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Feature
What’s on in November 2022
The nights are getting longer, but don’t worry – this collection of cool spirits-based events is the best way to fill them.
For those looking to get Christmas presents in the bag, this month is bringing a host of shopping opportunities in the form of whisky festivals and pop-ups, while those who prefer to take a ‘treat yourself’ approach might want to indulge in a nootropics masterclass or sneak through to a secret apothecary bar on London’s Southbank for a remedial cocktail or two.
Want to put travelling on the agenda this month? The Athens Bar show is returning, and there’s a very good reason to extend your stay in the Greek capital if you’re so inclined. Or maybe a trip to the underworld is more your vibe, in which case you’re in luck, as Day of the Dead celebrations are in full swing.
Keep reading to discover the other events going down this month.
Glasgow Distillery gets sleigh bells ringing
What: Glasgow Distillery’s Festive pop-up
Where: Prince’s Square, Glasgow
When: 7 October – 30 December
Ready to get in the festive spirit? The Glasgow Distillery’s pop-up shop has made a return in time for Christmas, occupying a space in Glasgow’s Princes Square.
The temporary retail space is playing host to favourites from the distillery’s portfolio, including Makar Gin, Glasgow 1770 Single Malt Whisky, Banditti Club Rum, G52 Botanical Vodka and Malt Riot Blended Malt – as well as limited bottlings from its new Glasgow 1770 Small Batch Series and it’s popular Glasgow 1770 Christmas crackers.
The new pop-up is open 10am to 6pm seven days a week, staffed by the distillery’s spirit experts to help you choose the perfect festive gift for your whisky-loving pal. Want to get personal? A personalised label service will also be available for Glasgow 1770 Single Malt’s Original and Peated core range.
A festival of all things Gin
What: Gin Festivities in Scotland
Where: The Golden Lion Hotel, Stirling
When: 28 October – 6 November
The ultimate gin festival is returning to Stirling to celebrate all things botanical. If you’re on the hunt for your new favourite bottle, this week-long festival will give you the opportunity to sample a variety of gins, and take a few home with you at the end of the day.
Experts and makers will be on hand to talk about their passion of gin as well as relaying their experience of making and drinking it. Great for those who just love a G&T at the end of the day, and those who like to get their geek on with the botanical spirit.
World Shochu Day
What: The national day for the Japanese spirit
Where: Global
When: 1 November
This week marks World Shochu Day, the ultimate celebration of the up-and-coming Japanese spirit. It has 500 years of history and craft behind it, and its starting to take the on- and off-trade by storm.
Want to celebrate it at home? You’re going to need to add a bottle to your home bar – and you can’t go wrong with Iichiko Shochu, made from 100% two-row barley that offers an incredibly rich umami flavour. We say get it mixed into a cocktail, and you can’t go wrong with a Negroni.
Masahiro Urushido, owner of New York’s acclaimed Katana Kitten bar has created the Meguroni #2, a riff that contains equal 22ml measures of Iichiko Saiten, Caffo red bitter, and Choya Kokuto, and 7ml genever.
Don’s Farmacia with Cazcabel Tequila
What: UK’s first Tequila farmacia
Where: BFI Bar, Southbank London
When: From 2 – 14 November
Feeling the effects of the season change? We know a place that has the remedy. This month, Tequila brand Cazcabel is bringing the mystical teachings and practices of its creator, Don Cazcabel, to London’s Southbank, where guests are invited to escape the city through a hidden door in the BFI drawing room and be transported to an ancient apothecary of Mexico.
Expect walls lined with antique medical journals, tonics, tinctures and dried botanicals, and a menu of crafted restorative cocktails, served in striking ways and prescribed individually by Don’s cocktail pharmacists throughout this two-week-long pop-up.
Happiness Forgets takes over Sweeties + a masterclass in nootropics
What: A Happiness takeover on the 10th floor
Where: Sweeties, The Standard, Kings Cross
When: 2 November and 20 November
For one night only the Shoreditch speakeasy will take over Sweeties, the 10th-floor bar at The Standard, London, bringing a menu of innovative serves created exclusively for the event in partnership with Fever-Tree and Mezcal Amores.
Later in the month…
On 20 November, Sweeties will be hosting a 90-minute masterclass led by head mixologist Jack Sotti, who will teach guests how to make three of Sweeties’ most popular adaptogen and nootropic-rich cocktails, including: Frothy Boi: the sour-inspired serve with Chase GB Gin, lacto-raspberry, bay leaf, pink salt, fermented fluffy oats; Pick Me Up: the old-fashioned favourite with Cîroc vodka, Eminente rum, coffee, mushroom, caramel, burnt butter; and Love & Happiness: Sweeties’ twisted take on a Spritz with Cîroc vodka, Melonade, single estate olive oil, green apple cordial and green tea.
Tickets are priced at £50 per person and include a welcome drink and three cocktails.
Patrón Day of the Dead Parade
What: A Tequila-fuelled Día de los Muertos parade
Where: Through the streets of London
When: 1 and 2 November
No better way to celebrate the dead with the Tequila brand that gives us life. Patrón’s iconic cultural celebration of Día de los Muertos is coming to life with an immersive parade, transforming London’s streets into a world of vibrant celebration.
Hop on board the marigold-adorned double-decker bus, inspired by the authentic floats seen in Mexico City, waiting to transport you across London. Joining the parade will be an assembly of performers directed by Miguel Torres Umba, creative director of Secret Cinema, including Mexican dancers and skull puppeteers to deliver the celebration.
Of course, there will also be plenty of Tequila cocktails, including the Patrón Paloma Roja: a seasonal twist on the classic Patrón Paloma, with hibiscus and bright grapefruit notes reminiscent of traditional Mexican dishes.
