were seen enjoying the ambience and conversing over wine.
 
Commenting on the occasion, Ravi Viswanathan, Chairman, Grover Zampa Vineyards said “We have been striving to make strong amendments to shape and grow the wine industry, raising the standards of Indian vino while making a mark internationally.  Directed by this very commitment, we are extremely excited to launch Lounge de La Réserve and the newer wines, which we believe are truly reflective of the capabilities of the Indian terroir and address to an evolved wine consumer. We have a positive ambition for what the future has in store for us and the wine tourism industry, and are committed to providing our patrons with the very best in wine.”
 
Adding to the same, Vivek Chandramohan, CEO, Grover Zampa Vineyards opined “At Grover Zampa, quality has always been the cornerstone of our endeavours. We are delighted to have introduced the new-fangled additions to the brand, which we are certain will not only boost our current offerings but also elevate the overall wine experience. We are bullish on the future and are eager to endure this journey of constant innovation and upgradation.”

​Mumbai, India
Belvedere – the world’s first super premium vodka, today announced the much-anticipated, second edition of their annual made-for-India platform Belvedere Studio B with actor Arjun Kapoor as its evangelist. The 2019 edition will further see an exciting collaboration of inspiring, young talents from the worlds of fashion – Kunal Rawal, gastronomy – Prateek Sadhu of Masque and design – Shilo Shiv Suleman. Belvedere Studio B is a tactile representation of Belvedere’s defining Collective Spirit, depicting the coming together of Water and Rye; Taste and Character. This year’s collaboration will culminate in a finale spectacle in Mumbai in May 2019.
 
Since it was founded 25 years ago, Belvedere has been a global cornerstone celebrating the most prolific creative minds like John Legend, Usher and Janelle Monae amongst many others via its collaborations. As an essential ingredient to night-life and building a distinct cocktail-culture, Belvedere has always transcended the traditional notion of luxury through an avant-garde lens. Belvedere Studio B is a result of this mindset - where individual expression and collaboration lead to a beautiful, sensory experience!
 
In keeping with the essence of Belvedere Studio B, Arjun Kapoor will formally set the stage and introduce this year’s collaborators to Belvedere-lovers across the world. Further, the collaborators - Kunal, Shilo, Prateek and will conceptualize and create a never-before-seen expression inspired by Belvedere…all the while engaging with their fans for creative suggestions.
 
Expressing excitement about the launch, Stephane de Meurville, Managing Director, Moët Hennessy India shared, “The foundation of Belvedere Studio B lies in its dynamic, collective spirit much like how we create Belvedere in Poland. We are now very excited to present the 2019 edition and have found the perfect Evangelist in Arjun Kapoor. An integral part of the cultural zeitgeist with his rooted performances, Mr. Kapoor epitomizes substance, intelligence and opinion in an increasingly digital-social world.”
 
Sharing more about his association, Arjun Kapoor said, “As an actor, one of the most important lessons one learns is the power of collaboration. The best movies are a crash-course in how the meeting of minds lead to the creation of something beautiful, impactful on screen! Thus, I naturally leaned in to the concept of Belvedere Studio B given its format of using varied creative fields as a medium to tell its story. I will be throwing open the challenge to this year’s collaborators to create a quintessential Belvedere experience and am quite excited to see their ideas coming to life.”
( Excerpt from a release)