Here’s a round up of the best events for London Cocktail Week 2018, from mezcal masterclasses to a townhouse filled with interactive sensory experiences...

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Wednesday to Sunday: The Cocktail Village

The epicentre of London Cocktail Week has bigger ambitions this year, with later opening times – an 11pm finish! – and an expanded location. Entry is free with your festival pass and includes access to over 40 different cocktail experiences across three different spaces – from Rémy Martin and Cointreau’s Sidecar Bar at Back Yard Market to martinis and oysters with Fords Gin at Brick Lane Yard and tutored rye tastings in a sauna (yes, that’s right) with Kyrö in The Boiler House.

3-7 October (Wednesday to Sunday 12pm-11pm; Sunday 12pm-7pm). Brick Lane, London, E1 6QL (entry via Back Yard Market)

Lots of people holding cocktails
Photograph by DrinkUp.London

Tuesday to Saturday: The Spirits Collective at TT Liquor

The East London drinks hub explores spirits from around the world with a series of workshops, tastings and immersive experiences. Highlights include a mezcal masterclass from Illegal Mezcal (3 October), a screening of classic black-and-white film Whisky Galore! With Elements of Islay – complete with peaty cocktails (3 October) – and a primer in everything negroni related with vermouth brand Cocchi (3 October).

2-6 October. TT Liquor, 17B Kingsland Road, London E2 8AA

More like this
A wooden bar with cabinets full of bottles
TT Liquor's Cellar Bar

Wednesday to Saturday: Porn Star Martini Townhouse

One of the more kitsch additions to LCW 2018 is Absolut’s Porn Star Martini Townhouse, which sees 19 Greek Street in Soho transformed into an immersive cocktail experience, with four floors containing everything from a vanilla-scented, mist-filled forest to a bubble maze, passion fruit kaleidoscope, edible treats and games and, of course, plenty of porn star martinis.

3-6 October (5pm-9pm), 19 Greek Street, London, W1D 4DT

A coupe glass full of orange-coloured liquid and a shot glass
An Absolut Porn Star Martini

Wednesday to Friday: #BeTheBotanist: The Foragers Table

The Botanist Gin has assembled chefs and bar tenders from the likes of Three Sheets, Sager + Wilde and The Lyan Group at The Shoreditch Treehouse for a series of three-course dinners – with paired cocktails – using ingredients foraged in parks across London.

3-5 October (7-10pm), Shoreditch Treehouse, Charlotte Road, EC2A 3PB

A table covered with lots of glass bottles
A foraged feast with The Botanist

Our pick of the events for each night of London Cocktail Week

Monday: World Class Bar Takeover at Worship Street Whistling Shop

World Class is putting on a range of different experiences for LCW – from a series of masterclasses at Ham Yard Hotel (1-2 October) to a five-course Korean dinner with paired kombucha cocktails at M Restaurants (4 October) – but it kicks off with a takeover at Worship Street Whistling Shop by Antonio Naranjo, bar manager at renowned Barcelona bar Dr Stravinsky.

1 October (all evening). Worship Street Whistling Shop, 63 Worship Street, London, EC2A 2DU


Tuesday: Patrón: The Three Amigos

Patrón Tequila and The Napoleon are clubbing together for a takeover at the mini boutique hotel, which will see all three of its bars manned by bartenders from some of the world’s best bars – expect to see Shingo Gokan from Shanghai’s Speak Low, Artem Peruk from St Petersburg’s El Copitas and Athens’ Nikos Bakoulis of The Clumsies.

2 October (6pm) 9 Christopher Street, London, EC2A 2BS

Three bottles of tequila
A three-bar Patrón takeover at The Napoleon Hotel

Wednesday: Grand Marnier presents ‘A Touch of Rouge’ at Oriole Bar

Belle Epoque style, dance and live music combine for a special evening at Oriole, which will see The Divine Company stage a dance performance on stage and around the bar, backed up by Oriole’s trademark live music and Grand Marnier cocktails.

3 October (6pm-late). Oriole, East Poultry Ave, London, EC1A 9LH

An immersive dance performance at Oriole

Thursday: Smith & Sinclair X MADE present the multi-sensorial cocktail experience

One for drinks nerds, confectionary company Smith & Sinclair and MADE are on a mission to take your cocktail-making skills to the next level, from colour-changing drinks to inhalable cocktails and edible fragrances.

4-5 October (7pm). MADE HQ, 5 Singer Street, London, EC2A 4AP


Friday: Tequila & Mezcal Fest

Friday kicks off the 5th annual celebration of everything agave-related at The Bargehouse at OXO Tower Wharf, with Mexican street food and tequila cocktails from the likes of Café Pacifico and Ella Canta, contemporary Mexican art installations, film screenings, live music and more.

5-7 October (Fri 6-10.30pm; Sat 12.30-4.30pm; Sun 5.30-9.30pm). The Oxo Tower Wharf, Barge House Street, London, SE1 9PH


Saturday: Let there be brunch at Harvey Nichols

Get your day drink on at this brunch and sustainably minded bloody mary masterclass with Ketel One at Harvey Nichols. Ketel One ambassador Kate Jackson will be on hand to offer advice on how to use up wonky veg and minimise waste, and the whole experience will be lubricated by plenty of bloody marys, Ketel spritzes or flights of martini twists.

6 October (11am and 12.30pm). Harvey Nichols, 109 - 125 Knightsbridge, London, SW1X 7RJ


Sunday: Piscoteque @ Resident of Paradise Row

Celebrate the end of LCW with pisco cocktails and a throbbing Latin playlist packed with salsa and reggaeton.

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7 October (midday-late). Resident of Paradise Row 252 Paradise Row, 252 Paradise Row, London, E2 9LE

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