Trade Talks and Parties Not To Miss This LCW
It’s busy, packed with events, parties, pop-ups, trade talks and thirsty Londoners (plus a few die-hard cocktails tourists) all seeking tasty £5 cocktails – yep, London Cocktail Week is back to smash another seven days of festivities in the capital.
With so much going on there’s more than enough to fill your days with tastings, talks and masterclasses before making the most of your evenings off. Here’s a selected highlight of trade events this LCW. And don’t forget to swing by Britvic’s pop-up in the Cocktail Village where all proceeds are going to Hospitality Action, a charity which supports fellow hospo workers in need. Whether you’re facing addiction, depression, abuse or physical injury you can access advice, support and evens funds through the charity.
Monday
Trade Talk: An Afternoon With Monin & Peter Dorelli
Midday-3pm: An exclusive afternoon co-hosted by the legendary Peter Dorelli and Monin Beverage Innovation Manager, Lee Hyde. Expect blind tastings and plenty of stories from Peter Dorelli’s 50+ years of experience in the bar industry. There will also be a master class in partnership with Jägermeister. Spaces are limited, please RSVP to daniel.davis@b-opie.com. At the London Marriott Hotel County Hall.
Party: LCW16 Opening Party
5pm – The Cocktail Village, Old Spitalfields Market / 9pm – Routemaster departs / 9.30pm – World Class House, Jewel Piccadilly Circus
As a welcome to the bartending community, DrinkUp.London are inviting everyone down to The Cocktail Village for their grand opening at 5pm. After welcome drinks and a first chance to explore the 39 pop-up bars, everyone will be leaving for their second venue at 9pm sharp. As a throwback to the very first London Cocktail Week, vintage red routemaster buses will be picking everyone up and whizzing them across the city to The World Class House – popping up this year at Jewel, Piccadilly Circus. With six rooms to explore, a late license and delicious cocktails this will be a great way to kick start the week and celebrate all LCW16. RSVP is essential if you’d like to travel on the bus. Hip flasks and bad tunes will be provided for the journey.
Tuesday
Cocktail Comp: Monin Cup 2016 Final
Midday-6pm: The biennial Monin Cup, which recognises and promotes young bartender talent, is back for 2016. The UK final will be held during LCW, giving a lucky few (there are limited places) the chance to see finalists show off their skill, passion and innovative side creating an alcoholic and a non-alcoholic signature cocktail each in front of a panel of expert judges. The MONIN Cup has a proud track record of supporting up-and-coming bartenders; previous finalists include Alastair Frasier, Joe Macbeth, Andy Mil, Tom Walker, Robin Honhold, Leon Dalloway, 2012 winner William Humphrey and 2014 winner Joe Wild. At Marriott Hotel London County Hall.
Trade Talk: The Ultimate Dessert Trolley
12.30pm-1.30pm: A Look at Cognac, Cocktails and Dessert with Brand Ambassador Matthias Lataille and fantastic new French restaurant Sardine with Martell Cognac. FREE at JUJU Bar and Stage, The Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR.
Trade Talk: Sustainability From Brands to Bars
2.30pm- 3.30pm: A Panel discussion on the importance of Sustainability with tequila icons Tomas Estes and Julio Bermejo, Cognac Maestros Nicolas Faith and Phil Duffy and bartending legends Jacques Bezuidenhout and Iain Griffiths – hosted by Megs Miller and Matthias Lataille with Olmeca Altos and Martell Cognac. FREE at JUJU Bar and Stage, The Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR.
Trade Talk: Making The Cut: How To Place In The World’s 50 Best Bars
4.30pm: Panel discussion chaired by 50 Best Bars editor Hamish Smith. Just 2 days before the announcement, owners and managers of four of 2016’s World’s 50 Best Bars come together to discuss what elements they believe elevate a bar on to this hallowed list. Expect a lively discussion from panelists representing some widely varied styles of hospitality, including Nightjar, Happiness Forgets, Callooh Callay and a top London hotel bar.
LCW wristband wearers will also receive a free cocktail courtesy of Hennessy Cognac, with £5 cocktails thereafter. Bookings can be made via Oriole’s website – www.oriolebar.com/#reservations and choose the Booking Type option of 50 Best Bars Panel Discussion.
Trade Talk: Tommys Bar and Restaurant San Francisco
4.30pm-5.30pm: 50 years of hospitality and creating the legendary cocktail – the Tommy’s Margarita – all the way from San Francisco – International Tequila God -Julio Bermejo with US bartenders Jacques Bezuidenhout, Ross Simon and Paoplino Bacchinoour Olmeca Altos’s Megs Miller. FREE at JUJU Bar and Stage, The Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR.
Bar Takeover: Plymouth Gin Takeover
5.30pm-close: For one night only, The Refectory Bar takes over The Coin Laundry for LCW Festival Pass holders to experience and immerse themselves into the world of Plymouth Gin cocktails.
Party: Tommy’s Pop-Up
9pm-late: Tommy’s bar in San Fransisco has been celebrating 50 years of success throughout the year. To continue this celebration, Altos tequila is happy to welcome owner & international Tequila Ambassador Julio Bermejo to El Camion during LCW to host our very Tommy’s Bar! Julio will be joined with the likes of bartending legends Jacques Bezuidenhout, Peter Dorelli, Ramon El Tigre along with our very own European tequila dad Tomas Estes!
