What’s Katie Doing for London Cocktail Week 2016?

I’ve had a trawl through the various events available for this years cocktail week and whilst it’s not a must to arrange your week in advance, (I’ve had some great spontaneous nights in previous years!) some of these do book out!

So here is a gin lush’s guide to London Cocktail Week 2016:

EXPLORE INSIDE THE WORLD’S MOST AWARDED GIN!

If I wasn’t so busy on the day job I would totally be doing this guided tour and complimentary cocktail at Beefeater gin!

Take a peek into one of London’s best kept secrets – the Beefeater Distillery in Kennington – where Beefeater gin is still hand-crafted to a recipe that is virtually unchanged since the 1800s.

From the dawn of English gin distilling, the history of London and Beefeater Gin has been closely intertwined. Housed in an Edwardian building with a 1950s extension, the Beefeater Distillery features original Victorian pot stills and a botanical room, where the fresh ingredients are stored. A custom-built visitor centre allows connoisseurs to see the original stills, view the distilling process and learn about the history of gin in London.

THE AVIATION AIRPORT COCKTAIL LOUNGE

If you love a classic 1930’s theme and the wonderful classic Aviation cocktail, then this one is for you. The Aviation is celebrating it’s 100th birthday this year and they have a mocktail if you are doing Sober October.

BULLDOG FLAVOUR GARDEN

I’ve yet to try out the Boundary cocktail bar, and Bulldog are taking it over for LCW16… Join BULLDOG Gin at The Boundary cocktail bar for an evening of learnings about the history of gin and the origins of the Gin & Tonic, alongside learning about the birth and production of the world’s 4th largest premium gin… BULLDOG!

Guests will receive a welcome cocktail followed by a plethora of canapés with the BULLDOG & Tonic. Finally, as well as learning how to craft the BULLDOG & Tonic, guests will have the chance to get hands on and perfect their own recipe using the BULLDOG Flavour Garden. Ticket holders will be entitled to a 20% discount in The Boundary restaurant following the masterclass.

THE FENTIMANS APOTHECARY

The courtyard of the Wright Brothers restaurant will be transformed into ‘The Fentimans Apothecary’ with a market side entrance next to the hub of London Cocktail Week.  The bar will be filled with natural botanicals such as those used to make Fentimans Botanically Brewed Beverages.

As part of London Cocktail Week Wright Brothers will be offering the ‘Bittersweet Symphony’ cocktail in association with Bombay Sapphire.  This bespoke cocktail will be available for just £5 to customers with a London Cocktail Week Festival wristband.

On Wednesday 5th October Fentimans and Bombay Sapphire will help you reimagine the ritual and serve of a Gin & Tonic using carefully thought out combination of garnish and bitters.

Enjoy 3 different Gin & Tonics (including one created by yourself) and oysters whilst learning all you need to know from the experts.

KYRO TOURISM AGENCY

The best of the Finnish Bar scene take over this basement for the week, with Finnish inspired cocktails brought to you by Kyro Rye Distillery.

Enjoy a full menu of cocktails as well as the Rowan Collins, made with Kyro Napue gin, Antica formula, Rowan Berry syrup, saline solution, lemon and soda which is being served at just £5.

Like many Finnish ideas this one began in sauna. It was 2012 and the most famous cheese factory in Finland had been closed for the past 5 years and so the bright idea to turn it into a distillery was born. After enduring two years of building and bureaucracy, the fearless Rye distillers finally fired up the stills in 2014. Now making their LCW debut come and taste what all the fuss is about, as well as their cocktail offering they’ll have daily tastings of the range at 6pm.

THE COCCHI NEGRONI CLASSES

I love a negroni – truly one of my favourite cocktails from the Italian aperitivo tradition….

Equal parts gin, vermouth and bitters, the Negroni is simple to create, but how much do you know about its origins and the mysterious Count Camillo Negroni who lends his name to the drink?

Join Roberto Bava from Cocchi for a tasting of different Negroni styles and a flavour-filled journey to discover how the Negroni has cemented itself across the world as the classic Italian aperitivo.

PERFUMED COCKTAILS WITH TANQUERAY NO. TEN

Join Tanqueray No. TEN at the world famous Beaufort Bar at the Savoy Hotel for an exploration into fragrance and learn how aroma influences the way cocktails are made in the world’s best bars.

The iconic gin brand will be partnering with a top luxury perfumer and bartenders from the Beaufort Bar and American Bar in the hotel to showcase the close link between cocktails and fragrance through some incredible cocktail creations. During the session you’ll sample three delicious cocktails to indulge your senses as you immerse yourself into the world of fragrance and mixology.

CALLOOH CALLAY HOST THE CLUMSIES

Experience two of the best bars in the world in one location -The Clumsies team from Athens are visiting Shoreditch cocktail bar Callooh Callay for London Cocktail Week! I’m definitely heading for his one as one of my friends knows the Clumsies 🙂

For those sadly unfamillar with this brilliant bar team, The Clumsies is a fun cocktail bar which excutes a first class day menu before ramping up the fun at night with DJs and amazing drinks. Put simply these guys are renowded for serving the best cocktails in Greece.

And now you can catch them here, mixing up delightful drinks from Wednesday to Sunday – serving their own specially created menu of World Class cocktails.

TWISTED GIN AND TONICS MIXOLOGY CLASS

How to revolutionise your Gin & Tonic

On Wednesday 5th October Fentimans and Bombay Sapphire will help you reimagine the ritual and serve of a Gin & Tonic using carefully thought out combination of garnish and bitters.

Enjoy 3 different Gin & Tonics (including one created by yourself) and oysters whilst learning all you need to know from the experts.

BOMBAY GLASS HOUSE PARTY

Pioneers of the gin revolution that swept the globe over the past 20 years, Bombay Sapphire is always at the forefront of creative culture, and this party will be no exception…

Celebrating the launch of the Bombay Sapphire Glasshouse Project, a creative design collaboration between the brand and some of the most innovative figureheads of today’s bar industry, Bombay Sapphire is throwing an exclusive party on the roof of the ACE Hotel exploring the artistry behind the iconic brand and its cocktails. Dan Berger – ACE hotel Bar Manager and UK’s Most Imaginative Bartender Winner 2015 – has created a menu of delicious cocktails especially for the night, all complimentary to party-goers, and tunes will come courtesy of founder of WUT? CLUB and resident DJ at the Super Electric Party Machine, Anthony McGinley.

An invite only event, a limited number of tickets can be yours for the taking… Check in at the Bombay Sapphire & Cahoots bar at the heart of The Cocktail Village and tag a picture of your cocktail for a chance to win a pair of tickets to what will be the most exciting party in the LCW calendar!

What Else is at the Cocktail Village?

Tonnes is the answer!

I’m looking forward to catching up with the FEW gin crew, checking out the Belsazar Berlin Aperitif Haus, Caorunn Gin, Fever-Tree Gin and Tonic bar and the Funkin Cocktail bar. So much to do, I don’t know how I’m going to fit it all in!