50 Best Bars have announced Sago House as the Mitchter’s Art of Hospitality Award winner in the lead-up to Asia’s 50 Best Bar Awards.

Hosted in collaboration with destination partner Hong Kong Tourism Board, the eighth edition of Asia’s 50 Best Bars, sponsored by Perrier, will be announced at a live awards ceremony at the Rosewood Hotel in Hong Kong on 18 July 2023.

Launched in the middle of lockdown with a selection of canned and bottled cocktails, Sago House was established by three industry titans – Jay Gray (former Brand Ambassador with experience behind the bar from London to Sydney and beyond), Desiree Jane (formerly of 28 HongKong Street and EC Proof), and Abhishek C George (also of Spiffy Dapper and Oriental Elixir).

“Good hospitality has always been our top priority from day one, so being recognised with this award means everything to us,” explained Desiree Jane, co-founder of Sago House. “We want every guest who walks through our doors to feel welcome and comfortable; this goes for our regulars and even those who come in for their first visit.

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With an atmosphere that exudes equal parts edginess, inviting intimacy and a trendy vibe, Sago House is known for its weekly changing menu that reflects the bar team’s creativity. The menu consistently includes six classic serves, although the names and ingredients evolve according to native and seasonal ingredients available.

As the owners are veterans in the local cocktail scene, Sago House is seen as the preferred after-hours neighbourhood hotspot for the bar community in Singapore. Known not only for its beverage programme but also for the welcoming and convivial space that has been created, this intimate 35-seater bar was built almost entirely by hand, with 80% formed out of reused materials.

“We are excited to celebrate this win,” continued Jane, “which is not just an award for the Sago House team, but also one for the community we have built, for those who have made our little shophouse bar their home away from home.”

The live countdown will also be streamed on The World’s 50 Best Bars Facebook and 50 Best Bars TV YouTube Channel.

More information on Sago House can be found on the bar’s Instagram

Mexican Mezcal brand Amarás has joined with drinks and marketing agency Scotch Creatives to launch the “Best Paloma In The World” contest.

Bartenders and beverage directors ready to take on the challenge in key cities around the world, including Los Angeles, New York, Miami, Texas, Chicago, London, Madrid and Ibiza, will create their own take on the beloved mezcal Paloma this summer, using the smooth and perfectly balanced Mezcal Amarás Espadin Joven as their spirit of choice.

“Rooted in the heartland of Mexico, the history of the Paloma takes us back centuries to a time when indigenous cultures first distilled agave-based spirits,” shared Santiago Suarez, Chairman & Co-Founder of Mezcal Amarás.

“With this contest, we call on all cocktail enthusiasts to unleash their ingenuity to craft unique expressions of the iconic Mexican mezcal-based cocktail that has captured hearts and palates worldwide.”

Participants from the top bars worldwide will post and tag @MezcalAmarás on Instagram to be officially added to the contest.

The top ten mezcal Palomas in each city will be taste-tested in person by local industry experts, including John Gakuru, Charles Joly, Moe Aljaff, Christine Wiseman, Hannah Sharman-Cox, Siobhan Payne and Danil Nevsky.

Each mezcal Paloma will be judged on taste, appearance and resourceful use of ingredients.

The overall winner in each city will be invited to Oaxaca, Mexico in November for a global showdown where they will compete to collaborate on a limited edition, one-of-a-kind Mezcal Amarás ensemble bottling.

For more information about Mezcal Amarás, visit mezcalamaras.com and follow on Instagram @MezcalAmarás for real-time updates on the contest.

Global Rum brand BACARDÍ is set to become the first spirits partner of the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards (VMAs) to celebrate 50 years of Hip Hop culture and the songs, artists, albums and videos that have defined the genre.

“As a vanguard of the visual identity of music, we’re honoured to be the first-ever Spirits Partner of the MTV VMAs, especially during the 50^thanniversary of Hip Hop,” said Lisa Pfenning, BACARDÍ’s Vice President of North America.

“As the VMAs have long celebrated both the sound and the style of Hip Hop, BACARDÍ has long been embedded in Hip Hop culture, inspiring some of the most memorable lyrics, movements, and music video moments from artists who have defined a generation. We look forward to working with MTV and Paramount Brand Studio to present this monumental celebration and highlight the multiple points of Hip Hop culture.”