Wednesday
Trade Talk: Plymouth Gin Masterclass With Sean Harrison
10.30am & 12.30pm: Plymouth Gin’s Master Distiller, Sean Harrison will be hosting two masterclasses. The two 1-hour sessions start at 10.30am and 12.30pm. The interactive masterclass provides you with an insight into what flavours gin, how it works with your senses and how you can best enhance your gin experience. Book via our UK brand ambassador Lizzie.Lerwill@pernod-ricard.com. Limited spaces available.
Trade Talk: The Famous Bars of Havana
12.45pm-1.30pm: A look at the famous bars of Havana and their associated classic Cuban cocktails with UK Havana Club brand ambassador Mike Foster – Mike explores Havana’s finest bars and their signature drinks with Havana Club Rum. FREE at JUJU Bar and Stage, The Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR.
Trade Talk: Dreaming of Cuba
2.30pm-3.15pm: Ever thought about opening a bar in Cuba? Explore the possibility with Rum Goddess and Havana Club Global Brand Ambassador Meimi Sanchez with Havana Club Rum. FREE at JUJU Bar and Stage, The Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR.
Trade Talk: Shims, The Benefits And Creative Challenges Of Low ABV Drinks
3pm-4.30pm: ‘Shims – serious, low alcohol cocktails – are where everyone can come together, whether it’s for the one drink of the evening or when this is but the first of many’ (The Art of the Shim, 2013). A masterclass presented by the legendary Bramble Edinburgh, focussing on fortified wine as a base in cocktails rather than a modifier. Please email info@axiom-brands.com to book a place, limited spaces available. At the Cocktail Village, Old Spitalfields Market.
Trade Talk: The Tastes and Sounds of Cuba
4.15pm- 5.15pm: A look into the senses of taste and sound with a fantastic session on rum and music with spirits legend Dave Broom and Havana Club Rum. FREE at JUJU Bar and Stage, The Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR.
Book Launch: Rum
6.30pm-8pm: A launch and introduction to spirit guru Dave Brooms new book ‘RUM’ with Havana Club classic Cuban cocktails with Dave Broom, Meimi Sanchez and Mike foster @Happiness Forgets – small venue, first come first in. Dave will be signing books.
Bar Takeover: Hidden Happiness
8pm-11pm: The wonderful new Hidden in Hvar, Croatia takes over the award winning Happiness Forgets for a few hours of mayhem with Chris Edwardes, Amanda, Jake and India Blanche. First come first served plus guest list.
Thursday
Trade Talk: Crafted For The Senses
12.30pm-1.15pm: 2016 Tales of the Cocktail award-winning International Chivas Regal brand ambassador Max Warner guides us through his epic book ‘Crafted for The Senses’ and investigates how different factors can affect and change the flavours and aromas of drinks. Hosted by UK Scotch ambassador Phil Huckle with Chivas 18yr Blended. FREE at JUJU Bar and Stage, The Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR.
Trade Talk: Ye Olde Irish Libations
2.15pm-3pm: An historical look at some old Irish punches and mixed drinks with cocktail legend and renegade Nick Strangeway and Jameson’s Irish. FREE at JUJU Bar and Stage, The Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR.
Trade Talk: From Dusk to Dawn
3.45pm- 4.45pm: A look at bartending as a career, your work life balance, changing times and the various challenges of a longer life behind the stick – with a timid crew of Nick Strangeway, Matt Pomeroy, Jake Burger and Ben Reed and a very special industry legend guest on drinks! Not for the feint hearted, pacemakers will be provided. FREE at JUJU Bar and Stage, The Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR.
Trade Talk: How to Really Appreciate Spirits
5.45pm- 6.45pm: An exploration and tasting of the fantastic Pernod Ricard portfolio – with global spirits expert and author Dave Broom. FREE at JUJU Bar and Stage, The Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR.
Trade Tasting: The Pernod Ricard Collective
7pm-9pm: Come and try all of the amazing whiskies of Pernod Ricard, including Irish, Scottish and Canadian and talk to some of the our leading experts – with Dave Broom, Liam Sparks Phil Huckle, Max Warner – There will be some fantastic whiskies to taste with some nibbles and just a smidgeon of live jazz! FREE at JUJU Bar and Stage, The Old Truman Brewery, Ely’s Yard, 15 Hanbury Street, E1 6QR.
50 Best After Parties
There’s gonna be a loads of these happening across London but some to watch out for are White Dog’s final performance with Tim Stones and GLASS’s takeover. Check Facebook for details.
Saturday and Sunday
Trade Talk: Tia Maria + Coffee Academy
Midday-2pm: Interactive masterclass led by renowned coffee expert Anette Moldvaer of Square Mile Coffee at the Tia Maria pop-up in the Cocktail Village at Old Spitalfields Market.
Sunday
Trade Party: Bulldog Brompton Challenge 2016
This is the first ever ‘BULLDOG Brompton Challenge’ where 16 bar teams from across the capital will battle it out in an FA Cup style knock out competition! After a some expert tuition from Brompton & the London Bike Polo Team, the tournament gets under way at 2.30pm. Expect ferocious, fast paced action, swinging mallets, a shed-loads of goals and the odd mishap as one of the boldest events at London Cocktail Week gets underway. The winning team of three not only receive the accolade of being crowned champions, but each get to ride off on a specially commissioned BULLDOG Brompton, complete with a bike bag full of Cocktail Kingdom bartending kit. Email James@bulldoggin.com who will let you know as soon as the sign up page is live. At The Bike Shed, Arch4, 384 Old Street, EC1V 9LT.
Further reading – Visit the London Cocktail Week site on Drinkup.london here.