EVENTS 4. GREY GOOSE PARTNERS GQ GENTLEMEN’S BALL
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Grey Goose was the official partner for the second annual GQ Gentlemen’s Ball, held on 6 June at Maia in Melbourne’s Docklands. The GQ Gentlemen’s Ball, which this year had ‘Big Ideas’ as its theme, featured a keynote address by environmentalist, explorer and entrepreneur David de Rothschild, and a panel discussion moderated by TV host and journalist Hamish Macdonald. Before sitting down to the three-course dinner, all 250 guests were welcomed with cocktails as the ultimate happy hour at the Grey Goose bar. Bespoke martini carts offered made to order crafted Grey Goose Martinis. A custom Grey Goose cocktail was created to pair with the main course, garnished with silver leaf foil to play to the intergalactic theme of the evening.
Guests enjoyed Grey Goose drinks at the black tie event
5. RECORD SESSION AT GABS SYDNEY The National Liquor News team was present at Session 1 of GABS Sydney on 1 June, which enjoyed the largest attendance of any GABS in history, with almost 7,000 people present. Over the course of the festivals, attendees were able to sample from up to 170 unique ‘Festival Beers & Ciders’ made for exclusive release at GABS – featuring flavours as diverse as bubblegum and kangaroo – along with hundreds of core range and limited release brews from many of Australia and New Zealand’s leading breweries and cidermakers. As well as Sydney, GABS was also held in Melbourne (17-19 May) and, for the first time, Brisbane (27 April). Overall, the festivals attracted 44,500 attendees, a record for each city and for overall attendance. The final GABS of 2019 was held in Auckland on Saturday 29 June. The Rate Beer People’s Choice Festival Beer was Currumbin Valley Brewing’s Grape Bubblegum Sour.
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The Moët Impérial tower was the centrepiece of the event
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6. MOËT IMPÉRIAL CELEBRATES 150TH ANNIVERSARY EVENT Moët & Chandon celebrated the 150th anniversary of Moët Impérial, the Champagne House’s signature Brut Champagne, at a glamorous event at Sydney Town Hall on 4 June. The black tie dinner was hosted by Stéphane Baschiera, President and CEO of Moët & Chandon, alongside Jesinta Franklin, Moët & Chandon Ambassador, and was attended by 150 celebrities, influencers, media and friends of the brand. A special Impérial 1869 cocktail was created for the occasion and enjoyed by guests on arrival. They then sat down to a two-course meal curated by renowned French chef Guillaume Brahimi paired with Moët Impérial, served from new limited edition anniversary bottles. As a final flourish, Baschiera and Franklin poured a 20-tier Moët Impérial Champagne tower before a surprise performance by Hayden James in the Moët Impérial Studio 1869 after party.
Punters taste an array of special GABS Festival beers
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