Lauren Bowes

Coventry, London

Bars Editor at The Spirits Business

Bars editor @spiritsbusiness Eating, drinking, writing, reading. She/her

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Articles

Diageo World Class GB announces top 10

1 week ago | thespiritsbusiness.com | Lauren Bowes

The top 10 finalists for Diageo World Class GB have been revealed, with the national final to take place in Scotland in June. The finalists have been whittled down from a long list of 100, all of whom served up cocktails as part of the Diageo World Class 2025 festival last month. Each participating bar served three bespoke cocktails inspired by their local community and based around a Diageo-owned spirit, such as Don Julio Tequila, The Singleton whisky and alcohol-free brand Seedlip.
Twenty8 Nomad’s love letter to the Martini

1 week ago | thespiritsbusiness.com | Lauren Bowes

At Twenty8 Nomad, the restaurant and bar at London’s Nomad Hotel that opens today (9 May), the Martini is the star of the show. Led by vice-president of food and beverage Leo Robitschek, the drinks programme reflects the hotel’s proud New York heritage. “When we decided to do Twenty8, we really thought about who we were and the fabric of who we are,” explains Robitschek.
InchDairnie debuts inaugural single malts

1 week ago | thespiritsbusiness.com | Lauren Bowes

Fife-based Scotch maker InchDairnie Distillery has launched its first two single malts, two eight-year-old expressions under the KinGlassie brand. The brand claims the releases are the ‘first’ peated whiskies from Fife in modern times. The two whiskies each provide ‘a distinct take on the new KinGlassie range that ignites flavour discovery, revealing new dimensions in smoke’.
SB meets… Ryan McFarland, Spiritly

1 week ago | thespiritsbusiness.com | Lauren Bowes

The chief commercial and strategy officer at Drinksology Kirker Greer (DKG) explains what Spiritly can offer spirits brands and retailers. What is Spiritly? Spiritly is a bespoke spirits and wine platform that offers three things: direct-to-consumer (DTC), business-to-business, and partnerships, which is where we offer brand owners, retailers or wholesalers integrated solutions. What makes Spiritly different to other spirits retailers?
Doberman Drawing Room opens in Las Vegas

1 week ago | thespiritsbusiness.com | Lauren Bowes

Las Vegas-based Corner Bar Management has launched a bar called Doberman Drawing Room in the city’s Arts District. Doberman Drawing Room opened its doors on 30 April. Mixologist and partner Juyoung Kang, previously of Fontainebleau Las Vegas, heads up the bar programme. The menu is shaped by her ‘globally inspired, deeply intentional approach to cocktails’. “Doberman represents the next evolution of cocktail culture in Las Vegas,” said Ryan Doherty, founder of Corner Bar Management.
High Basin Brands snaps up Can-Tini

1 week ago | thespiritsbusiness.com | Lauren Bowes

Texan spirits company High Basin Brands has acquired ready-to-drink (RTD) Espresso Martini brand Can-Tini for an undisclosed sum. Can-Tini is nitrogen-infused to create a ‘smooth, creamy, and tastefully foamed experience’. High Basin’s chief marketing officer Jordan Rothschild-Noomé said: “Can-Tini is everything we look for in a breakout brand: exceptional liquid, beautiful design, and the ability to stand out in a high-growth category.
Scotch auction sales fall by 53%

1 week ago | thespiritsbusiness.com | Lauren Bowes

Between October 2024 and January 2025 (Q4 2024), the value of single malt Scotch whisky at auction fell by 53% compared with the year prior. According to the 10th Whisky Intelligence Report from Noble & Co, volumes also fell by 21% compared with the previous year. The value drop was attributed to ‘a consistent downtrend in average bottle prices’, in particular for bottles over £10,000 (US$13,315). It attributed this change to ‘top-end buyers and owners either stepping back or withholding stock’.
On The Rocks debuts canned RTDs

1 week ago | thespiritsbusiness.com | Lauren Bowes

Ready-to-drink (RTD) brand On The Rocks has released its first non-bottled products. The new canned range is carbonated and comes in three flavours: Sparkling Lime Margarita, Mango & Mint Mojito and Cucumber & Lemongrass Mule. The lime variety is made with Tres Generaciones Plata Tequila and house-made triple sec, while the cucumber expression combines Effen Vodka and is sweetened with cane sugar. The Mojito features a blend of dark and white Cruzan Rum.
Cartagena’s El Barón creates menu for Casa Carolina

2 weeks ago | thespiritsbusiness.com | Lauren Bowes

Casa Carolina, a new hotel and retreat in Cartagena, Colombia, will serve a range of drinks developed by Diana Paola ‘Luna’ Orellano from the city’s El Barón cocktail bar. El Barón opened in 2013 and claims to have been the first modern cocktail bar in Cartagena. The bar’s drinks will be served at the new hotel’s exclusive rooftop, with the menu designed to blend ‘Cartagena’s rich cultural heritage with modern mixology’.
Sotheby’s to auction Bowmore ARC-54: Iridos Edition

2 weeks ago | thespiritsbusiness.com | Lauren Bowes

Islay distillery Bowmore has created a one-off Iridos Edition of its ARC-54 whisky, which has an auction estimate of £140,000-£220,000 (US$180,000-US$300,000). ARC-54 launched last month as the second release in the Scotch whisky brand’s collaboration with Aston Martin. It featured a 54-year-old whisky inside a handblown decanter inspired by Aston Martin’s Valkyrie. The Iridos Edition is a one-of-a-kind release.