Things you can get for £6: two regular Flat Whites; half an hours parking in Central London; a small cinema popcorn; two tube journeys in Zone 1; or one of over 250 insane cocktails on offer throughout London Cocktail Week. Cha-ching!
Luckily you have a whole month to try as many as you like with a wave of your LCW wristband, but if you want a little help deciding what to try first, these are the 10 we'll be starting with...
Love your agave spirits? Then you probably already know all about Haggerston's award-winning Agaveria, Hacha. For LCW, they're bringing a smokey, spicy little number to warm your autumnal cockles. The Minted Mexican Mule is a badass mix of Ilegal Mezcal, homemade mint & parsley syrup, fresh lime juice and homemade ginger beer. If you wanna swerve the booze, they'll sub out the mezcal for Seedlip Spice so you can party with the rest of them.
378 Kingsland Rd, Dalston, London E8 4AA
You think you're bummed out about the lack of travel you've been able to do this year? Spare a thought for the Foggs fam. They're used to racking up the Airmiles on their explorations, but more time at home has meant more time to create epic cocktails. Get involved with this special libation created especially for LCW, made with Discarded Spirits Banana Peel rum, Campari aperitif and homemade cocoa soda. We're feeling those tropical vibes.
37 Broadgate, London EC2M 2QS
This kickass neighbourhood bar of two halves in the heart of West Hampstead gives you all the options: a chic space upstairs serving lighter style drinks, and a darker moody bar below bringing all the whisky & Jazz vibes. The crew there have chosen LCW as the perfect time to launch their epic new menu of aperitivos including the new Son Of A Birch made with Bergamot liqueur, Dild Akvavit, homemade birch cordial, all carbonated and served over ice & garnished with a skeleton leaf. And yeah, they're all £6 all month with a wristband.
175 West End Ln, West Hampstead, London NW6 2LH
Did you know BrewDog ain't just about beer? Oh no, baby - they're also purveyors of some seriously killer spirits and they're showcasing them in two awesome frozen cocktails this London Cocktail Week. Available at 5 BrewDog venues across London, you can get your chill on with their 500 Cuts Rum Pina Colada and the Cactus & Lime Howlin’ Wolf made with their Lone Wolf Gin. Who said slushies are just for Summer?
Brewdog Clerkenwell, Dalston, Seven Dials, Shoreditch & Soho
August saw the opening of this awesome new neighbourhood cocktail bar in Camden, which focusses on locally sourced produce (think local farms, gardens and neighbours) & great hospitality. They're bringing their Perfect Lady #2 to the month-long party, made with Roku Gin, nectarine liqueur, olive leaf Cocchi Americano, cold brew Sencha, and supasawa. We'll see ya at the crossroads, homie.
Junction of Royal College St & Camden Rd, NW1 9NN
Sink beneath the hectic streets of Piccadilly and then slink into the 1930's vibes of Bar Americain at Zedel for some chic speakeasy vibes this London Cocktail Week. This beautiful high-ceilinged bar is all about the refined, chic drinks, and their LCW serve is no different. The Whisky Cobbler is made with Aberfeldy 12 yo whisky, jasmine syrup and homemade strawberry water infused for 24h. This is the kinda bar that will wow a date, so hit up that Hinge match you made over lockdown and plan a night beneath the tiles.
20 Sherwood St, Soho, London W1F 7ED
Big queer paradise: FOUND! This is the diverse and electric LGBTQ+ venue you've been looking for, baby. This outrageous venue looks a bit like it fell out of a 1980’s video game, and they have rotating calendar of artists and live music plus a weekly drag brunch. Sashay to their sleazy subterranean bar (which they've lovingly called Meatpacking - love it!), wave your wristband and you'll get this mix of Jagermeister, apricot brandy, fresh lime and ginger ale that makes up the Kosmisch for £6.
It's not officially a new season until the Dalloway Terrace switches up their infamous floral installation, so good news Autumn fans: the burnt oranges, golden browns and mustard yellows have arrived. London's most instagrammable terrace has matched their London Cocktail Week serve to their surroundings with the cosy, indulgent flavours of Johnnie Walker Black Label, Banana Liqueur, Caramel Cream, Cinnamon Tincture, Double Cream. Beauties all round.
16-22 Great Russell St, Fitzrovia, London WC1B 3NN
So all bars throughout London Cocktail Week have a killer non-alc option you can grab with your wristband (at an even more wallet-friendly price point of £4) but this one sounds like a bit of us. It's made with Everleaf bittersweet aperitif, osmanthus seasonal apple coulis (seasonal apples cooked in muscat grape juice, infused with Chinese Osmanthus flowers, FYI) Sicilian lemon tonic water and Jasmine blossom. Not drinking never tasted so good.
129 City Rd, Old Street, London EC1V 1JB
Wanna level up your LCW drinking? Yeah you do! A handful of participating bars have teamed up with Moet & Chandon this year to create a few special £9 cocktails, and this luxurious drinking den beneath Kingly Court is bringing the bubbles, baby. Their creation is built with Hennessy V.S.O.P Privilège, bitter liqueur, Demerara sugar cube, Angostura bitters, a dash of absinthe and topped with Moët Ice Impérial Champagne. WOW. Plus if you can make it to the bar for 17:43 each Thursday evening - there'll be some complimentary cocktails coming round - courtesy of Moët & Chandon Champagne. Phwoar.
Wanna know what else you had hit up during this month-long celebration? Check out our ultimate hit list for London Cocktail Week 2020!