Diageo Reserve’s super-premium vodka brand, Ketel One has introduced its ‘One Square Mile’ initiative – challenging bartenders to utilise ingredients sourced within a one-mile radius of their local bar to create a cocktail menu with the aim of nurturing and celebrating local communities.
Championing ingredients, flavours and people, Ketel One has joined forces with the industries most credited bartender competition, World Class, and its community of bartenders as well as local craftsmen and gardening communities to combine expertise, knowledge and resources. Working alongside community partners, the bartender-led journey seeks to source local urban produce and locally made vessels, aiming to promote locally grown, natural ingredients and reduced waste in the drinks industry.
For one week in September, cocktail bars across the UK will feature a three-drink Ketel One Vodka menu showcasing the proximity of the ingredients used and vessels sourced to create the serve, while heroing the partnerships formed within the local community through a series of events. One of the serves from the menu will be a style of drink consumers can easily recreate and savour at home.
Bars joining the initiative include Nine Lives, London, Amicos Bar, Essex and Terrior Tapas, Southbourne. Nine Lives, London will be featuring its Bermondsey Bees Knees cocktail in collaboration with local beekeepers and made with produce from local farmers.
A selection of the participating One Square Mile bartenders also have the opportunity to join the World Class Global Finals in Glasgow and have their cocktails showcased.
Kate Jackson, Brand Ambassador for Ketel One Vodka, said: “We’re delighted to be launching our One Square Mile initiative – designed to inspire bartenders and local communities to come together to utilise their skills and resources to create something great.
“We love to encourage bartenders to explore alternative methods for championing urban flavours. Not only is using seasonal ingredients and local produce to create cocktails sustainable, it really elevates the flavour in cocktails and is a great way to engage with local people. People are more and more interested in the provenance of their food and drink and this is a fantastic example of how you can use resourcefulness to make quality drinks.”
Ketel One Vodka’s One Square Mile initiative will run from 2nd – 8th September with cocktails being featured on the menu for the entire week.
LAUNCH PARTY – NINE LIVES, LONDON – MONDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER @ 18:00 – 21:00
The official launch evening will consist of welcome drinks and samples of Nine Lives cocktail menu to showcase the week ahead featuring talks local community partners Bermondsey Bees and Southwark Shuck.
A masterclass session will be set up and to welcome anyone who would like to make the Nine Lives serves, aimed to be recreated easily at home.
WILDERNESS BAR & KITCHEN, MANCHESTER, MONDAY 2ND SEPTEMBER @ 17:00 – 20:00
The bartender hosting the evening is Adam Day, World Class GB finalist 2018 with Community Partners joining from Manchester Cathedral, Moss Cider Project & Bohea Tea.
AMICOS BAR, ESSEX – TUESDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER @ 18:00 – 23:00
An evening of hosting talented bartenders, from bars such as Hide Below, London Edition, CUB, Kwant, Gold, Happiness Forgets. Owner and founder of Amicos Bar, Dan Dove discusses the Ketel One Vodka Edible Garden concept and local collaborations.
SIX, NOTTINGHAM – TUESDAY 3RD SEPTEMBER @ 17:00 – 20:00
The evening will be hosted by Dan Warren, GB World Class winner 2018 with the chef and kitchen team at Restaurant SIX joining as the community partners.
TERRIOR TAPAS, SOUTHBOURNE – WEDNESDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER @ 17:00 – 22:00
An evening of bringing the local community and bar industry together to sample Terrior Tapas’ menu with talks from James Fowler and suppliers.
PUBLIC, SHEFFIELD – WEDNESDAY 4TH SEPTEMBER @ 16:00 – 20:00
The evening will be hosted by bartender Jack Wakelin with community partners joining from Steam Yard Coffee Co.
CLOSING PARTY – FITZS BAR, LONDON – SUNDAY 8TH SEPTEMBER @ 19:00 – 00:00
A celebration of the week will be taking place at The Fitzs Bar with DJs The Hotel Lobby spinning tunes in the Kitchen Discos. Suppliers and local Community Partners will be present to discuss the collaborations.