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August 2, 2018

drinks festivals in Glasgow Cocktails, beer and gin all star in three imminent drinks festivals in Glasgow.

Unless you plan on living under a rock or retiring to a remote cave then you'll be aware that several festivals will take place in Edinburgh during August. As an alternative, here are a few drinks festivals in Glasgow.

We've already written about Glasgow Cocktail Weekend but a little reminder won't do any harm.

Tasty cocktails, top DJs, master classes and special menus will be adding sparkle to Glasgow from Thursday 9th to Sunday 12th August.

Participating venues include 5pm Dining faves such as RiojaThe FinniestonLebowskisThe Spanish ButcherHutchesons City Grill and Mezze.

Tickets are available here.

Drinks festivals in Glasgow: Beer Makes Glasgow

Fast forward to Friday 24th August and the second Beer Makes Glasgow festival will kick start a three day party at Drygate.

There will be four sessions over three days with fifteen breweries showcasing 60+ beers.

The full brewery/beer list has yet to be announced but top teams such as Up Front Brewing, Dead End Brewing, Gallus Brewing and Fyne Ales are already signed up.

There will be DJs, live music, reggae and food from Drygate's beer hall. With tongue firmly in cheek, organisers also promise to 'pour beer and deliver poor to middling chat'.

Tickets from here.

All profits from ticket sales will go to Drumchapel Food Bank.

This short film explains the background of the event and its links with the food bank.

https://www.youtube.com/embed/jkzXJ3IfbnU

Squinting further into the distance, Scot Gin Fest will take place over two sessions at Glasgow's Trades Hall on Saturday 29th September.

More than 25 Scottish gins will be available for sampling and purchase.

Enthusiastic gin lovers will be able to purchase premium tickets for meet the maker sessions and master classes in cocktail making and prepping the perfect serve.

It's an interesting time to have a festival dedicated to Scottish gin. There are moves afoot to create trade bodies which will protect the reputation of Scottish gin. See this recent piece in The Herald.

What makes a gin Scottish?

One of the first jobs will be to define Scottish gin.

Is gin Scottish if it is rectified in Scotland using neutral grain spirit which was distilled elsewhere?

Perhaps it is the botanicals which make it Scottish? If that is the case, what percentage of the botanicals need to come from Scotland? There isn't enough Scottish juniper to feed the growing industry.

Tricky, innit?

Keep checking back to the 5pm Food blog for news of any more drinks festivals in Glasgow.