London Cocktail Week – A Sneaky Peek

Yep, it’s nearly that time of year again – on Monday 6th October London Cocktail Week kicks off in full force! And as I’m sure you can imagine, we’re bobbing in excitement. Imagine the thrill in the Vogue offices before Fashion Week and you’ll get a sense of the anticipation being felt here at SoCo Towers!

So, what exactly can we expect? Mixology and magical concoctions galore, we hope. With 200 of London’s best bars offering £4 libations to wrist-band holders, then this is the best time of the year to get adventurous and step out of your cocktail-comfort zone. On top of that there will be exclusive pop-ups, tantalising tastings and a hoard of groovy parties to head along to. So, what have we been eagerly awaiting?

Visiting The Cowbell

What do you mean you’ve never heard of London’s most anticipated new bar? Well, don’t feel too bad about it, since it’s brand spanking new and is one of the promised pop-ups appearing for one week only.

We’ve been following Monkey Shoulder’s Ultimate Bartender Challenge since the competition began six months ago, and watched as numerous hopeful teams were slowly whittled down, based on some truly unique competition rounds! Each knew what was at stake – the chance to host their own bar at London Cocktail Week – and keep their earnings. And so on September 18th the final round commenced – and the winner’s were The Cowbell, a concept bar that brings a true party atmosphere with a bit of cheeky Glaswegian fun.

With promises of festooned lighting, cowbell karaoke, and an emphasis on friendly service, this is a bar you don’t want to miss. So get yourselves along to The Cowbell, 9 Shorts Gardens for a chance to try their signature cocktail – the Berlesconi’s Love Child. Named after the party-loving 3 times prime minister, this is a fruity and frivolous combo of Monkey Shoulder scotch, Amaro, and Creme de Peche, and we can’t wait to give it another go.

 

The Secret of the Elixir

Yep, this does sound less of a London Cocktail Week event and more of a Hogwarts class, but trust us, it’s spirit related in the drinks sense only.

Drambuie are treating guests to a series of exciting and experimental events guaranteed to tickle your taste-buds. These include a punch making class with a surreal twist, and an exclusive, weird and wonderful trip through the history and craft of creating the Scottish liqueur we all know and love. Hosted in the private club of the London EDITION hotel, we can’t wait to discover some of the more complex sides to creation of Drambuie.

 

A Walk in the Butterfly Park

Another exciting one-off— this time with a definitively tropical edge. Angostura Rum are bringing a slice of the Caribbean to London Cocktail Week with their gorgeous sounding butterfly garden. That’s right – visitors can get a chance to saunter through this pop-up plantation while sipping on one of the butterfly-inspired rum cocktails. Not only does this sound pretty magical (we’re excited about the photographs we’ll be taking already!) but guests will also have the chance to press their own sugar cane.

We recommend you take this opportunity to flutter on down to the New Inn Yard in Shoreditch to experience a delectable cocktail in the unique and exotic Angostura Butterfly House – we’ll certainly be making a bee-line for it!

Rebecca Milford