Aberdeen Cocktail Week is getting a spring makeover in May as the festival returns for its third year.
Around 50,000 cocktails have already been poured as part of Aberdeen Cocktail Week to date, and this year festival-goers can chose from around 70 different drinks during the 12-day celebration, which aims to showcase the innovation in the bartending and hospitality scene across the city.
Four new venues have signed up for the spring edition taking the total number of venues to 27. New additions include Fierce Bar on Exchequer Row, West End wine bar and cafe, Moosh, Union Street’s Amarone and Spanish tapas restaurant, Cafe Andaluz.
The other participating venues include: Arcadia Bar and Games, Bar One Eighty by Legends, Codona’s, College Bar, Common Sense Coffee House and Bar, Dusk, Malmaison, McGinty’s Meal an Ale, Monty’s Wine Shop and Bar, No.10 Bar & Restaurant, OGV Taproom, Paramount Bar, Revolution, Revolucion de Cuba, Soul, Tarragon On The Terrace, The Albyn, The Braided Fig, The Firepit By Smoke & Soul, The Noose and Monkey, The Spiritualist Aberdeen, The Tilted Wig, and Under The Hammer.
While most of the venues, which include bars, pubs, clubs, restaurant and cafes, will be focusing on their signature drinks for cocktail lovers, some will also serve food with each venue featuring one to four cocktails on their special festival menus offering everything from a Spiced Banana Daiquiri and a take on a classic Bramble, to a cocktail inspired by Thai dessert, sticky rice.
Aberdeen Cocktail Week, which was launched in 2022 , is organised by local entrepreneurs, Gregor Sey and Charlie Bain. It usually runs in October and will return later in the year, too.
Gregor said:, “Our city’s bar scene is one of the best in Scotland, if not the UK. The level of talent is incredible and we’re delighted to be working with so many brilliant venues for our first spring festival.
“It’ll be another bumper edition packed with creative and innovative drinks, and we can’t wait for everyone to enjoy them while ticking off their favourites in their Cocktail Week guidebooks. Don’t miss out on this opportunity to sip and savor the best cocktails Aberdeen has to offer.”
Aberdeen Cocktail Week takes place Wednesday, May 14 until Sunday, May 25 and attendees can purchase early bird wristbands from AberdeenCocktailWeek.com. Monty’s Wine Shop and Bar is the collection point for wristbands and those out and about on May 14/15 can also pop into the Music Hall and collect their wristbands at the Ultimate Masterclass Festival events.
Picture: Charlie Bain and Gregor Sey