Sydney has World Class Cocktail Week. Given Australia’s reputation for consuming alcohol in immoderate amounts, the descriptor, “world class” may perhaps be ironic? Singapore has Singapore Cocktail Week. There’s a Santa Fe Cocktail Week. But London has the world’s biggest cocktail week, and it’s coming up. London Cocktail Week runs from October 1- 7.
While alcohol brands tend to compete during the week by partnering with bars to present branded cocktails, Absolut, Grand Marnier and Hendrick’s have already signed up for inventive pop-up events.
This year seems to be martini year at cocktail week. And Pernod Ricard vodka brand, Absolut, seems to have the headliner event. It is planning to take over the Victorian townhouse at 19 Greek Street in Soho, to create a multi-sensory experience built around the porn star martini, from October 3 – 6.
In the Absolut Porn Star Martini Townhouse, visitors will be able to explore four floors of the Victorian building, each of which will be fitted out with different elements that make up the cocktail. There will be a mist filled Vanilla Forest and a bubble filled maze, for example. At the end of the experience, visitors will be able to learn how to make their own porn star martini at the Absolut Vanilla Bar.
Meanwhile, Hendrick’s gin is creating its own martini pop-up bar, Hendrick’s Gin Tini Martini Bar, in Haggerston in London’s East End (the hub of London Cocktail Week), with drinks inspired by different countries. The bar will serve special tiny versions of the martini and has invited some of the world’s best bars, such as New York’s Employees Only, Oslo’s *ISM and London’s Dukes Bar, to join in and create their favourite martinis from October 3-5.
And Grand Marnier is hosting a dinner and dance event, A Touch of Rouge, at Oriole Bar in Smithfield Market, inspired by the vibrancy of La Belle Époque era, when Grand Marnier was founded (1880). The evening will include cocktails, dinner and a contemporary dance performance – both choreographed and impromptu – by The Divine Company, which will take place on the stage and around the venue to Oriole’s signature live music.
