Celebrate International Women’s Day with a Bombay Sapphire Cocktails & Create masterclass

International Women’s Day is just around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than raising a toast to (and with) some of the best female talent in the creative industries? On Monday 8^th March, Bombay Sapphire gin is presenting the fifth instalment of Cocktails & Create in celebration of this iconic date, 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 Women 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 liquid itself, with its versatile flavour profile that welcomes cocktail creativity and unlimited flavour combinations. At the helm of this belief is master distiller Dr Anne Brock, who is the mastermind behind this uniquely balanced liquid. Brock 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. Hessel has interviewed the likes of Tracey 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 the 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. Lawrence and Sebastian 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.

Hessel is delighted to be joined by such a strong lineup of female innovators: “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.”

Brock believes mixology is a great way to unleash our imaginations in lockdown: “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 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.”

The editorial unit

Bombay Sapphire’s Cocktails & Create Zoom session is taking place from 7-8.30pm on Monday 8^th March. For further information or to book visit the event page here.