Once again, Cocktails in the City is coming into serve thirsty Londoners some of the best cocktails in the city!

Oh wait, I just got the name.

Yes, CitC 2017’s Summer Edition is a bringing  London’s most exciting bars beneath the green canopies of London’s Bedford Square Gardens for a sunny two-day
celebration of the city’s unique and diverse drinking scene.  Festival-goers will get a chance to enjoy bars from around the city coming together in one gorgeous location on July 28th-29th.

Bars and a representing brand set up stalls where bartenders presented the brand in a cocktail of their devising to the public for judging, with scores gathered at the end of the weekend.

“Mixing together interactive and diverse drinking experiences, Cocktails in the City takes guests on a whirlwind tour of cocktail exploration. Sip on signature serves and taste-test exceptional concoctions from a handpicked selection of bars from all over the world,” including the award winning Nightjar, new openings such as Blind Spot, concealed drinking dens London Cocktail Club and Reverend JW Simpson, and the retro sexiness of Fontaine’s.

“A whirlwind tour of cocktail exploration, expect to sample incredible cocktails from London’s top bars, taste unusual and rare ingredients, shake up a storm with the world’s finest bartenders in interactive masterclasses and watch talented mixologists put their personal twists on new summer creations in this immersive weekend-long cocktail party.

Some of the London’s best street-food concepts are on board to provide tasty sustenance and a roster of live music and DJs will provide a festive backdrop. Soak up the atmosphere and enjoy the very best in drink entertainment in the beautiful green surroundings of Bedford Square Gardens.

Cocktails in the City takes guests on a sensory tour through London’s drinks scene in one night, without having to take more than a few steps. No tubes, taxis or buses!”

Keep an eye out for long, refreshing drinks, fruit flavours, and the return of fizz!

Some favourites from years past include:

The Looking Glass Cocktail Club, Shoreditch – harking back to Maker’s Mark’s history as breadmakers, this cocktail is inspired by Italy’s sweet panettone bread loaf and it’s potent almond flavour.

The Maker’s Baker cocktail mixes Maker’s Mark whiskey, cider reduction with winter spice, Americano vermouth, ‘Liquid Panettone’, and Sinner Bitters. A sweet wintery Manhattan with heavy mix of cinnamon, nutmeg and spices, with lingering almond certainly took centre stage with it’s innovative homemade creations of ‘liquid panettone’ and spiced cider reduction.

Other cocktails presented by LGCC included the Honey Loaf, and Fig Muffin – each an excellent rendition on the baker/distiller theme.

Fifteen, Old Street, came in with another winner! Inspired by Wimbledon’s classic, the Strawberries and Cream.

Inspired by Behn’s Milk Punch, this summery cocktail gets a 300 year update and is a massive mix of Langley’s gin, strawberries, whole milk, Dolin dry vermouth, coconut water, green tea, lemon juice and peels, sugar, pink peppercorns, tarragon and coriander seeds.

And what a fabulous mix it is!

A wonderful well balanced, silky cocktail, sweet without being overbearing and mellowed by the fruit and spices. Absolutely fantastic.

Another great cocktails from CITC’s past is the the Reverend JW Simpson with their Larder Batch: Four Roses Small Batch Bourbon, Pinot Noir and pink peppercorn reduction, cardamom bitters and angostura bitters; with a steak accompaniment. In terms of presentation, it stuck with the theme of the bar and the Four Roses bourbon, and the service was conversational, fun, and effervescent like the event itself. The accompaniment suited both the intense aspects of the drink, the bourbon, and Pinot Noir/pink peppercorn reduction – here the Reverend presents us with a steak dinner in a cocktail format and a nibble; the natural spiciness of the Four Roses Small Batch, and that of the peppercorn and cardamom suits the steak perfectly. The Reverend excelled on all fronts and more.

So if you love your cocktails, get yourself a ticket asap, and see you at Cocktails ion the City 2017!

Bedford Square Gardens, London, WC1B

Tickets are £15 and include one cocktail, multiple complimentary experiences and cocktail booklet.

Friday 28th from 4pm – 9.30pm
Saturday 29th (two sessions) 12pm – 4pm, 5pm – 9.30pm

http://www.cocktailsinthecity.com