Tickets will be available for purchase via Eventbrite for £10, which includes a seat on the bus and a Patrón Paloma Roja cocktail.
Johnnie Walker’s City of the Future winter terrace
What: A futuristic winter terrace powered by whisky
Where: Yauatcha City, London
When: From 1 November
What do you get when you pair the person behind the spectacular design for stage shows for the likes of Adele, Beyoncé, Louis Vuitton and Chanel with Johnnie Walker Blue’s utopian Cities of the Future series? A futuristic neon terrace that transports guests to a vision of London and Hainan in two centuries’ time, that’s what.
Head to Yauatcha City this month to join in the celebrations of the launch of Johnnie Walker’s limited edition Blue Label bottles that mark the brand’s 200th anniversary.
Kah Tequila autumn terrace
What: Tequila-fuelled autumnal rooftop terrace
Where: Madison, London
When: Throughout November
Killer views and Tequila cocktails – that’s the only way to celebrate Mexico this month, and Madison Rooftop is providing both throughout November.
Partnering exclusively with Kah Tequila, the St Paul’s adjacent bar is bringing a taste of Mexico, its culture and traditions to the City of London for the ultimate autumnal fiesta, with a multi-day festival that brings together family and friends to celebrate food, drinks and entertainment, in true Meso-American style.
Lasting through the next five weeks, the decorations will be taken up a notch during the Festival of the Dead period, transforming Madison’s world-renowned terrace as its never been seen before, alongside an exclusive menu of cocktails made with Kah Tequila.
A bit of Hanky Panky in Canada
What: Hanky Panky takeover for Día de los Muertos
Where: Fairmont Pacific Rim, Vancouver
When: 2-4 November
For two nights only this month, three Hanky Panky cocktails will be accompanying Botanist’s executive chef Hector Laguna’s exclusive six-course tasting menu, infused in traditional Mexican flavours.
Then on 4 November, the cocktail connoisseurs of Hanky Panky will team up with Fairmont Pacific Rim’s creative beverage director, Grant Sceney, to offer a cocktail-forward experience at The Lobby Lounge & Raw Bar. The theme of the evening will continue in the spirit of Día de los Muertos, for a one-of-a-kind celebratory evening featuring live music and entertainment.
Athens Bar Show + Bar Week
What: Stirring up the future of bars in Athens
Where: Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens
When: 8-9 November
The Athens Bar Show is returning for 2022 with a two-day celebration of bartending, hospitality, catering and spirits.
This year’s event will once again be hosted at Technopolis of the Municipality of Athens, with dozens of new exhibitors and personalities from the world of spirits ready to network. Expect masterclasses and talks from a selection of the most influential people in the industry, including the likes of Simone Caporale, Monica Berg, Ago Perrone, Jesse Estes and many others.
Of course, if you’re making the trip to Athens, you may as well make the most of it and stay for Athens Bar Week – four days of interesting and exciting events going on within the Athenian bar scene. Both consumers and professionals will have the opportunity to explore the exciting cocktail bar scene the city has to offer, with exciting events, pop-up bars and takeovers at the best bars in the centre of Athens.
Maison Cointreau
What: Cointreau’s Soho Townhouse Takeover
Where: Soho, London
When: 10-12 November
Looking to immerse yourself in the world of Cointreau this month? Get yourself to Soho for the multi-sensory townhouse pop-up that has been launched in line with the milestone UK release of the brand’s newly designed bottle and 360° communications campaign for the heritage French liqueur.
The Maison Cointreau townhouse takeover will allow guests to discover the world and heritage of Cointreau through sight, taste, touch, smell and sound across four floors, each of which offers a different experience.
Each £15 ticket also enables the guest to redeem two Cointreau cocktails at the exclusive Cointreau bar on the top floor of the townhouse, where they can choose from a menu of classic cocktails complete with Cointreau. We say you can’t go wrong with a Margarita…
Woodford Reserve Presents…
What: A Cinematic Spectacle for the Senses
Where: London and Manchester, UK
When: 17 November and 18 February
Premium bourbon brand, Woodford Reserve, has curated two bespoke cinematic brand events to bring together cocktails, food and film for the ultimate sensory experience.
The two specially designed cinema events, one in London, the other Manchester, have been designed to engage audiences in ‘unique’ ways. Guests can expect a film screening paired with Woodford Reserve-themed cocktails specially created for each film and a menu drawn up by chefs from popular local eateries.
The London event will take place on 17 November at the Curzon Hoxton. During a screening of The Menu, audiences will be served cocktails paired with a distinct menu by Rita’s Soho, which will be brought out at chosen moments throughout the film to heighten the sensory experience.
The Manchester event will take place on 18 February at Ducie Street Warehouse where the film Everything Everywhere All At Once will be paired with themed cocktails and a menu by Tātā Eatery.
English Whisky Festival
What: A Celebration of English whisky
Where: Digbeth, Birmingham UK
When: 19 November
In the year that modern English Whisky turns 15 years old, the first physical English Whisky Festival will be taking place in Birmingham’s trendy Digbeth district.
Featuring over 25 English distilleries and bottlers, visitor’s will find the ‘largest ever’ gathering of English whiskies under one roof, accompanied by a chance to sample the oldest, newest and rarest liquids from the emerging category.
Tickets are priced at £40 per person and give the holder access to some of the most exciting whisky brands to come out of England including Northumberland’s Ad Gefrin, London’s Bimber and East London Liquor Company, Cooper King from Yorkshire and Kent’s Copper Rivet. Expect to find new products, festival exclusives and some money-can’t-buy samples from their warehouses, alongside some core releases.
There will also be a bar run by Birmingham’s own Grain & Glass, an on-site whisky shop and a food market offering delicious, freshly prepared delicacies.