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Top 10
What’s on in September 2023
We’re channelling those back-to-school vibes with a packed-out timetable of must-visit spirit events this September, with a little bit of education thrown in for good measure.
With a double period of whisky festivals, extra-curricular month-long spirited celebrations, and a handful of after school takeovers, the first month of autumn has something for everyone.
Keep scrolling to find out our pick of the top 10 spirited events happening this month.
Spirit of Speyside: Distilled
What: The ultimate weekend for whisky lovers
Where: Elgin Town Hall, Speyside, Scotland
When: 1-2 September
The annual celebration of the flavours of Speyside – the home of more than half of Scotland’s distilleries – is returning to the much-loved region for a weekend.
Uniting Speyside’s best distillers under one roof, expect attendance from the region’s best-selling brands alongside small food and drink producers.
Spirit of Speyside: Distilled is split into three sessions across Friday evening and Saturday. Entry ticket includes full access to the session, a Glencairn crystal nosing and tasting glass, a lanyard and eight taster samples of gin, whisky or beer.
Guests will have the opportunity to purchase products from exhibiting brands as well as Spirit of Speyside: Distilled merchandise during the event.
Washington Spirits Month
What: A month-long celebration of distilled spirits
Where: Washington, US
When: 1-30 September
The Heritage Distilling Company has declared the whole of September to be Washington Spirits Month, with a programme of events that will highlight the variety of spirits from the many distillers across the state.
Distillers joining in the inaugural launch of Washington Spirits Month include Browne Family Spirits, Westland Distillery, The Distillarium, Unicorn Distillery, and Big Gin.
As part of the celebrations, participating retail stores, hotels, bars and restaurants are featuring Washington-made spirits in displays and on cocktail menus. The goal is to drive awareness of the industry, following in the long history of Washington’s nearly 1,000 wineries and 500 breweries.
Scarfes Bar x Himkok
What: Oslo’s famed Himkok takes over London’s renowned Scarfes Bar
Where: Scarfes Bar at Rosewood London
When: 6 September, 7-10pm local time
Following on from Scarfes Bar’s visit to the Oslo-based bar in June as part of its 10-year anniversary takeover, Himkok will be showcasing its Norwegian flavours in London for one night only, with the team bringing over their in-house spirits and using local ingredients, as a way of celebrating sustainability and innovation.
Guests can expect an exclusive drinks offering served by the Himkok and Scarfes Bar teams.
National Bourbon Month dinner
What: An exclusive Bourbon pairing dinner with Jefferson’s
Where: Wynn Las Vegas, US
When: 8 September
To celebrate National Bourbon Month, Wynn Las Vegas has teamed up with Jefferson’s Bourbon for an exclusive Bourbon-pairing dinner, where Jefferson’s proprietor and distiller Trey Zoeller will regale guests with tales of Bourbon lore, recounting the many journeys of Jefferson’s Ocean Aged at Sea Bourbon, and more.
Taking place at the property’s seafood-forward, fine dining concept, Lakeside, the multi-course dinner curated by executive chef David Middleton will be paired with various expressions of Jefferson’s Ocean Bourbon along with bespoke cocktails, expertly crafted especially for the occasion by Wynn Resorts’ master mixologist, Mariena Mercer Boarini.
Scottish National Whisky Festival
What: The Aberdeen edition of the annual festival series
Where: Aberdeen Music Hall, Scotland
When: 9 September
The Scottish National Whisky Festival is heading to Aberdeen this month as part of its recently announced 2023/24 schedule, which kicked off in Inverness earlier this summer.
Initially created to celebrate the historical relationship that exists between whisky and Scottish music culture, this year’s festival series is all about offering festival goers an opportunity to take a deep-dive into the modern world of spirits and live music with an exceptional line-up of exhibitors from across the drinks industry spectrum.
Expect to see an array of indie bottlers as well as a few better-known brands in attendance, as well as an exciting range of guest spirits (including rum, Cognac, liqueurs and more); cocktails by industry-leading mixologists; food vendors and exclusive masterclasses.
