We’ve all had a drink or two on a plane but what if you could get out of that cramped seat and in a booth? That’s right, Virgin Atlantic has created an area they are calling ‘The Booth’, so you and your travel mates can enjoy cocktails together at 30,000 feet?

Virgin Atlantic has launched the new social drinking “Booth” on its newest A350 aircraft. The airline describes the new room as “a cosy corner, providing comfy lounge-style seating” and will feature two 27” touch screen monitors, and two Bluetooth audio jacks.

“We’re famous for our onboard social spaces and the introduction of The Booth elevates the customer proposition for our leisure travellers to new heights,” said Corneel Koster, Virgin Atlantic’s chief customer and operations officer. “I’m delighted that we’ve curated The Booth specifically for our customers jetting off on holiday to our sunny destinations, such as Orlando, offering a truly stylish start to their trips.”

The Booth has been “designed with beautiful, tactile finishes, including Scottish leather seats and a pressed wool effect table,” explains the brand. “It’s a luxurious spot just for two, to enjoy anything from a wine tasting experience to a romantic dinner, a nightcap, or just a change of scene.”

People travelling between London Heathrow and Orlando will be the first to experience the Virgin Atlantic Booth as a social drinking space with the first flight currently scheduled for December 2021.

Other leisure destinations, including Barbados, will receive the new aircraft with The Booth later in 2022.

Virgin Atlantic’s Airbus A350 and its Boeing 787 also already houses a separate communal bar in which upper-class customers are encouraged to socialise in mid-flight. On its bookings site, the airline reminds its travellers that drinks on board its flights are included in its ticket prices, stating: “Our onboard bar is a great spot to meet up with colleagues and catch up with friends. The drinks are on us.”

For more information or to book your trip, head over to Virgin Atlantic’s official website.

Global Rum brand Havana Club has announced the second instalment of its team competition: Havana Club Cocktail Maestros.

The contest will take bartending teams from across Europe, Asia, and the Americas on a journey through national qualifications and regional challenges. Then, they will embark on an inspirational trip to Havana to discover Cuba’s vibrant energy and the brand’s unique cultural legacy. 

“Havana Club and mixology share an entwined history,” explained Maxime Chevalier, Senior Brand Advocacy Manager at Havana Club. “It’s safe to say that the rum category and Havana Club would not be where it is today without the support and creative energy of the bartending community. 

“This competition is a chance for us to give back and provide a platform to the incredibly talented bartenders around the world. Much more than a cocktail contest, Havana Club Cocktail Maestros brings the community together through shared cultural experiences, in-depth brand education and training. 

“It’s an opportunity for us to take those at the heart of industry on a journey through Havana Club’s rich and diverse heritage and the artistry behind our exceptional rums.”

With a €10,000 prize for the winning team, the competition will reward creativity, flavour, and team spirit. Unlike the inaugural competition, contestants can now partner with someone from a different venue within the same country, fostering long-term connections across the industry. 

The top 10 teams from each country will progress to the national finals, where they’ll create a Cuban afro-Latin-inspired cocktail for a dedicated local jury. 

For the regional stage, teams will meet for a series of training sessions and challenges. They’ll learn to work together in stimulating environments, guided by regional industry mentors. Then, they’ll begin accumulating points before jetting off to Havana for the final stage of the contest in April 2026. 

The four-day finals in Cuba will allow contestants to immerse themselves in the passion of the city and its lively bar scene, as well as the craftsmanship and culture that’s captured in every bottle of Havana Club. Teams will also partake in the Great Havana Hustle challenge, testing their skills over the course of a unique bar shift, showcasing their expertise, hospitality, and teamwork abilities. 

A panel of industry icons, including world-renowned drinks figure Sandrae Lawrence and friend of the brand Simone Caporale, will decide the grand winners, pending the announcement of the last trio member. 

Competition details and dates within each territory are now available on the Havana Club website. Follow the link to enter and the chance to be crowned “Havana Club Cocktail Maestros”: https://havana-club.com/en/havana-club-cocktail-maestros/.

Modern London Whisk(e)y bar Dram is collaborating with Dublin’s Bar 1661 to celebrate Burns Night next week with a two-day takeover tour through London and Dublin.

Dram x Bar 1661 will offer guests a traditional Burns Night celebration, featuring delicious cocktails, haggis, and plenty of Drams to try.

Kicking off on Sunday 26^th, in the heart of London, Dram will play host to Bar 1661, who will, of course, bring a little National Irish Coffee Day to the event. Bar 1661 will serve their signature drink, “The Belfast Coffee”, which can be enjoyed alongside a delicious selection of drams.

The celebration will continue on Monday 27^th, with the Dram team heading to Dublin, where they will take over BAR 1661 for the evening. From 6pm onwards, guests can expect a delicious cocktail offering showcasing Dram’s signature style of uniquely delicious cocktails.

For more information, connect with the bars via @dram.ldn & @1661bar

Award-winning London bar Scarfes Bar, Rosewood, in partnership with The Lakes Distillery, will host Bar Leone from Hong Kong for an exclusive takeover on Wednesday, 29th January, from 6pm onwards.

