London Cocktail Week

No Cocktail Week would be allowed to pass without Dapper Chapper popping by to see what’s going on, and it was a real treat.

First of all we spent an evening at The Art Of The Old Fashioned with Woodford Reserve. Twelve different Old Fashioned cocktails from sweet to savoury to spicy, running the gamut of all tastes. Including recipes from some of the most lauded bars in the world, we got to try The Dead Rabbit Grocery’s New York herby but sweet offering, Soho House’ secret syrup infused version, and Night Tales’ London apricot flavours.

Not only that, we got to experience an Old Fashioned Masterclass – under expert tutelage from Woodford’s master barmen meant we learned about the nuances and undertones through the bourbon and how to accentuate them. A range of ingredients were spread across the table, and after some guidance we were let loose. Our Cracked Black Pepper and Parmesan Old Fashioned was a runaway hit.

On to the cocktail village later in the week and we got to explore a range of spirits. Particular efforts were made by all, and we had a few favourites walking around. The mini bottles of bourbon from Bulleit were a huge hit, as was the Stoli lemonade stand – where you could get a free Stoli Lemonade if you brought them a free lemon pre-7pm. While Soda Stream had the most impressive layout, their cocktails were a little underwhelming. A winner was the Tia Maria Cool Beans bar, a milk float converted into a makeshift bar with a silent disco from 7pm each night which was hugely fun.

Everyone seemed to be loving the week, and it’s once again cemented London’s place on the world scene as the hottest and most innovative cocktail hub.

Lucky us, eh?