From a sun-drenched Margarita terrace beneath The Shard to two of the biggest trade shows of the year, we’ve rounded-up the best spirits-themed events for July.

Looking to atone for your Glastonbury sins this month? There’s a different kind of festival going down in Brighton, and it won’t leave you with a sore head in the morning. Or if re-toxing is top of your July agenda, you can check out all of London’s most exciting cocktail bars in one place thanks to the return of London’s ultimate cocktail festival.

Searching for a five star dive bar experience in The States? Barcelona’s ultimate good-time bar Two Schmucks is road-trippin’ across the US to show the yanks how it’s done, while French spirits are getting the limelight in London as Le Syndicat swaps out the 10th arrondissement for Shoreditch with a cool one-night-only takeover.

Whatever it is you’re seeking to populate your month with, make sure you keep scrolling for the best events going down in the world of spirits this July.

Two Schmucks US tour

What: Two Schmucks tours the US

Where: Nashville, Houston, New York, Las Vegas, LA

When: 18 June – 10 July

Barcelona’s ultimate ‘Five Star Dive Bar’ Two Schmucks has channelled its inner Thelma & Lousie and hit the road for a four-week tour across the US.

The award-winning cocktail bar has been travelling across the states since 18 June to showcase how it does its thing to some of America’s most renowned bars, including Pearl Diver in Nashville, Houston’s Two Headed Dog, Katana Kitten in New York, Las Vegas’ Herbs & Rye and LA’s Broken Shaker.

Each stop on the tour has seen the Two Schmucks team host a series of seminars for people in the drinks industry, followed by a Schmuck-worthy transformation of the host bars, complete with neon lighting, skate brand stickers and graffiti to embody the Spanish bar’s signature style. The touring team have then been presenting its five-star service to industry guests alongside world-class cocktails made using Fords Gin.

Callooh Callay Gumball Tour

What: Bar takeover tour

Where: UK wide

When: From 1 July

The award-winning bar brand Callooh Callay is setting off on a first of its kind UK nationwide takeover rally, The Gumball Tour.

The team will be taking the bar’s menu to 20 bars across the UK over 20 consecutive days, kicking off on 1 July at Aberdeen’s Orchid. Stop offs will take place in Newcastle, Leeds, Sheffield, Manchester, Liverpool, Leicester, Bath, Bristol and Cornwall, before drawing the tour to a close at the current holder of ‘The World’s Best Cocktail Menu’ accolade, Lab 22 in Cardiff.

For the menu, expect to see influences from tour sponsors, including premium brands Hennessy, Moet & Chandon, Franklin & Sons as well as Hooch. The Spicy Boi, made with Volcan Tequila, pineapple, lime, Dom’s Chili Liqueur, Franklin & Sons Pineapple & Almond Mixer, sounds like a bit of us.

Cointreau Summer Terrace

What: Cointreau summer terrace

Where: The Shard, London Bridge

When: All summer

Orange liqueur brand Cointreau has teamed up with Bar 31 at Shangri-La The Shard to launch a new Summer Cocktail Terrace, which will be bringing frozen Margaritas and sharing plates to drinkers in London Bridge for the rest of the summer.

The new sun-soaked Cointreau terrace at Bar 31 makes the ideal spot for afterwork drinks with its refreshing selection of seasonal Cointreau cocktails including: the Mandarin Spritz made with Cointreau, Clementine, Rosemary and Prosecco; the Paloma-esque Margot created with Cointreau, Tequila Blanco, pink grapefruit, honey and fresh lime, and Litchi which combines Cointreau, chile liqueur, lychee and fresh lime. The menu also has craft beers and wine on offer, alongside a selection of sharing plates, Pizette and bar snacks for guests to tuck into.  

Le Syndicat Swift takeover

What: Le Syndicat x Swift Shoreditch

Where: Shoreditch, London

When: 4 July

The gap between Paris and London is shrinking this July as French spirit-championing bar Le Syndicat is heading to London’s beloved Swift Shoreditch for a one-night-only takeover on Monday 4th July from 6pm-10pm, sponsored by St Germain.

The legendary celebration of traditional French ingredients will feature 2 unique cocktail creations from Le Syndicat and 2 from Swift as well as an exclusive, limited-edition collaborative RTD for the first 50 people through the door to take away.

