LVMH-owned rum brand Eminente has opened a pop-up hotel to offer consumers a Cuban experience. Designed for one-night stays, the new Cuban rum brand has opened Hotel Eminente within the existing Monte Cristo Hotel at 20 Rue Pascal, Paris.

Right from the enterence, which brings together the smells of a Cuban market, the scent of sugarcane and notes of Eminente rum, the experience is intended to offer  consumers the “rich heritage” of the Caribbean island through a sensory journey.

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The hotel features a restaurant that has been converted into a “paladar” (family eatery), a bar, and 20 Cuban-themed guestrooms. The hotel is open until December 12, 2021.

Monte Cristo Hotel’s head bartender, Adrian Nino, is at the helm of the Eminente bar and has created a bespoke cocktail menu for the duration of the pop-up. His recipes feature raw ingredients from Cuba, including tropical fruits, vegetables, spices, and coffee. The restaurant offers “traditional Cuban cuisine with a contemporary twist.”

“This temporary flagship address dedicated to the five senses embodies a return to the roots of Eminente,” explained Camille de Dominicis, co-founder of Eminente. “With this small hotel lost in the middle of the jungle, we wanted to bring a wild Cuba into the heart of Paris. Hotel Eminente is an opportunity to give people an experience far from the typical Cuban stereotypes and honour these great wild and green spaces, with incredible biodiversity. It is also a chance to discover the Cuban way of life.”

Eminente partnered with sustainable design label Clandestina to create a limited edition Resolver bag from recycled materials, which can be used to carry a bottle of Eminente and two tasting glasses. All proceeds from the sale of the bags at the hotel will be donated to financing and sending medical equipment to Cuba.

French visitors can book via hoteleminente.com while international customers should book directly with Hotel Monte Cristo.

Irish Cream Liqueur brand Baileys has joined forces with American fashion label 3.1 Phillip Lim to take New York Fashion Week by storm with the release of the limited-edition 3.1 Phillip Lim x Baileys Mini Market Tote.

Custom-made to fit three Baileys Minis so you can make every night out even sweeter, the Market Tote is the only item from 3.1 Phillip Lim that can be purchased immediately, off the runway, as a limited-edition collectable.

“As we celebrate the 20th anniversary of 3.1 Phillip Lim, I am thrilled to partner with Baileys on something that we’ve never done before,” says Phillip Lim, Creative Director and Co-Founder, 3.1 Phillip Lim. “Joy is our purpose with this season’s Spring runway show, this anniversary moment and a common thread of our long history with Baileys.

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“This limited-edition Market Tote signifies my desire to bring people together to connect, experience joy and share in life’s beautiful pleasures,” Lim continued. “We’re excited to give our global community a chance to carry this intention with them every day and just have fun with it!”

Baileys Minis Original Irish Cream Liqueur is the perfectly petite, on-the-go treat for whatever the night’s stylish adventures hold and tones perfectly with the leather fringe detail of the 3.1 Phillip Lim x Baileys Mini Market Tote.

Evoking feelings of dancing on a night open to endless possibilities, the tote is adorned in beige pebbled leather with black dome stud details on the fringe that seamlessly take the tote from day to night. Custom interior pockets perfectly fit three Baileys Minis (100ml each) that allow you to share the sweet and creamy taste of Baileys Original Irish Cream Liqueur with a close friend.

“Baileys and 3.1 Phillip Lim have a mutual appreciation for celebrating life’s most joyful moments, and we are incredibly excited to offer a unique piece that allows people to share in those moments with us,” says Whitney Mullen, Director of Baileys and Liqueurs, DIAGEO North America.

“A Baileys cocktail is like an everyday accessory that can be paired, styled and flaunted to add a little indulgence to any experience, and now this exclusive tote allows you to bring your favourite treat on-the-go with you.”

For more information, go to 31philliplim.com

Great Jones Distilling, Manhattan’s first and only distillery since Prohibition, is celebrating the 150th anniversary of the Manhattan cocktail with an exclusive bartender competition.

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In collaboration with New York Magazine, Great Jones is challenging bartenders from across the tri-state area to put Manhattan back into the Manhattan by creating their own twist on the classic Whiskey cocktail.

Bartenders are asked to showcase their creativity by crafting a Manhattan that both honours the history of the iconic cocktail and brings something new to the table – with Great Jones Bourbon as the star.

The bartender who crafts the winning Manhattan will not only earn the prestigious title of the Manhattan, Manhattan bartender but will also receive a grand prize of $USD5,000 and a digital feature in New York Magazine.

Submissions are open until October 1, 2024.

To enter and get more information, go to greatjonesmanhattancompetition.com

Global Vodka brand Stoli is teaming up with Sydney’s Golden Age Cinema and Bar for a dazzling series of Martini & Movie Mondays to celebrate the 30th anniversary of the iconic film The Adventures Of Priscilla Queen of the Desert.

