Sip sip hooray! Edinburgh Cocktail Week is shaking things up in October.
We’ve already blogged about BOWfest and The Great British Food Festival which take place this weekend.
For those who like to plan their pleasures a little further in advance, make a note in your diaries for Edinburgh Cocktail Week which takes place 15th-21st October.
Over 80 bars across the capital are taking part in this year’s Edinburgh Cocktail Week.
Each bar has designed a unique Signature Cocktail which can be enjoyed for just £4 with an ECW wristband. Wristbands cost £6 for a weekday band (valid Monday to Friday) and £8 for a weekend band (valid Saturday and Sunday).
The number of bars taking part has increased from 50 to 80 this year. The expanded format also sees the introduction of a new Cocktail Village at Festival Square, which is free to enter with a wristband.
Enclosed within a marquee, the Cocktail Village will act as the social hub of the week-long cocktail celebrations.
Attendees can meet up with friends here and catch up over £4 cocktails from fifteen pop-up bars run by brands such as Edinburgh Gin, Grey Goose Vodka, St-Germain, Johnnie Walker, Rumbullion Rum, Belvedere Vodka and Poco Prosecco.
As well as lots of cocktails to try, there will also be live music, DJs and drop-in style master classes and tastings to keep revellers entertained.
Edinburgh Cocktail Week: pouring all over the city
‘As a city of event-goers we all love a pop-up space to hangout in, so the Cocktail Village is an exciting new development for the event and the city. It has been designed with an outdoor festival theme to make you feel like you are in an autumnal garden while being in the comfort of an enclosed marquee.’
Last year, there were some reports that the festival’s success outstripped the ability of some venues to keep up with demand. Organisers have taken steps to minimise the risk of this happening again.
‘With this year’s expansion also came a lot of work with brands and distribution to ensure supply meets demand; a challenge some bars faced last year,’ acknowledges Gary. ‘New partnerships with brands and local distributors will ensure sufficient stock levels are in place with backup stock from local warehouses just a phone call away.’
Apart from a handful of notable exceptions, pretty much every hip and happening bar in Edinburgh is taking part.
The full list, which can be viewed here, contains many 5pm Dining members so you can book in for a bite to eat in between beverages.
At a quick glance, Badger & Co, Bar Soba, Brewhemia, The Grand Cafe at The Scotsman and Rabble leap out.
Wristbands can be purchased here.