From Chinese New Year celebrations to a month-long 10th birthday party: February might be the shortest month of the year, but it’s packed with amazing spirited events.

While the on-trade might be flourishing, that doesn’t mean your home bar should be neglected, and this month will see a festival dedicated to getting yours in ship-shape.

Meanwhile if Hennessy and hip hop are your dream combo, there’s a rooftop brunch in south London that’s going to blow your mind.

Keep reading to learn about the 10 biggest events going down in February.

Lunar New Year at Smoke & Mirrors

What: Chivas-infused Lunar New Year celebrations

Where: Smoke & Mirrors, Singapore

When: Until 5 February

Toast to a prosperous Lunar New Year at Smoke & Mirrors, as the Singapore bar shakes, stirs and pours up a selection of Chivas-infused cocktails.

With the panoramic view of the city skyline as your backdrop, drink in four auspicious tipples – titled Wealth, Luck, Prosperous, and Health – each with its own distinct flavour profiles inclusive of traditional and symbolic ingredients.

With every order from the Chivas cocktail menu, you can see what the Year of the Rabbit has in store for you as you crack open a fortune cookie and reveal an exciting year ahead.

Cheers to a fruitful beginning with the Fortune Flight, including four Chivas cocktails, or indulge in the Chivas Flight, which spotlights four neat pours of premium Chivas expressions.

The Dead Rabbit turns 10 

What: The ‘world’s most awarded pub’ hits a decade

Where: The Dead Rabbit, New York City

When: 2-12 February

The Dead Rabbit is showing us what it means to be the ultimate destination for discovering the best of Ireland today, by kicking off a year of celebrations with 10 days of spirited, musical and playful educational events.

The bar has partnered up with Northern Ireland’s leading mental health organisation, Aware, to donate US$1 of every cocktail sold from the 10-year anniversary menu, available for the whole of February. Highlights include the classic Dead Rabbit Irish Coffee; Spell Spoke with Jameson Black Barrel Irish Whiskey, hibiscus, lime leaf, ginger and soda; and a tropical take on the whiskey sour with the Old Mule Skinner with Tullamore D.E.W. Irish whiskey, strega, papaya, honey, and lime.

The Dead Rabbit will also host a trade panel on 8 February with beverage industry experts dubbed ‘The Next 10’, led by moderator Noah Rothbaum, author and head of cocktails and spirits for Flavair. Jack McGarry will sit down alongside award-winning mixologist, writer, and bartender Lauren ‘LP’ Paylor O’Brien; Double Chicken Please founder GN Chan; Claire Warner, member, Tales of the Cocktail Board of Directors; and Another Round Another Rally founder Amanda Gunderson, for a discussion delving into the future of the bar industry.

Comedy Fridays at Aquavit

What: Comedy and Nordic cocktails

Where: Aquavit London in St James’s Market

When: 3 February and 17 February

Nordic-inspired restaurant, Aquavit London, is injecting some comedy into its Fridays with a new series of laugh-out-loud events.

Kicking off on Friday 3 February, guests can enjoy a delicious three course menu created by head chef Jonas Karlsson, followed by first class comedy from an exciting line up of special guests.

The menu will change for each event, but you can expect dishes such as herrings with sour cream and crushed Charlotte potatoes; venison crudo with blackberries, apple gel and blue cheese; and Swedish meatballs with lingonberries, mushrooms, pickled cucumbers and creamy mashed potato.

Once you have finished your meal, head up to Aquavit London’s beautiful Stockholm Room where the comedy will kick off from 9pm. Here you can sip on a cocktail, with a wide range of classic and signature choices available, or sample the venue’s namesake in the form of one of the bar’s many aquavit and tonic variations.

Rooftop Hip Hop Brunch with Hennessy 

What: A unique rooftop brunch with bottomless Hennessy cocktails

Where: Skylight Peckham, London

When: First Saturday of every month, from 4 February

Following the success of the Moët Hennessy pop up bar at Skylight Peckham’s winter terrace, this new rooftop brunch is bringing a 2023 edge to the collaboration between the two brands.

Combining Skylight’s delicious brunch offering and jaw-dropping views of the London skyline with special Hennessy cocktails, the brunch will be set to the soundtrack of nostalgic hip hop favourites.

Chef Karan has developed an exciting new menu with some special Hennessy additions alongside familiar brunch favourites. Dishes include crisp Belgian waffles with Hennessy syrup and a variety of delicious toppings, including poached conference pears with smooth vanilla mascarpone, fresh smoked salmon with poached eggs and dill, and chicken karaage with a sweet chilli pickle.  

One hour of select bottomless Hennessy cocktails (from 1-2pm) and 1 brunch item for £39.99.

Spirited Awards Presents Atlas

What: Atlas Bar heads to New York

Where: New York City, US

When: 6 February, 6-10pm local time

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) and the Singapore Tourism Board have announced a series of pop-ups, the first of which will see acclaimed Singapore bar Atlas head to the US.

