October is already shaping up to be one heck of a month and to make it even better from 3rd – 9th is London cocktail week is kicking off once again in our fair city of London.
If you are unaware London cocktail week is a weeklong celebration of Cocktails and everything that goes with it.
As regular visitors to LCW (that’s what the cool kids call it) we’ve seen the event go from small beginnings and spread like wildfire to take over the whole of London, and this year is shaping up to be a great one.
Following on from their success last year, Diageo are bringing back their World Class House called “Into The Unknown,” an extraordinary drinking journey at the heart of London Cocktail Week 2016.
Located at 4-6 Glasshouse Street at the centre of London’s West End, (Piccadilly Circus) ‘Into The Unknown’ will play host to the hub of this year’s London Cocktail Week.
World Class and London Cocktail Week will join forces to host the ultimate in luxury drinks experiences using the finest spirits and the best cocktails created by the World Class Bartenders.
Visitors will be taken on an unexpected liquid journey, brought to life through an exploration of the senses, fresh flavours, unique brand experiences and future cocktail trends.
To give you a flavour, here is a quick run through of what to expect:
Ground Floor
Visitors will be welcomed by two bar areas – Retro and Future – where eight World Class cocktails from two seemingly similar menus will be on offer. The menus, curated by World Class UK Bartender winners, Aidan Bowie and Ali Reynolds, are centred around Don Julio, Tanqueray No. TEN, Ketel One Vodka, Bulleit Bourbon and Haig Club. The Retro bar celebrates the history and nostalgia of the classic cocktail whereas the Future bar allows guests to be fully immersed ‘Into the Unknown’ future of cocktail craft; a mirror image of its Retro cousin, set light years ahead.
The five-storey venue will also feature immersive brand experiences which will allow guests to venture further ‘Into the Unknown’ to discover an incredible range of delicious drinks through interactive cocktail making masterclasses.
Tanqueray No. TEN Future Forest
A garden of the future, the Tanqueray No. TEN Future Forest is filled with unique and unknown herbs and botanicals ready for picking. Guided by a Tanqueray No. TEN expert, visitors will stroll through the forest, gathering ingredients along the way to create their own bespoke, delicious tasting Tanqueray No. TEN cocktail.
The Ketel One Vodka Kitchen
The Ketel One Kitchen sets out to explore the Bloody Mary of the future, challenging the perceptions of flavour, temperature and spice along with the preconceptions of traditional garnish. Pritesh Mody of World of Zing will be on hand to provide insight and expertise on taking your bloody mary serve to the next level with a range of rare and exotic spices.
#LOVESCOTCH Movement
The #LOVESCOTCH experience invites guests to choose a cocktail based on an emotive decision. With no menu on hand, visitors will learn about Scotch brands such as Talisker, Lagavulin, Singleton and Johnnie Walker as they journey through four sensory challenges where they will be asked to look, listen, taste and touch. World Class bartenders will then create a bespoke cocktail based on their individual choices.
House of Haig
Within the House of Haig, guests will embark on a liquid journey of delicious and unexpected single grain Scotch whisky cocktails. Guests will experience exquisite drinks with effortless style and taste.
Bulleit Barista Booth
Visitors will experience a sensorial journey of smell with one of the UK’s first Bulleit Bourbon Barrel Aged coffees by speciality coffee producers, The Gentlemen Baristas whilst sipping on a twist of the classic Espresso Martini.
Ticketed workshops will be taking place throughout the week and will be available to purchase and book at The World Class House.
London Cocktail Week wristbands cost £10 and are available now at www.drinkup.london/cocktailweek and can be collected from the World Class House from 10am once the week begins, along with a free pocket sized bar guide.
Taking things across London LCW visitors can immerse themselves in a host of amazing World Class experiences to expand their horizons:
Clumsies Takeover at Callooh Callay
Guests will experience two of the best bars in the world in one location, as The Clumsies team from Athens take over leading Shoreditch cocktail bar, Callooh Callay for the week. The Clumsies team are renowned for serving the best cocktails in Greece, and will be serving their own specially created menu of World Class cocktails.
