Raise a Glass to International Women's Day with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE: Katy Hessel Hosts Virtual Panel to Discover How Female Trailblazers in the Arts and Drinks Worlds Stir Their Creativity

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® gin is excited to introduce the fifth instalment of Cocktails & Create in celebration of International Women’s Day, hosting a line-up of inspiring women from the arts and drinks worlds to discuss self-expression, identity and how they stir their creativity.

Join Katy Hessel, Art Curator and Founder of The Great Woman Artists network, and BOMBAY SAPPHIRE for an evening that examines the importance of creative self-expression in a modern era, with pioneering talent from behind the bar and behind the canvas.

Katy will be joined by an inspiring line-up of female creatives and craftswomen, including contemporary artists Faye Wei Wei and Charlotte Edey, cocktail connoisseur Sandrae Lawrence, Anne Sebastian, the creative powerhouse behind the cocktails at The Artesian bar, and the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Master Distiller, Dr Anne Brock.

The past year has come with hurdles for both the drinks and hospitality industries. With bars and galleries closing their doors, traditional outlets to showcase the incredible talents of these women have been somewhat limited. But these trailblazers are amongst those who have found new ways to adapt and let creativity prevail. As part of the event, they will talk about their creative experiences - whether they’ve been focused on experimenting with new creative mediums, taking inspiration from this new world era and projecting optimism or simply exploring new routes and channels to connect with their audiences.

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE has a long-standing affiliation with creativity – from the iconic blue bottle that burst onto the backbar in 1987, through to the stunning Thomas Heatherwick designed glasshouses at the gin’s Distillery at Laverstoke Mill, creativity and the celebration of self-expression has always been at the forefront of everything the brand does. This is further represented in the gin itself, with its versatile flavour profile that welcomes cocktail creativity and unlimited flavour combinations. At the helm of this belief Master Distiller, Dr Anne Brock, who is the mastermind behind this uniquely balanced gin. Anne will also form part of the panel discussion, talking about the drinks industry as a whole and her role at the brand.

Leading the discussion will be Katy Hessel – the writer, broadcaster, art curator and brilliant mind behind The Great Woman Artists network. Katy has interviewed the likes of Tracy Emin and Zadie Smith, her work aims to celebrate female artists and encourage open and accessible discussions around art.

The Cocktails & Create series is part of the brand’s Stir Creativity platform - a call to arms to unlock creativity within everyone - and no Cocktails & Create event would be complete without the audience turning their hand at making some world class serves from home. Sandrae and Anna will be showcasing how BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin provides the ideal canvas for cocktail creativity and offering viewers time to put their mixology skills to the test with two bespoke serves to celebrate International Women’s Day.

Katy Hessel commented: “It’s wonderful to see female pioneers leading the charge when it comes to the arts and creative industries – everything from fine art and pottery, to cocktail creation and even gin distilling. Creativity isn’t limited to traditional visual art – Anne, Sandrae and Anna are prime examples of women who have forged incredibly successful careers on the back of their creative thinking and talent.”

Anne Brock commented:

“Given the boundaries the drinks industry was confined to last year, with bars and pubs having to close their doors, we’ve seen people getting creative with cocktails at home. Mixology is the perfect creative outlet for someone who’s looking to explore their creative side, but also experiment with something a little different to traditional art forms. It’s so exciting to be part of a panel in celebration of International Women’s Day that ties the drinks and art worlds together through creativity.”

ENDS

NOTES TO EDITOR

About BOMBAY SAPPHIRE®

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is the world's number one premium gin by value and volume (IWSR). Based on a 1761 recipe, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE gin is created by perfectly balancing a unique combination of 10 hand-selected exotic botanicals from around the world. The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE distillery at Laverstoke Mill has won a BREEAM award for sustainability and is the home of the unique Vapour Infusion process, where the natural flavours of the botanicals are skilfully captured, resulting in the fresh and vibrant taste with which BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is synonymous.  

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE has recently been awarded the prestigious Double Gold and Gold medal at the 17th San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC).

The BOMBAY SAPPHIRE brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

Enjoy BOMBAY SAPPHIRE responsibly

For the facts: Drinkaware.co.uk

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE AND BOMBAY BRAMBLE ARE TRADEMARKS

ABOUT BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® AND CREATIVITY

Launching the ‘Stir Creativity’ campaign in 2018, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is leading a global mission - a call to arms for everyone to engage with their creativity and unlock their creative potential.  From advocacy programmes including World's Most Imaginative Bartender competition running in the US for the last 11 years to hosting The Glasshouse Project, a global advocacy programme bringing together the world's top bartenders in a series of creative workshops designed to push the boundaries of cocktail creativity. 

For eight years, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE has run The Artisan Series, an art competition created by the brand to provide emerging artists with an international platform. The brand has also partnered with well-known artists and creators such as Tracey Emin, Thomas Heatherwick and Tom Dixon for the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Designer Glassware Competition.