Sip, Sip, Hooray – Celebrate the Best in Mixology with London Cocktail Week

08 Oct 2020
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4 min read
London’s cocktail scene is getting ready to kick-start this October as some of the world’s best bars and most-loved brands prepare to excite and enthrall drinks enthusiasts during London Cocktail Week, now back for a full month to support the recovery of the hospitality industry.

From South American escapes with Santa Teresa  rum to transporting guests to the South of France with Noilly Prat vermouth; from unbelievably rare drams with Craigellachie to a bourbon finishing school hosted by Angel’s Envy and a hot toddy terrace with Aberfeldy – there will be a whole series of experiences for Londoners and visitors to the capital.

From East to West, North to South and everywhere in between, London Cocktail Week’s month-long celebrations will give residents of the capital the opportunity to get back to the bar and pay tribute to their favourite haunts throughout October. So, whether you’re looking for a socially distanced table for two or embracing the power of six this autumn, support your local bars and book one or more of the following London Cocktail Week highlights.

BOURBON & COCKTAIL MASTERCLASS

Budding bourbon connoisseurs should head to Southbank’s iconic destination bar, Lyaness, during London Cocktail Week to experience the Angel’s Envy Tasting & Finishing School.

Present and Correct? The team will invite guests to learn about the award-winning Kentucky straight small batch bourbon’s finishing period in Port casks, which gives the liquid a sublime character and adds a layer of complexity to the flavour. The masterclass, coinciding with the first time Angel’s Envy will be available in the UK, will include x2 cocktails and feature whiskey mixology from Lyaness’ pioneering bar team led by Head Bartender Will Meredith and Angel’s Envy’s Brand Ambassador. The exclusive tutorial will educate guests on how to ‘finish’ their cocktails with ingredients carefully created by the team to pair perfectly with Angel’s Envy.

Taking place on 22 and 29 October, with x2 slots per day, tickets will cost £22 and be available soon via Eventbrite and the Lyaness website.

SHARE THE RARE WITH THE WORLD’S BEST SINGLE MALT

Whisky lovers prepare for an opportunity of epic proportions as Craigellachie Single Malt Scotch Whisky teams up with London’s favourite bijou whisky merchant and bar Milroy’s to ‘Share the Rare’ this London Cocktail Week.

Voted the World’s Best Single Malt Whisky in 2017, only a few bottles of the renowned Craigellachie 31-Year-Old remain and the unapologetically unique Single Malt is offering guests the chance to upgrade their dram with a whisky Wheel of Fortune. Simply take a spin with any £ 6 dram of Craigellachie 13 Year Old for the chance to trade up to one of the final measures of this ultra-rare whisky. The Wheel of Fortune is running all month at Milroy’s Soho and Spitalfields, alongside a limited edition Craigellachie 13, 17, 23 Year Old flight paired with a ‘Prime Cuts’ tasting board. Take away Craigellachie cocktails will also be available for £6.

Available all month, no tickets required.

RUM COCKTAILS & CHOCOLATE PAIRINGS

Take a trip to the sunny climes of South America via Marylebone with Santa Teresa rum and specialist rum bar Burlock. Bringing Venezuela’s Aragua Valley to NW1, Hacienda Burlock will play host to an immersive tasting masterclass where guests will discover the richly flavoured rums of Santa Teresa 1796 rum paired with chocolate and coffee, enjoy live music and of course, a limited-edition menu of Santa Teresa 1796 cocktails. Tickets will be available via the London Cocktail Week website soon.

Alternatively, rum aficionados can head to hidden oasis Hacienda Lima at Flora Lima, Garrick Street or Hacienda Callooh at Shoreditch’s famous Callooh Callay for their sample of live music and enjoy Santa Teresa 1796 cocktails paired with decadent dark chocolate, selected to bring out the remarkable cacao notes of the rum.

Available all month, no tickets required.

ESCAPE TO THE SOUTH OF FRANCE WITH L’APÉRITIFS & OYSTERS

Kicking off the month in true French style, join Swift Shoreditch and Masterchef finalist Yan Florio on 1 October for an unparalleled marriage of mixology and gastronomy. From 6pm on the 1st, Yan will debut a signature French food menu with dedicated cocktail pairings featuring Noilly Prat vermouth and the St~Germain spritz trolley. Swift’s signature Sgroppinos will then be available across both its Shoreditch and Soho sites for £6 for the entire month.

Noilly Prat, the world’s original French vermouth, will then be bringing a taste of the South of France to Bethnal Green in celebration of its French heritage with the innovative and award -winning maestros at Coupette. The two will come together to host an exclusive French Embassy experience in order to immerse guests in L’Art de Vivre with a weekly happy hour every Tuesday from 6pm that will offer x2 of Noilly Prat’s classic L’Apéritifs accompanied by x4 freshly shucked oysters from the Coupette team for £20. Inspired by the home of Noilly Prat in the pretty fishing of Marseillan where its vermouth is aged outdoors overlooking the oyster tables of the fresh water salt lake Étang de Thau, it’s an experience that is sure to transport guests to the sun-kissed shores of the Mediterranean.

Available all month, no tickets required.

SINGLE MALT & HONEY HOT TODDIES

Finally heading East, Sun Tavern will host the eagerly awaited Return of the Hatch with the ultimate golden dram courtesy of Aberfeldy Single Malt Scotch whisky on 23 October.

The go-to spot for takeaway cocktails over lockdown, Sun Tavern’s eponymous drinks hatch is making its much anticipated return with takeaway hot and cold honey-infused Aberfeldy cocktails – just ring the bell. However, if you find yourself missing loved ones overseas but can’t pay them a visit, Sun Tavern will also be sending cocktail-inspired postcards to a destination of your choice with every purchase of a £6 Aberfeldy cocktail.

If you’re looking for a cosier experience, head to traditional Scottish stalwart Boisdale Belgravia, who will be serving up a trio of specially made steaming cocktails including chili mocha, original and gingerbread flavoured Hot Toddies with the Aberfeldy Hot Toddy Terrace.

Available all month, no tickets required.

To find out more about these exciting events, visit londoncocktailweek.com.