In honor of the partnership with the 2023 MTV Music Video Awards, BACARDÍ will bring the celebration of Hip Hop’s 50^th anniversary to consumers in New York and nationwide, including:

• BACARDÍ Vintage pop-up in New York City: Leading up to the show, BACARDÍ will pay tribute to the iconic style of Hip Hop with BACARDÍ Vintage: a pop-up retail and cocktail experience in partnership with MTV, Paramount Brand Studio, Metropolis, and Stadium Goods open to the public in NYC on Friday, September 8^th. Showcasing the genre’s influence on both music and fashion over the past 50 years, the retail experience will feature limited-edition merchandise and a curated selection of archival sneakers by longtime partner and renowned streetwear retailer, Stadium Goods; vintage t-shirts, jackets, and rare concert merch sourced by NYC vintage haven, Metropolis; as well as an intimate, Caribbean-inspired lounge serving BACARDÍ cocktails.
• A Limited-Edition BACARDÍ x VMA bottle and Consumer Sweepstakes: To bring the celebration to fans nationwide, BACARDÍ is releasing a limited-edition run of one thousand re-designed bottles and gift box set honouring the historic anniversary and the iconic awards ceremony. With the same liquid that has been name-checked in countless songs, the unique BACARDÍ bottle also features a speciality QR code, giving consumers a chance to win tickets to the 2023 MTV VMAs. The limited-edition gift set is available for purchase at www.bacardi.com/us/en/our-rums/limited-edition-vma-hip-hop-bottle/.
• BACARDÍ  Performance Partnership and Exclusive Custom Content: During the 2023 VMA broadcast, BACARDÍ will partner with the VMAs around a performance paying tribute to the 50^th anniversary of Hip Hop, along with the debut of a special BACARDÍ custom content featuring two surprise celebrity guests, representing the legacy and future of Hip Hop, to debut during the VMA ceremony. Created and produced by Paramount Brand Studio, the spot will feature a custom mix of music representing BACARDÍ’s presence in the songs we know and love through the decades.
• BACARDÍ Mojito Mo-Problems, the Official Cocktail of the VMAs: On awards night, BACARDÍ will be sipped by fans and stars alike throughout the VMAs ceremony at the Prudential Center in New Jersey on September 12^th. To celebrate the partnership, BACARDÍ has created an all-new signature cocktail for the 2023 VMAs –the Mojito Mo-Problems made with BACARDÍ Superior rum – and an extended custom cocktail menu including the BACARDÍ 808 made with award-winning BACARDÍ Reserva Ocho rum and the Mango Fuego, featuring the all-new BACARDÍ Mango Chile flavoured rum expression. See below for the official recipe and other VMA cocktails that will be served at the show.

For more information, follow @bacardi on all social channels. For more information about BACARDÍ activations surrounding the 2023 MTV Video Music Awards, head over to https://www.bacardi.com/us/en/bestofhiphop.

Mojito Mo-Problems, Official Cocktail of the 2023 MTV VMAs

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Ingredients

• 1 1/2oz BACARDÍ Superior Rum
• 3/4oz lime juice
• 1/2oz Monin Mojito Mint syrup
• 1/2oz Real Passionfruit syrup
• 2oz club soda
• 5-6 fresh mint leaves

Instructions

Combine BACARDÍ Superior Rum, lime juice, syrups and mint leaves in a shaker tin with ice and shake vigorously. Strain into a cup over fresh ice and top with a splash of club soda. Stir to incorporate. Garnish with a mint sprig.

The United States Tennis Association (USTA) has announced its partnership with the iconic Italian Aperitivo, Aperol.

“We are delighted to welcome Aperol to the US Open,” said Deanne Pownall, USTA Managing Director of Corporate Partnerships.

“The US Open is one of the largest annually attended sporting events in the world and is a spectacular experience for fans to enjoy world-class tennis along with amazing culinary offerings. We know that our fans will embrace Aperol, and its social appeal is a great fit for the US Open.”

Aperol will bring a slice of Italian culture to the US Open grounds in 2023, with two on-site destinations designed in the spirit of its founding principle of togetherness.