Address: Callooh Callay, 65 Rivington St, EC2A 3QY Date: from 05/10/2016 – 09/10/2016
Opening Times: 6pm – 1am
#LOVESCOTCH Pop-Up at The Drift
Scotch lovers and novices alike can discover a different scotch each day of London Cocktail Week at The Drift. #LOVESCOTCH celebrates all that gives Scotch its unique character, flavour and personality and the pop up will be running two daily masterclasses on different malts, from an easy, Speyside Cardhu to the stormy and much loved Talisker.
Address: The Drift, Heron Tower, 110 Bishopsgate, EC2N 4AY Date: from 03/10/2016 to 09/09/2016 Opening Times: 6pm and 7pm masterclasses To book: Email info@thedriftbar.co.uk
The Ketel One Vodka Kitchen at Harrods
Visitors to Harrods will be able to join Ketel One Vodka for a masterclass unlike any other, in luxurious and world famous surroundings. Immersive hour sessions with Ketel One Brand Ambassador David Beatty will teach drinkers all about the delicious Dutch Vodka, whilst Ketel One tastings in store between 3pm and 7pm will offer the chance to explore Ketel One’s smooth taste.
Address: Harrods Tasting Room, The Wine Rooms, Harrods, 87-135 Brompton Road, SW1X 7XL
Date: 05/10/2016
Opening Times: 3pm – 7pm
Price: £15
To book: Email vodka@harrods.com or call the wine shop at Harrods on 020 7893 8777
Moves Like Laga @ Oriole
This rare masterclass with put guests into the expert hands of renowned whisky expert Colin Dunn and The Lagavulins in the beautiful surroundings of Oriole in Smithfield. Focusing on the superbly smokey Scotch Lagavulin, guests will chart through three expressions including the Lagavulin 8 year-old Anniversary Bottling, and enjoy live rhythm and blues.
Address: Oriole, Smithfield Market, East Poultry Ave, EC1A 9LH Date: 03/10/2016
Opening Times: 6.30pm – 9pm
Price: £10
To book: Contact Oriole to book your space www.oriolebar.com
Perfumed Cocktails with Tanqueray No. TEN, at The Savoy
Iconic gin brand Tanqueray No. TEN is partnering with a top luxury perfumer and bartenders from the Beaufort Bar and American Bar, to showcase the close link between cocktails and fragrance through some incredible liquid creations. Guests will sample three delicious cocktails to stimulate the senses as they immerse themselves in to the world of fragrance and mixology.
Address: Beaufort Bar, Savoy Hotel, The Strand, WC2R 0EU Date: 04/10/2016
Opening Times: 2pm – 3.30pm Price: Free
Talisker Tasting at Black Rock
Guests can head to East London’s pioneering whisky bar Black Rock, to be guided through the outstanding peaty Scotch that is Talisker, and learn how to taste and nose whisky. Address: Black Rock, 9 Christopher Street, London, EC2A 2BS
Date: from 04/10/2016 – 05/10/2016
Opening Times: Tastings start from 6.30pm
Price: Tickets for the guided tasting are £10 and Talisker cocktails are priced at £5 To Book: Email hello@blackrock.bar
World Class Drinks at the Whisky Exchange Masterclass
The Whisky Exchange will play host to a masterclass on Tanqueray No. TEN gin, Ketel One Vodka or Bulleit Bourbon throughout the week. Visitors will learn how the spirits are made and discover what makes them taste so different, as well as their ideal serve.
Address: The Whisky Exchange, 2 Bedford St, Covent Garden, WC2E 9HH.
Date: from 03/10/2016 – 08/10/2016 Opening Times: Mon-Fri 4pm-8pm, Sat Midday-4pm Price: Free To Book: Drop-in to the Whisky Exchange
A Taste of Talisker at The Whisky Shop
The Whisky Shop will be offering whisky lovers a journey through the more specialist Talisker expressions. From vintage bottlings to distillers’ editions, this famed smoky whisky has a multitude of stories to tell. Experts from The Whisky Shop will be on hand with tutored tastings all week to fully immerse guests in the beautiful Scotch.
Address: The Whisky Shop, 70 Piccadilly, W1J 8HP Date: from 03/10/2016 to 08/10/2016
If that isn’t enough to get your head around, you can get yourself over to London Cocktail Weeks website where you can find more information on events happening across town.
If you are out and about make sure you tweet us a pic of your cocktail, and who knows we may even be standing behind you photo bombing said picture.