Sydney Bar Week
What: The 21st edition of the annual Aussie on-trade celebration
Where: Sydney, Australia
When: 9-13 September
This five-day celebration will see a line-up of events that will bring together the Australian bar industry through education, parties and its annual Bar Awards.
With highlights including an all-woman bar takeover by Mix Haus at Door Knock; a yacht party hosted by Grey Goose vodka; Campari Academy’s Aperitivo Symposium masterclass; and the return of The Bartender’s Bash, hosted by Pernod Ricard, there’s something for everyone.
The festivities will conclude with the Bartender Magazine Australian Bar Awards on 13 September, hosted at Doltone House in Pyrmont.
The awards celebrate members of the Australian on-trade, with bartenders and venues vying for accolades in numerous categories including Rookie of the Year, Best Bar Team of the Year, Hotel Bar of the Year, Host of the Year, and the coveted Bar of the Year title.
Noma Projects x Lyaness
What: A collaboration that blurs the line between food and drink
Where: Lyaness, 20 Upper Ground, London
When: 10 September
Launched in 2022 to bring the knowledge, curiosity and craft of Michelin-starred Copenhagen restaurant Noma to a wider audience, Noma Projects is dedicated to inspiring home cooks with innovative and delicious flavours, with products created and selected by the Noma team.
For one night only, Noma Projects will partner with acclaimed London bar Lyaness, for an exclusive menu that blurs the lines between food and drink.
The menu will feature cocktails using Lyaness’ innovative approach married with products from the Noma Projects test kitchen, including a Mushroom Garum Hardshake with cep marshmallow, an XO Ramos, and a Rose Vinegar Martinez.
Negroni Week
What: A week-long celebration of the iconic Italian apéritif
Where: Global
When: 18-24 September
Fans of bitter-sweet apéritifs – your week is nigh. For seven days of September, bars and restaurants around the globe will come together to celebrate the iconic Negroni while supporting Slow Food’s mission to foster a more equitable and sustainable world of food and beverage.
With activations taking place around the world, it’s unlikely you’ll be far from a bar or brand that is celebrating the week. You can head to www.negroniweek.com/find/ to locate one near you.
Hye Fashioned Takeover
What: A month-long celebration of the Old Fashioned
Where: Restaurants and bars across the US
When: 1-30 September
It may usually be known as ‘fashion month’, but Garrison Brothers Distillery in Texas, US, is celebrating the Old Fashioned cocktail throughout September with its Hye Fashioned Takeover – a month-long national initiative celebrating the beloved serve.
Named after Hye Texas where Garrison Brothers Distillery is located, Hye Fashioned Takeover will take place at restaurants and bars across the US to encourage imbibers to drink hand-crafted Old Fashioneds made with Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon whiskey.
Each participating restaurant and bar will feature menu specials and exciting activations for the whole month in Atlanta, Austin, Chicago, Dallas, Fort Worth, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, Orange County, Palm Beach, Palm Springs, Phoenix, Sacramento, San Antonio, San Francisco, and Tampa.
The Competitive Cocktail Masterclass
What: A bit of friendly competition with cocktail-making thrown in
Where: The Mayfair Bar, London
When: Ongoing
London’s ‘Monopoly Lifesized’ experience has launched The Competitive Cocktail Masterclass in its secret, hidden venue, The Mayfair Bar.
Guests can book in groups of 8-20 for the fun Competitive Cocktail Masterclass, where teams compete against each other and the clock to create delicious cocktails. An expert bartender will oversee the proceedings and judge each contestant on their creativity, skill, speed, memory and ability to keep calm under pressure. All are required to deliver a perfect 10, or its off to jail you go. Maybe.
Guests can now book The Competitive Cocktail Masterclass at The Mayfair Bar which includes a welcome cocktail, two cocktails prepared within the game, and sparkling refills throughout the 90-minute experience.
Hopefully unlike a game of monopoly at Christmas, there will be no flipping of tables by the sore loser.