Featuring bespoke Martinis crafted by Miss Martini, aka. Ana Page, the vibrant atmosphere of the events are set to pay homage to the film’s vivacious spirit.

Inspired by the film, the four bespoke Martinis include –

Tequila Don Julio and Mexican-American fashion designer Willy Chavarria continue their longstanding partnership to celebrate the release of the Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino with an Artist Edition bottle.

Inspired by his upbringing in the San Joaquin Valley of California and his love of art and luxury design, the artist edition showcases Chavarria’s creative vision and depictions of one of the most respected Mexican holidays – Día de Muertos.

Bringing his unique vision to the Cristalino Artist Edition bottle, Chavarria has meticulously crafted designs that showcase his signature style. He pairs roses with interpretations of classic Mexican iconography from the Día de Muertos holiday.

“I am deeply inspired by my Mexican heritage, which I strive to represent through my art and design,” explains Willy Chavarria. “The Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino Artist Edition bottle, along with my recent collection, is a heartfelt illustration of the synergy between time-honoured tradition and Mexico’s modernism.”

Created in 2012 to celebrate Don Julio’s 70th anniversary, Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino is aged to perfection for 18 months in American white oak barrels and offers the rich complexities of a traditional Añejo with a modern twist. Embodying the essence of innovation, Añejo Cristalino Tequila imparts a pure crystal hue through a charcoal filtration process that brings out the crisp agave flavour typically found in a Blanco.

“Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino is a symbol of our leadership and love for tequila craft,” says Karen Harris, Vice President of Tequila Don Julio, DIAGEO NA. “We are proud to partner with Willy Chavarria to bring his designs to life through a collaboration that celebrates the interaction of the tradition and modernity of Mexico.”

This fall, Tequila Don Julio is releasing the Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino Artist Edition bottle, and celebrations will roll out across the nation. They will start with Willy Chavarria’s Spring/Summer 2025 runway show in New York City, which will debut an exclusive capsule collection inspired by Tequila Don Julio. The events continue with Mexican Independence Day in Chicago and Día de Muertos in Los Angeles.

Follow @DonJulioTequila and @WillyChavarriaNewYork to get a first look at the exclusive capsule collection and learn more about how you can join in on the celebrations this fall.

The Tequila Don Julio 70 Añejo Cristalino Artist Edition bottle designed by Willy Chavarria will be avilable at select retailers nationwide and online at DonJulio.

Italian Aperitivo brand Italicus has partnered with renowned mixologist LP O’Brien, winner of the Netflix series Drink Masters, to announce the first-ever National Rosolio Day on 1 September.

Established in honour of the brand’s 8th anniversary, Italicus will celebrate the aperitivo around the world, with eight countries taking part in hosting week-long events featuring special cocktails created with Italicus.

As part of the festivities, O’Brien will present a mini-series campaign to educate consumers about the brand, the aperitivo category, and its culture.

“Being part of the anniversary and Italicus’s launch of Rosolio Day is a tremendous honour,” explains LP. “I’m incredibly grateful to be associated with a brand that demonstrates such thoughtfulness in every aspect – from crafting the liquid to designing the bottle and creating a captivating story.”

Founded in 2016 by Giuseppe Gallo, Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto revives the nearly forgotten Rosolio category.

In the Renaissance, Rosolio was initially crafted in convents and monasteries as a medicinal tonic. Rosolio, meaning “dew of the sun,” is traditionally made from a base of alcohol, unrefined sugar and water, infused with botanicals, herbs, and fruits – with the most common flavours using spices or citrus fruits.

“The aperitivo is a global trend that started in Italy,” explained Gallo. “Now having a trendy moment around the world, the aperitivo blends tradition and innovation in its story and is served in many cocktails at the best global bars.

Despite a decline in the 19th century, Rosolio has experienced a modern revival driven by the craft cocktail movement and a renewed appreciation for traditional spirits.

“For this campaign, we are extremely excited to partner with LP O’Brien – one of the most creative minds in the international mixology scene – to inaugurate Rosolio Day on 1st September.”

Participating bars in Italy, France, Hong Kong, Hungary, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, the United States, and Switzerland will host week-long activations during which consumers can try delicious ITALICUS cocktails from an exclusive menu.

A list of bars can be found on the ITALICUS website: https://rosolioitalicus.com/the-art-of-italicus/rosolio-day.

Along with these bars, ITALICUS can also be tasted and explored in some of the world’s 50 best bars, including Connaught Bar in London, Sips in Barcelona, Freni e Frizioni in Rome, Double Chicken Please in New York, Bar Leone in Hong Kong, Maybe Sammy in Sydney, Café La Trova in Miami, and BKK Social Club in Bangkok.