Historic Belfast Hotel, The Merchant has unveiled its new sustainable cocktail list that aims to capture the zeitgeist of the cocktail scene.

A pared-back selection of 20 cocktails. the new menu showcases timeless favourites, Merchant signatures and innovative Merchant originals.

Building on the hotel’s overarching ethos of farm-to-table, the menu brings sustainability and waste reduction to the forefront.

“When considering the selection, we wanted to create a list that was approachable and encourages conversation with our bartenders, allowing them to share their knowledge and passion for crafting world-class cocktails with our guests,” said Merchant Cocktail Bar Manager, Aaron Dugan.

Regulars will be relieved to know that the Merchant classic The Sicilian, a refreshing mix ofBeefeater Gin, Campari, Cointreau, orange sherbet, fresh grapefruit juice, lemon juice, and orange bitters, originally perfected by The Dead Rabbit’s Jack McGarry during his time in The Merchant, remain on the list. Additionally, favourites like the refined Boatyard Gin Martini and the Redbreast Lustau Tipperary, also have a place.

The Merchant’s classic Champagne Negroni – a refined take on the much fabled ‘Negroni Sbagliato’, which gained popularity thanks to House of Dragons star, Emma D’Arcy last year – also features. The Merchant has also further evolved the Scottish classic Presbyterian, which was updated by Sam Ross (Attaboy, Milk & Honey) in 2008, with the use of Irish whiskey (Dunville’s Peated Irish Whiskey) rather than scotch.

The sustainability focus of the curated list results in each element of the drinks having a purpose, with nothing wasted. Garnishes, if present, are edible or a by-product of another drink and are always designed to enhance the piquancy of the cocktail. For example, bartenders handcraft their own orgeat syrup for use in several cocktails, and leftover almonds are used by the chefs to make biscuits.

“We are passionate about making our menu as sustainable as possible, and this carries through, not just in the drinks but in the menu itself, which is made from recycled paper. The menu will evolve and update twice a year to ensure we can source ingredients that are in season.”

The new cocktail menu is now available in The Cocktail Bar at The Merchant Hotel, Belfast. To find out more, go to themerchanthotel.com

United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) has named Nic Wallce of Darien, GA as the 2025 U.S. Bartender of the Year, after a three-day, five-part challenge competition.

The award (sponsored by Diageo) showcases the best in class cocktail craftsmanship and brought the country’s Top 30 competitors to test their bartending skills, agility and creativity.

Nic Wallace brings over 20 years of experience in bartending and hospitality, honing both his craft and mixology skills along the way. For more than a decade, he’s been a dedicated competitor in the acclaimed World Class competition and has become a key figure in its community.

“This was my chance to represent Georgia—Atlanta, specifically—as the only competitor from the state. I had to show up and bring the South home a championship,” explained Wallace. “I want to show people that no matter how much you want something, no matter how long it takes — you can get it.”

Competitors were challenged with crafting a signature Bulleit cocktail with a Southern dish, creating two tequila cocktails with Don Julio 70 Cristalino, and racing to make six DIAGEO Reserve cocktails in an eight-minute Speed Round, judged on balance, efficiency, skill, and hospitality.

From there, the Top 10 National Finalists were revealed after the second day, where competitors then competed in two additional challenges for the title of the 2025 World Class U.S. Bartender Of The Year. Nic Wallace ultimately came out on top and was named champion after creating the Soul Of The South and All Glowed Up cocktails that impressed the judges.

Cassandra Ericson, Manager of On-Premise Channel Marketing at Diageo North America, shared, “The creativity and skill shown by the bartenders this year have been incredible. At Diageo, we are committed to supporting their development through resources like DiageoBarAcademy.com, and it’s fulfilling to see how the program and competition continues to inspire and elevate the bartending community.”

Nic Wallace will compete alongside top national finalists from approximately 60 countries for a chance to claim the prestigious title of World Class Global Bartender of the Year. The competition challenges and inspires the next generation of bartenders, rewarding those who push the boundaries of creativity, storytelling, and technique.

All Glowed up

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Ingredients

• 1.25oz Tequila Don Julio 70 Cristalino
• 0.75oz Mulled Wine Cordial
• 0.25oz Apricot Liqueur
• 0.5oz Fresh Lemon Juice
• 0.25oz Coconut Syrup

Instructions

Add ingredients into a shaker with ice. Shake briefly and strain into a glass filled with crushed ice.

