London cocktail week isn't just an excuse to spend seven days drinking your way around Town (although it's that, too) – it's a pretty big deal. As in, the largest cocktail festival in the entire world.
With mixed drinks and their creators being held in such high regard by Londoners, it's unsurprising that the capital is home to the event, and if you've yet to truly take advantage of all the creative cocktails available in the city, it's the perfect opportunity.
The seven-day event, which runs from 2-8 October, sees more than 250 bars offering discounted serves, bespoke blends and special events to those with a Cocktail Week digital pass.
Once you've purchased the pass, you'll be granted access to bespoke £6 cocktails in participating bars, and there's also the option to purchase a ticket for the Cocktail Village at Old Spitalfields Market. As the central hub of the week, the Village will take the form of an immersive maze packed full of pop-up cocktail bars, exciting experiences and food vendors.
As well as the opportunity to indulge in some serious sampling, the week will offer a range of unique experiences where you can extend your cocktail knowledge and meet other like-minded souls, whether at a masterclass (where you can learn how to taste drinks like a pro), distillery tour (so you'll know how vodka is made), party, tasting or an exclusive paired meal. See you there.
The best things to drink at London Cocktail Week 2017
You're not doing London Cocktail Week right if you don't lose yourself (no pun intended) in the Cocktail Village. It's a huge hub of interactive sensory workshops and, of course, booze in Old Spitalfields Market. Head on down and put your palate to the test with a chocolate negroni from Tanqueray Gin's Aqua Shed or Patron's green Tabasco and mezcal Patrón Echo cocktail, designed by Nikos Bakoulis, one of the leading bartenders at Athens’ The Clumsies.
If you ever wanted to visit Super Lyan, London Cocktail week is definitely the time to do it. And not just because they've acquired a slushie machine especially for the festival – even if this Bacardi Carta Oro, purple 'sizzurp' and lemon thyme concoction does sound delicious.
For one night only, one of Paris's best bars will take over Seymour’s Parlour in Marylebone. Not only is Le Calbar renowned for it's inventive mixology (think Szechuan pepper and chipotle chilli syrup meets Patron Silver tequila), but we've also heard a rumour that the bartenders serve up cocktails in their pants... Oh yes. From an orderly queue ladies and gents.
Photography by Vincent Anceaume
Turns out the secret to the ultimate Tanqueray Collins is tucked away in the back of your kitchen cupboards... Don't believe us? Dan Dove, manager of Diageo’s World Class, and the Firmdale’s group mixologist Eoin Kenny's urban garden workshop is about to prove you wrong. Head to the rooftop kitchen garden of the Ham Yard Hotel and learn how to pimp out your cocktail with super simple ingredients like lavender, jasmine, tomatoes, scotch bonnet chillies and honey.
London Cocktail Week runs from 2-8 October. Digital passes cost £10 each, and can be purchased from drinkup.london/cocktailweek. The pass entitles you to £6 cocktails in more than 250 venues across the week, exclusive discounts in bars, restaurants and to ticketed events, and access to £5 advanced booking for London Cocktail Week's Cocktail Village (on-the-door price £10). The pass is accessible on your phone via the DrinkUp.London app, which is free to download.