Imbibe Live

What: Imbibe Live

Where: Olympia, London

When: 4-5 July

It’s that time of year again as the UK’s annual trade event returns to reunite the drinks community with a mix of exhibitors, partners, tastings and masterclasses.

Expect talks and takeovers from industry renowned speakers including educators from WSET, who will be taking over the Tasting Room on 5 July, as well as plenty of networking opportunities and opportunities to take some of the most innovative and exciting spirit brands on the market.

Tickets are available only to those working in the drinks industry, priced at £15 (US$18.73) each, with a portion of the profits from ticket sales being donated to Imbibe Live’s two partner charities for 2022: The Drinks Trust and Only A Pavement Away.

Little Red Door takes over Eve Bar

What: Little Red Door x Eve Bar

Where: Covent Garden, London

When: 7 July

Adam Handling’s Eve Bar, found beneath his Michelin-starred The Frog, will be playing host to Little Red Door this month, as it offers guests the rare opportunity to try drinks from Little Red Door’s new menu Flourish, expertly made by the bar’s very own award-winning Parisian team.

While Little Red Door’s previous menu Grounded championed the use of local products, Flourish is an evolution of this idea and places the producer, produce, and product journey at the centre of the cocktail.

Cocktails In The City

What: Cocktails in the City

Where: Bedford Square, London

When: 7-9 July

Urban drinks festival Cocktails in the City is returning to London’s Bedford Square for its tenth year this month, with the first of three themed events.

The weekend-long alfresco cocktail festivals will bring together more than 20 of the capital’s top bars in pop-up form, complete with world-class cocktails, live music, experiential games, masterclasses, makeovers and a silent disco.

The Innovation & Discovery weekend will launch the summer series by bringing together some of the city’s most creative cocktail minds in one place. Expect playful category crossovers and pairings, new bars and faces alongside the chance to rediscover some of London’s most loved bars. Tickets are priced at £20 (US$25.23) and include a welcome drink.

Brighton Mindful Drinking Festival

What: Brighton Mindful Drinking Festival

Where: Brighton

When: 9-10 July

So you over-cooked it at Glastonbury and now you’re ready for a different kind of festival – better hot-foot it to Brighton, in the UK, for the Mindful Drinking Festival hosted by Club Soda, where the world’s best low and no alcoholic drinks will be celebrated across the weekend.

Brighton’s famous Open Market will be filled with over 40 low and no alcohol brands, including booze-free spirits, wines and beers. There will also be cocktail masterclasses and tastings as well as talks from local experts and influencer panels.

The free-to-attend festival is supported by Double Dutch premium mixers, Heineken 0.0, Lyre’s alcohol-free ‘spirits’ and Noughty Alcohol-Free sparkling wines. The perfect event for anyone with sober curiosity.

Passoã x Secret Cinema collaboration 

What: Dirty Dancing Secret Cinema

Where: A secret location in London

When: From 13 July

Ready to have the time of your life this summer? Passoã – the original passion fruit liqueur – has partnered with Secret Cinema to offer sultry summer cocktails to sip on while immersing yourself in the world of Dirty Dancing from 13 July.

Leave your spaghetti arms at home and get ready to carry a watermelon (or a tray of Pornstar Martinis), as for three weeks Passoã will have a dedicated bar where guests can recharge their dancing batteries and indulge in classic cocktails under the disco ball.

Tales of the Cocktail

What: Tales of the Cocktail

Where: New Orleans

When: 25-29 July

Time to pack your bags and get your passports ready, as the globally-renowned drinks trade event Tales of the Cocktail is set to return for its 20-year anniversary in the warm, eclectic city of New Orleans.

Commencing on 25 July, the five day in-person celebration will host its signature, educational programming at The Ritz-Carlton in the The Big Easy’s historic French Quarter. Expect a curated line-up of seminars, events, and, of course, imbibing, all in the name of “Progress” — the festival’s official theme for 2022 – and of course, get ready to find out who will be named the winners of the Spirited Awards 2022.

Sunday Lyan x Panda and Sons

What: Sunday Lyan

Where: Lyaness, London

When: 31 July

The final Sunday of the month will see the return of Lyaness’ weekend-ending takeovers, and for July it’s the turn of one of Scotland’s most renowned bars, Panda and Sons to take over the green-marbled bar.

The Edinburgh native will be bringing its collection of cleverly-created cocktails to London in collaboration with Fever Tree for the evening, which will kick off with music from 6pm.