Garnish – Dehydrated Apple Slices

UK Gin distillery Bathtub Gin has collaborated with Belgravia in Bloom, the London week-long flower festival, to launch a limited-edition bottle.

Running from 19–26 May, this year’s Belgravia in Bloom theme, “Through the Seasons”, has inspired the bottle, as well as a pop-up bar that transforms the London neighbourhood into a floral wonderland.

“We’re delighted to partner with Belgravia in Bloom on this exciting collaboration,” explained Hannah Burden Teh, Brand Manager at Bathtub Gin.

“The theme of ‘Through the Seasons’ perfectly complements Bathtub’s botanical nature. Our brown paper bottle wrap is designed to enable creative, design-led partnerships like this one, and we’re proud to work with such a like-minded brand to bring the spirit of the seasons to life.”

Hand-illustrated by Bathtub Gin’s in-house designer, Erica Ho, on Bathtub’s signature brown paper wrap, the bottle design features British wildflowers that bloom year-round.

The bathtub Gin hosted pop-up bar will run in Eccleston Yards from May 22nd-25th and will feature floral G&Ts with Double Dutch mixers, showcasing the brand’s signature botanical character.

As part of the activation, the brand is also sponsoring the Belgravia in Bloom Awards, which recognise the most spectacular floral displays, and the exclusive influencer lunch, hosted by tastemaker Genevieve Harris (@MrsTrufflepig). The partnership follows Bathtub Gin’s previous successful collaboration with Mrs Trufflepig during the Summer of Punch campaign.

A spokesperson for Belgravia in Bloom says, “We were looking for an independent British drinks brand to partner with for Belgravia in Bloom this year…Bathtub Gin is so aesthetically pleasing with its artistry and illustrations that we knew they could create the perfect floral design with us…

“The bottle and the gin really represent the beauty and freshness of the installations at Belgravia in Bloom, and we are excited to be collaborating”

The limited-edition bottle is available via Master of Malt (RRP £34.95) and in-store at Wild By Tart

French Cognac house Rémy Martin has announced the launch of V.S.O.P. This is My City Limited-Editions, which celebrates vibrant hip-hop cultures across the United States. 

Paying homage to the iconic cities of Atlanta, Chicago, Detroit, and New York City, the four unique bottle designs celebrate each city’s unique influence on contemporary culture. Each bottle has vibrant designs and colours that amplify the cities’ popular landmarks, sports teams and heritage.  

“As we celebrate the launch of the V.S.O.P This is My City limited-edition collection, we are proud to honor the local talent, culture, and legacies that have shaped these iconic cities and continue to inspire the future,” said Tonia Mancino, Vice President of Luxury Brands, Rémy Cointreau Americas. “Through our microgrant initiative, we are furthering Rémy Martin’s commitment to culture by empowering emerging creatives and supporting the innovation that drives these cities’ cultural evolution.”

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This is My City Microgrant Initiative

To accompany the launch of the limited-edition collection, Rémy Martin announces its inaugural This is My City Microgrant Initiative, a regional microgrant program to honour emerging creatives. The microgrant is open to all types of creatives that contribute to their local culture and communities through various types of entrepreneurship.

The microgrant will award $20,000 grants and one-on-one mentorship from industry experts to emerging creatives from each city and will serve to reinforce the brand’s ongoing commitment to community by celebrating emerging entrepreneurial voices.

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This is My City Local Events

To commemorate the This is My City program, Rémy Martin will host local events in New York, Atlanta, Detroit and Chicago, spotlighting the V.S.O.P limited-edition bottles. The event will welcome This is My City mentors, honorees as well as notable tastemakers for the ultimate celebration of culture, community, and cognac. Alongside mentorship, Rémy Martin is extending its longstanding collaboration with fashion designer Jon Stan to create a collection of exclusive custom merchandise for microgrant recipients and attendees at local events in each city.

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This is My City Microgrant Submission Guide

Rémy Martin encourages creative individuals making a notable cultural impact on their local communities across various types of entrepreneurships to apply.

Honorees will be selected based on their contributions to culture, innovation, and originality, with a focus on work that shapes conversations in their industry and community, pushes boundaries, and displays unique style and authenticity. Recipients will be required to provide examples of relevant programs they’ve developed and will attend a celebratory event as an honoree in their respective city.

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Applicants must be a resident of New York, Atlanta, Detroit or Chicago and be at least 21 years of age to be considered. Applications open February 19, 2025, and close April 11, 2025.

