London Cocktail Week is a yearly ritual for us (you can check out our 2017 adventures here). At £6 a pop, it is a great way to discover new cocktails and the London bars that create them. But this year, it was even more relevant, as my husband recently started his own coffee and cocktails page on Instagram (untappedlondon), so it was all in the name of research (obvs).
If you missed London Cocktail Week 2018, here’s a little recap of the best bits (for us anyway)!
DAY 1
A Korean street food-themed restaurant by chef-patron and owner Judy Joo of the famous television series Korean Food Made Simple. The bar has an impressive selection of liquor, including Korean specialities like Soju.
Cocktails we tasted:
Get Ready to Stumble – Cognac, Kumquat Soju, Passion Fruit, Grapefruit Juice, Yuzu Juice and Almond Syrup.
Jumi – Earl Grey infused Soju, Yujacha Citron Tea, Lemon Juice and Mediterranean Tonic.
A modern British restaurant in Mayfair by the team behind award-winning Pidgin. The concept is small plates and the food comes on a trolley. They do some unusual and unique cocktails, created in-house by their talented team of mixologists.
Cocktails we tasted:
Depeche Mode – Japanese Gin, Creme de Peche, homemade Cantaloupe and Cider Shrub topped with Soda.
An Italian restaurant in fashionable Saville Row from D&D London that specialises in a Calabria-inspired menu, cicchetti bar and Italian wine. They also have an expansive Negroni list.
Cocktails we tasted:
Sicilian Negroni – Lavender infused Rhubarb Aperitif, Averna and Tanqueray Gin, served with a side of smoke.
DAY 2
The stylish Michelin-starred Indian restaurant in Mayfair. Their cocktail menu has new creations, as well as some of the classics reimagined with an Indian twist.
Cocktails we tasted:
Upside Down – Tequila, Benares Homemade Cardamom and Fennel Sherbet, Lime Juice and Orange Bitters
A Latin American-themed bar in London’s Mayfair, with an encyclopaedic collection of drinks on offer.
Cocktails we tasted:
Jäger Hse – Jägermeister, Yellow Chartreuse, Creme de Menthe and Orange Foam
The newly opened restaurant by drinks legend Toni Conigliaro in stylish Mayfair.
English Tickler – Beefeater Pink Gin, Strawberry and Vanilla Honey, Lemon Juice and Egg White Soda
DAY 3
One of the several venues in the Grind family, this one sits by London Bridge and provides a range of food, coffee and cocktails, including several with coffee twists.
Cocktails we tasted:
Grind Irish Coffee – Jameson Caskmates Stout Edition, Grind’s Coffee Blend, Moscato Sugar and Double Cream
A hidden gem in rapidly trendifying London Bridge.
Cocktails we tasted:
The Frontier – Bulleit 10yo Bourbon, Nutty Italian Amaro and Dour Cherry Liquor
DAY 4
Latest opening by the JKS siblings in the shiny new, award winning complex of Bloomberg Arcade.
Cocktails we tasted:
Nepalese Negroni – Monkey 47 Gin, Sweet Vermouth, Campari, Hibiscus and Timur Peppercorn
A City-based bar by the famous Drake & Morgan group.
Cocktails we tasted:
Tokyo Drift – Roku Gin, Plum Sake, Yuzu, Lemon, Honey, Egg White
Famous Hong Kong institution with locations all over the world. The London branch is set in a former church that adds to its charm.
Cocktails we tasted:
Hybrid Jia Tea – Beefeater 24 Gin, homemade Jasmine Tea Cordial, Apricot Liqueur and homemade Hibiscus Soda with a Lavender sugar rim
Cocopanda – Coconut Purée, homemade Jasmine Tea Cordial and Apple Juice
DAY 5
The restaurant attached to Andaz Liverpool Street (the one with the Masonic temple). They do great weekend brunch as well.
Cocktails we tried
The Globalist – Blanco Rum, Ancho Chile Liqueur, Lychee Liqueur, Strega, Lemon Juice, Agave Syrup and Earl Grey Tea
The Levee – Tanqueray Gin, Lemon Juice, Hibiscus Syrup and Peach Liqueur, topped with Earl Grey Tea
An inviting rooftop bar with good selection of drinks and friendly service.
Cocktails we tasted:
Grapefruit Speranza – Aperitivo, Belsazar rosè vermouth and pink grapefruit topped with Cremant
We ended LCW with a trip to the LCV: a traders-only venue near Brick Lane’s Truman Brewery, dedicated entirely to the art of making and drinking cocktails
Virgin Atlantic pop-up
Superhero Landing – Aviation Gin, Cassis, Yellow Chartreuse, Lemon Juice, Lanson Champagne
At First Blush – Aviation Gin, Cocchi Rosa, Lemon Juice, Chareau Aloe liqueur, Cava Rosé
House of Peroni
Aroma Botanico – Peroni Nastro Azzurro, Cardamom and Lavender-infused Rinomato, Campari, Lemon Juice, Sugar, Bitters
Bulleit Pop-up
Smokin Bulleit 10 Old Fashioned – Bulleit 10, Smoky Mustard Syrup, Paprika, Grilled Jackfruit, Cola Glazed Bacon Rasher
So that was London Cocktail Week 2018 done and dusted. We felt immensely proud for hitting so many venues. This year, I felt that the selection of venues and cocktails on offer were far better than previous years. At the end of the week, our livers hurt and complained, but our hearts (and heads) were happily boozed.
For more information, download the app DrinkupLDN
N.B. All photos are by @untappedlondon. This is not a sponsored post.
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All these cocktails look glorious? What would you say was your highlight?
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thanks for reading…the ones from gazelle
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