For fans of a well concocted tipple, it’s a good time to be in town. London Cocktail Week is back; the biggest drinks festival in the UK celebrating cocktail culture across the capital’s best bars. Sounds alright, dunnit?

From 3rd – 9th October, £10 festival passes are available online or on entry. Valid all week, wristband holders will be able to enjoy cocktails from any of the 200 participating venues for just £5 (which in reality is going to pay for itself after your second espresso martini).

At the hub of it all is Old Spitalfields Market, aptly named ‘The Cocktail Village’, hosting around 30 pop-up bars for the occasion,  and a selection of street food stalls to make sure you don’t peak too early.

For those who really know their shiz, World Class House in the West End will feature FIVE (!) floors with a focus on upcoming cocktail trends and spirits at the luxe end of the spectrum. Head here to rub shoulders with international  bartending elite and the real who’s who of the drinks business.

Not only that, wristbands will also give you access to special events scheduled throughout the week including masterclasses, distillery tours, tastings, Bike Polo and countless after parties to attend. 

Now if all that sounds a little overwhelming, organisers DrinkUp.London have put together a checklist of 10 things you simply shouldn’t miss next week:

  1. The Cocktail Village: From espresso martinis over 40 bespoke pop-up bars, trucks, vans and even bicycles from the biggest names at the capital’s biggest cocktail party, serving £5 cocktails to festival pass holders.
  2. World Class House: For the real connoisseur, World Class House in Piccadilly explores future trends and will showcase the creme de la creme; luxury drinks using the finest spirits brought to you by the World’s best bartenders.
  3. Tia Maria + Coffee Project: With coffee very much having a moment right now, Square Coffee Roasters will be teaming up with Tia Maria to create a series of coffee based cocktails to a background of ‘freshly ground sounds’ all week long. (You will most likely find me here).
  4. Perfumed cocktails with Tanqueray No. Ten at The Savoy: A bit of science for you; exploring how aroma is a key influence of how cocktails are created. Plus you get to put your new knowledge into practice and expertly sip on three aromatic Tanqueray Gin cocktails.
  5. Bombay Sapphire and Cahoots Worldly Cocktails: Set in an eye-catching Cahoots Vintage train, Here you can also win tickets to the exclusive invite-only Bombay Sapphire Glasshouse Project.
  6. Patron Cocktail Lab International Takeover: Tequila fans listen up: Seven cities, seven world class bartenders, seven different Patron cocktails inspired by each city. You had me at Patron.
  7. Chivas Regal The Art of Blending: A one hour whisky experience hosted in the Chivas Regal pop-up in Brick Lane, ‘The Blend’ Taste grain whisky and single malts, and even get the opportunity to make your own unique whisky to take home.
  8. Drambuie presents the Brass & Crimson: In a celebration of the iconic jazz age, and the era from which Drambuie was born. Festival goers will get free entry and a drink on arrival, and get to enjoy performances from class jazz musicians.
  9. Callooh Callay host The Clumsies: Now, if you know your cocktails then you’ll know that Callooh Callay is synonymous with the London scene. So the award-winning Shoreditch stalwart is hosting a foreign exchange of sorts; the equally creative and talented bar team from The Clumsies in Athens.
  10. #LOVESCOTCH Pop-Up: Ensuring we’ve got all spirits covered, the #LOVESCOTCH bar at The Drift, Herons Tour will indeed relish in all things Scotch with a different serve each day, from Cardhu to Haig Club Clubman.

With all of the above to look forward to- not to mention all the off schedule independent parties taking place across the city- just remember to drink responsibly folks 😉

 

WHAT: London Cocktail Week

WHEN: 3rd – 9th October 2016

WHERE: All over the city.

Check here to see which venue is shaking up your £5 cocktails. (Or even if you don’t have a wristband, handy to be able to reel off a list of the best bars near you, non?)

WEB: www.londoncocktailweek.com

FOLLOW: @drinkupLDN

About The Author

Sharing some of the best bits of the city. Lover of all things food and wine, plus the odd festival or three.

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