monday 5 october - sunday 11 october 2015 monday begun with a ferocious, yet cleansing rain and also the london cocktail week, in the old spitalfields market, in london's east side. there are 275 cherry picked bars from thousands, to represent what is currently happening in the city's cocktail scene. bars, pop ups, masterclasses, parties, this hub of liquor will entice and challenge you, educate and inspire you and will get you drunk! naturally! from north to south, west and east, there are bars for all tastes and persuasions. with spitalfields and soho, the LCW HQ. i enjoy these events, despite, my intense and brutal filtering and critique, so that i can keep up on the pulse of what is going on, meet new people and my buddies, try some liquor and just hang out in documenting and participating fun. get a wristband and visit the bars, who can make you their LCW cocktail for a fiver and get down to the village for some sampling and camaraderie. 46 and mercy, bar termini, ghost vodka and an argentinian arepas, take my vote. cheers.
imbibe is an industry show, happening every year in london's olympia... the first one i went to was at the design centre and that was in the late 90s and it is very interesting at least, to see it evolve the way it has, influenced by the times, the politics, the recessions, the austerity, the trends... under one big and long roof, people from bars and restaurants and traders come together and present their products, services, network and attend seminars and tastings, have a neck massage, munch on some tailor made snacks and above all, try some amazing liquor, from here and abroad, wine and non alcoholic specimen as well, over a period of two days, from the morning till the afternoon. my personal visitations always include, not only checking out new products for the bar and/ or sip some exquisite spirits, but also, either connecting with new people, or see my bar buddies, i have known for some time and despite the changing of routes and the ultimate separation, we are happy to regroup and reunite. joy. and... liquor. highlights include gin from edinburgh, dark cherries and heering liqueur and a vintage blood and sand... till the next year. cheers. the photos below are from both imbibe back to back for comparison and reference. the show continues no matter what...
