Highclere Castle Gin hosted a cocktail party welcoming the new British Consulate of New England to Connecticut at the Philip Cheney Mansion in Manchester on Sept. 16. Guest Tom Nickalls, Deputy British Council to New England, was in attendance, along with special guests Gov. Ned Lamont, Lt. Gov. Susan Bysiewicz, Manchester Mayor Jay Moran and Honorary Consul of Romania to CT Dana Bucin. Co-founded by Connecticut-based spirits entrepreneur Adam von Gootkin, with the Earl and Countess of Carnarvon of Highclere Castle in the United Kingdom, the event celebrated the partnership between the gin’s American and British partners. Held on the sweeping grounds of the Philip Cheney Mansion, guests enjoyed signature event cocktails featuring Highclere Castle Gin blended by Highclere Castle Gin Mixologists Nico Cabral and Anna Konya. Small bites and appetizers were catered by Joel and Lani Gargano of Grano Arso in Chester.
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- Highclere Castle Gin hosted a cocktail reception welcoming the British Consulate of New England at the Philip Cheney Mansion in Manchester on Sept. 16.
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- Harold Sparrow, President, YMCA Greater Hartford; Adam von Gootkin, Co-founder & CEO, Highclere Castle Gin; Governor Ned Lamont and Anthony Viscogliosi, Principal, Viscogliosi Brothers and owner of Philip Cheney Mansion.
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- Dana Bucin, Honorary Consul of Romania to Connecticut; Adam von Gootkin, Co-founder & CEO, Highclere Castle Gin; and Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz.
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- John Darnell, Brand Ambassador, Highclere Castle Gin; Richard Spencer II, Co-Head, Barings’ Funds & Co-Investments and Dave Heller, President, Allan S. Goodman.
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- Gov. Ned Lamont spoke during the cocktail reception.
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- Dr. John Darnell and Dr. Colleen Darnell, Brand Ambassadors, Highclere Castle Gin and Egyptologists, Yale University.
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- A Bees Knees cocktail featuring Highclere Castle Gin.
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- Nico Cabrale, Events Bartender, Highclere Castle Gin blended fresh signature cocktails for guests.
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- A super-premium London Dry Gin with botanicals from the castle’s herb gardens, its recipe uses juniper, orange peel, lime flower, lavender and Highclere’s estate-grown oats.
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- Guests Therese Bolat and Jean-Pierre Bolat, Chief Executive Officer, Movia Robotics.
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- Back row: Adam von Gootkin, Co-founder & CEO, Highclere Castle Gin; Ted Yang, VP of Digital Advertising & Business Development, Highclere Castle Gin; Tom Nickalls, Deputy British Consul General to New England; Dave Heller, President, Allen S. Goodman; Steve Paradis, Marketing Manager, Allen S. Goodman; Peter Kowalczyk, Chief Operating Officer, Highclere Castle Gin. Front row: Renee Lemieux, Chief Administrative Officer, Highclere Castle Gin and Regina von Gootkin, Social Media Manager, Highclere Castle Gin. Photo by Agustina Leske Thorpe.