Taking place at Forbes on Fifth, expect to see Atlas bring its renowned bar program to life, state-side, as it boasts a recreation its bespoke gin tower; guided tastings by Atlas’ head bartender, Lidiyanah ‘Yana’ K; and special releases from event sponsors, including Ford’s sloe gin.

The event will also mark the launch of the Spirited Awards Nomination period.

Endo X Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute Dinner

What: 12-course exclusive omakase sake pairing dinner

Where: Endo at the Rotunda, White City, London

When: 9 February

Endo Kazutoshi of Michelin-starred Endo at the Rotunda will be hosting Noguchi Naohiko Sake Institute (NNSI) from Ishikawa, Japan in association with Tengu Sake, for a one-off dinner with exclusively paired sakes not available in the UK.

Considered one of the world’s most revered sake breweries, NNSI will be coming over from Japan to create an exclusive pairing to the 12-course omakase, designed by Endo.

Expect to receive a unique insight into the history, culture and innovation behind sake brewing, the philosophy of Mr Noguchi Naohiko, Endo’s passion for sake, and the role it plays in Japanese cuisine.

Only 22 seats are available, with two sittings of 11, the first at 6pm and the second at 9pm.

La Cantine De Margarita

What: Tom Sellers partners with Patrón for Margarita Day

Where: Silverleaf, One Hundred Shoreditch and Satan’s Whiskers, London

When: 15-22 February

Patrón Tequila is celebrating International Margarita Day (22 February) by opening the doors to an authentic taste of Mexico’s famous ‘Cantina’ culture.

Set to reside within a number of London’s best cocktail bars, La Cantina de Margarita is coming to the city in collaboration with two Michelin-starred chef Tom Sellers, who’s exclusive menu will feature evolving dishes that evoke and perfectly complement the flavour profile of the iconic Margarita cocktail, made with Patrón Silver.

Expect fresh corn taco with lobster and Patrón Silver gel, and sweet potato and orange camotes – a traditional Mexican sweet with bitter orange notes.

First service is set to begin on Wednesday 15 February at Silverleaf at Pan Pacific London, followed by The Rooftop at One Hundred Shoreditch on 16 and 22 February, and 20 February at Satan’s Whiskers.

Cocktail masterclass at The St Regis, Venice

What: Paradiso-owner hosts cocktail masterclass

Where: St Regis Hotel Arts Bar, Venice

When: 17 February

Carnival meets Valentine’s Day at this cocktail masterclass hosted by Paradiso owner, Giacomo Giannotti.

The two-hour masterclass will see Giannotti teaching guests how to construct some of the most inventive, impressive cocktails, before he goes on to guest bartend at the Arts Bar that evening. Expect a menu of unique cocktails in addition to his own concoctions usually served up at his acclaimed Barcelona bar.

The Vault Home Bar Festival

What: A one-of-a-kind festival dedicated to those looking to curate their home bar

Where: Jio Gardens, Mumbai, India

When: 25-26 February

If you’re looking to curate the perfect home bar, this festival has you covered. With more than 2500 curious visitors expected to attend, and in excess of 500 food and beverage industry decision makers and trade professionals on the guestlist, all bases will be covered.

Brand owners are invited to co-host the festival with The Vault team, and bring their brand story, distillers, in-house experts, and handcrafted spirits to the table. The organisers hope that by engaging in the various experiences created at the festival, craft spirits explorers will add a whole new repertoire to their at-home hosting.

Keshav Prakash, festival founder and chief curator, said: “We at The Vault have been consistently striving to feel the pulse of fine spirits enthusiasts and connoisseurs and elevate their experiences to unlike anything seen before in India.

“With ever more discerning drinkers, it isn’t a surprise that India is soon poised to be one of the world’s largest at-home consumption markets for craft and fine spirits.”

Kol Mezcaleria launches The Explorer Series

What: A collaboration between The Lost Explorer Mezcal and the world’s best agave-bars

Where: Kol Mezcaleria, London

When: 26 February

Santiago Lastra’s Kol Mezcaleria announces The Explorer Series – a collaboration between the award-winning The Lost Explorer Mezcal and several of the world’s best agave-bars.

With six events held every other month on Sunday nights from February to October, each evening will see one leading bar take up residence within the Kol Mezcaleria and present its unique passion for Mexican agave spirits alongside a limited edition menu.

The series kicks off with a takeover by Barro Negro, Athens’ first Tequilaria that was founded with one mission in mind: to showcase the dynamism and variety of agave spirits to a new audience.

Each night will offer six different cocktails, utilising three different expressions of agave available from The Lost Explorer Mezcal – Espadín, Tobalá, Salmiana – with a cocktail made using each by both the guest bar and the Kol Mezcaleria team.

In addition, every event will offer a unique experience as each guest bar introduces elements of its own atmosphere and culture to the Kol Mezcaleria, with nods to the bar’s music, design, and style of service.