Bringing a taste of Italian-inspired mixology to the heart of London, the night will feature co-founder and bartender Lorenzo Antinori and offer a multisensory journey complemented by Scarfes Bar’s live music and artistic setting.

Blending Scarfes Bar’s artistic ambience with Bar Leone’s signature brand and Italian-inspired cocktails, the drinks will consist of a selection of four cocktails, highlighting high-quality seasonal ingredients and low-intervention techniques. These will, of course, be accompanied by Bar Leone’s bar snacks, Smoked Olives and Mortadella Focaccia.

The first of the cocktails will be Il Cacciatore is a zesty blend of The Lakes Classic Gin, Bianco Vermouth, Mastika, Cherry Tomato and Lemon.

Also featured will be Bitter Yuzu Highball is a refreshing serve featuring The Lakes The One Fine Blended, Yuzu Sake, Bitter Fusetti and Soda.

Fig Leaf Negroni is a unique twist on the classic with The Lakes Classic Gin, Fig Leaf Vermouth and Campari.

Finally, Caffe’ Paradiso is a complex and rich serve, showcasing The Lakes Whiskeymaker’s Reserve No.7 with Cold Brew Coffee, Amaro, Honey, Salted Cream and Green Cardamon. 

Guests can expect an engaging experience, as Lorenzo’s flair for storytelling adds depth to the evening, creating connections through the drinks, their inspiration and the ambience of Scarfes Bar. 

For more information, go to scarfesbar.com or connect with the bar social via @scarfesbar

Award-winning Barcelona bar Paradiso has announced the return of its fourth annual Paradiso Sustainability Summit, in partnership with Ketel One.

Hosted by the bar’s founder Giacomo Giannotti, the Summit will be held on Sunday 30^th March 2025 at Barcelona’s green event space Palo Alto. The event will feature some of the biggest names in the global bar community and will be accompanied by a public cocktail festival designed to showcase the finest sustainable brands, bars and cocktails from around the world.

“I am delighted that we are once again able to bring together the drinks industry’s most innovative minds to share their expertise on sustainable practises,” explained Giannotti. “Our goal with the summit is not just to spark discussion for the global community but also to create a platform where we drive greater change for our local community.”

The Summit’s programme of seminars and events will address issues of “Social Sustainability”, exploring topics such as diversity, inclusivity, and empowerment, alongside our most significant environmental challenges.

Last year’s event saw over 1,500 attendees, featuring several venues from The World’s 50 Best Bars list, including Himkok, Tres Monos and Alquímico, amongst many others, alongside some of Barcelona’s most exciting concepts such as Creps Al Born and Dr. Stravinsky.

For more information, go to paradiso.cat or connect with the bar via @paradiso_barcelona

Japanese Shochu brand, iichiko is calling on bartenders from Los Angeles to New York City to create the best cocktail using the brand’s Saiten expression, a high-ABV shochu crafted specifically for the modern bartender.

The competition asks entrants to spotlight the spirit while also showcasing a level of creativity that further establishes iichiko Saiten, and shochu as a category, as a major contender in the cocktail industry.

“We’re thrilled to be part of iichiko Irodori as it gives us a unique opportunity to showcase the versatility of the iichiko Saiten brand,” said Tetsuro Miyazaki, General Manager of iichiko Shochu. “The team looks forward to connecting with bartenders across the country who share our passion for shochu.”

Crafted specifically for the modern bartender, Michiko Saiten is an honkaku shochu, the highest grade of shochu, offering a full-flavoured expression of shochu that is perfect for cocktails at 43% ABV. Saiten exudes rich umami notes of jasmine tea, white peach, minerals, and earth, along with citrus and a saline finish.

The competition’s finalists will be announced in March and will face off at the Grand Finale events held at some of the United States’ most celebrated bars—Thunderbolt in Los Angeles, and Bar Goto in New York. Entrants will compete for the grand prize of an all-expenses-paid trip to Japan, including a guest shift at a top Tokyo bar, a visit to the iichiko distillery, and a $1,500 cash prize.

Competition Guidelines and Grand Prize

• Entrant Eligibility

  • Residents of New York or Los Angeles (surrounding areas also acceptable; travel costs not included should entrants advance to the final round)

  • One entry per person

• Judging Criteria

  • All cocktails must contain a minimum of 1oz/30ml of iichiko Saiten

  • A maximum of 6 ingredients

  • All garnishes must be edible

  • Overall flavour and deliciousness

  • Creativity and originality

  • Low waste

• Submission Deadlines & Winner Announcements

  • Round One: (January 10th – January 31st, 2025): Written submission, submitted online here

  • Round Two: (February 4th – February 18th): Video submission

  • Grand Finale:

    • New York City (March 16th at Bar Goto): In-person competition

    • Los Angeles (March 18th at Thunder Bolt): In-person competition

• Prizes

  • First Place: All expenses paid trip to Japan, with a guest shift in Tokyo, visit to iichiko distillery, and $1,500 USD cash prize

  • Second Place: $800 USD cash prize

  • Third Place: $400 cash prize

For more information, go to iichiko.com and/ or follow the brand via @iichiko.shochu