A branded, indoor-outdoor patio bar located off the grounds’ primary esplanade, just east of the main entrance to Arthur Ashe Stadium, will offer fans an Aperol experience and light bites. Across the grounds near Court 5, Aperol will set up an authentic Italian Apé Truck and a place to connect with friends in between matches through Labor Day.

“Aperol is a brand deeply rooted in history, which evolved from a passion of coming together,” said Andrea Sengara, Campari America’s Head of Marketing. “A partnership with the US Open, a globally recognized tournament and social occasion, provides a space to foster new experiences amongst tennis and Aperol fans alike.

We are delighted to join forces with an organization which holds shared values and long-standing traditions of sparking joyful moments. We look forward to bringing the Aperol Spritz and its iconic Italian aperitivo culture to this festive tournament.”

Tennis fans at the US Open can enjoy Aperol at both destinations and two on-site mobile carts. Aperol will also be running digital, influencer, paid media and social media campaigns locally and nationally to help drive consumer awareness around Aperol’s newest partnership.

Aperol reminds all fans to enjoy this upcoming tournament season responsibly.

The USTA is the national governing body for the sport of tennis in the U.S. and owns and operates the US Open, one of the highest-attended annual sporting events in the world. The USTA’s philanthropic entity, the USTA Foundation, provides grants and scholarships in addition to supporting tennis and education programs nationwide to benefit under-resourced youth through the National Junior Tennis & Learning (NJTL) network.

For more information about the USTA, go to USTA.com or connect with the association on Instagram.

As a precursor to Scarfes Bar’s first global bar tour, the London bar will be hosting Nutmeg & Clove for a one-night-only bar takeover on Sunday, 30 July.

Nutmeg & Clove, which has been awarded number 7 on Asia’s 50 Best Bars this year, will be bringing a taste of Singapore to London for the night with a curated drinks menu created by the Nutmeg & Clove team.

James Beard Award Winning chef, Nina Compton, has announced the public opening of ShaSha Lounge in New Orleans.

Launching alongside United Way and fellow celebrity chefs, including Stephanie Izard, Marc Forgione, Michelle Bernstein, Rodney Scott, and Tiffani Faison, the ShaSha Lounge: Social Aid and Pleasure Club will be a membership cocktail lounge with a cause. 

To celebrate, ShaSha Lounge is releasing a limited number of exclusive discounted memberships that are available for purchase via credit card or cryptocurrency at www.shakenandstirred.io. 

“ShaSha was conceptualized as a way to evoke the spirit of New Orleans hospitality while simultaneously creating a mechanism in which we could continuously and quickly give back to our cherished community who are too often impacted by natural disasters,” Compton said.

“We are so fortunate to officially partner with United Way Southeast Louisiana and their compassionate team as we release our first public memberships and start building a fund that is fueled by our community’s love of cocktails and cuisine,” she continued.

Members of ShaSha will experience unique benefits, including elevated access to the lounge, discounted rentals and buyouts, voting rights on programming within the venue, and preferred entry to special events nationwide, including ShaSha’s public launch party, which will mark the momentous occasion on Thursday, July 27th, 2023. A portion of all membership and lounge sales will be reserved to help support future disaster relief in the region.

United Way Southeast Louisiana will work in conjunction with Compton and partners Sweet Management Group and Dolphin Entertainment to mobilize raised funds in the wake of forthcoming regional disasters.

“This passion project unites United Way and ShaSha’s love for New Orleans hospitality and dedication to giving back to our communities, ” said Michael Williamson, President and CEO of United Way Southeast Louisiana.

“We are committed to responding to disaster at the speed of need, so as our partnership raises critical funds through ShaSha’s innovative cocktail lounge and membership platform, we will be well positioned to provide immediate relief where it’s needed most,” he continued.

In addition to UWSELA, Compton has enlisted the support of Iron Chef Marc Forgione, James Beard Award winners Michelle Bernstein, Stephanie Izard and Rodney Scott, as well as Chopped Judge Tiffani Faison. Each chef will collaborate quarterly on new cocktails, participate in live and virtual events for members, develop exclusive content for the community and individually program the club for one week each year.

On Thursday, July 27th, 2023 from 12pm CST to 3pm CST, Compton and the ShaSha team will host a launch party at her restaurant, Compère Lapin, with preferred access to prepaid members and limited availability for others who RSVP to info@shashalounge.com.