The This is My City V.S.O.P Limited-Edition is available for purchase in stores in select markets (Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago and New York)

For more information, go to remymartin.com

Italian Aperitivo brand Italicus has announced the return of its The Art of Italicus Aperitivo Challenge for its seventh edition.

With a bold new challenge and a prestigious prize, the 2025 competition calls on bartenders from across the globe to reimagine a new way to Spritz.

Poised to enrich aperitivo culture to new heights, the winner of the competition will earn the coveted title of Italicus Bar Artist of the Year 2025 and embark on an exclusive mentorship programme that includes access to the most prestigious bar industry events worldwide and an opportunity to work alongside the talented Lorenzo Antinori, from the celebrated Bar Leone in Hong Kong.

“As we celebrate the seventh edition of the Art of Italicus Aperitivo Challenge, we continue to push the boundaries of creativity and innovation in the aperitivo tradition,” explained Giuseppe Gallo, founder and CEO of Italicus.

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“This year’s focus on reimagining the spritz reflects our commitment to keeping the ritual fresh, exciting and relevant. With Lorenzo Antinori as our partner and a grand final in Europe, the 2025 challenge will undoubtedly showcase the extraordinary talent of bartenders worldwide,’ Gallo continued.

Through this year’s challenge, Italicus invites bartenders to innovate while honouring the spritz’s timeless appeal. Participants are encouraged to draw inspiration from any form of art, such as painting, sculpture, music, architecture, or fashion, to craft a drink that embodies creativity and sophistication while demonstrating the spirit’s versatility and distinctive bergamot essence.

“The spritz, is synonymous with the aperitivo tradition and has enjoyed global popularity thanks to its light, refreshing character and versatility.” says Roberta Mariani, Advocacy Director for Italicus. “As appreciation for the spritz continues to grow, Italicus leads the way, championing quality, diversity and artistry in the aperitivo movement.”

This year, the competition welcomes participants from 10 countries: France, Germany, Hong Kong, Hungary, Italy, New Zealand, Spain, UK, USA, and a Wild Card entry open to bartenders from other nations.

Competitors are tasked with creating an original spritz cocktail using a minimum of 40ml (or 1.5oz in the US) Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto and no more than five ingredients.

Entrants must submit their recipe, including an image of the cocktail, detailed measurements, garnishes and glassware specifications, via the competition website by 28th April, 2025. Competitors are also required to share the inspiration behind their aperitivo creation.

Applications open February 10th, 2025, and can be submitted online atwww.artofitalicus.com. Participants are encouraged to share their creations on social media using the hashtags: #italicus #rosoliodibergamotto #artofitalicus #AOI25.

Arizona Cocktail Weekend, the longest-running cocktail event in the Southwest, will return to the greater Phoenix area on February 27th for its 13th year.

Running through to March 4th, the five days of exciting events will feature three signature events: The Cocktail Carnival, Top Bars, and Last Slinger Standing. Additionally, there will be tastings at global bar pop-ups, expert-led educational seminars and cocktail-paired dinners, and can’t-miss cocktail events.

The Cocktail Carnival will kick off the weekend on Saturday, March 1st, with a high-energy blend of brand showcases, brand activation-driven entertainment, and endless fun. Featuring innovative and immersive displays and booths, each ticket grants attendees access to over 30 expertly crafted cocktail samples.

On Sunday, Top Bars will feature over 40 of the world’s best cocktail bars travelling to Downtown Phoenix as pop-ups, sharing some of their most popular signature cocktails. A fan-favourite, the event will be headlined by some of the best bars from around the world, with previous years’ guests including Allegory from Washington, DC; Penicillin from Hong Kong; Eleven Madison Park from New York City; and Silverleaf from London.

Arizona’s top mixologists will battle it out on Monday at The Last Slinger Standing competition. Hosted at Republic National Distilling Company (RNDC), the competition will pit 16 of Arizona’s best mixologists against each other in head-to-head battles. Each round features secret ingredients and will be judged by a panel of renowned cocktail experts from around the world … that is until the last slinger remains standing to take the 2025 trophy.

For the second year, Arizona Cocktail Weekend will also feature venues and bars from across the state. The event will highlight the craft of cocktails from participating bars and restaurants, featuring spirits from brand sponsors. Sign-up is free for all Arizona venues.

For more information, go to arizonacocktailweekend.com