TO MARK two months to go until the start of Glasgow Cocktail Week, its organisers have revealed details of what they reckon will be its biggest and best year yet.
To kick off their countdown in style, a new bar and events space was unveiled in the city’s Princes Square, and christened with the placement of a giant cocktail glass witnessed by some of the top bartenders who will take part in GCW, running from Friday 19th April til Sunday 28th April this year.
The brand new ‘boujee’ Glasgow Cocktail Week Courtyard Bar promises to be an exciting central hub for GCW on Princes Square’s lower ground floor, welcoming cocktail lovers to booths where they can enjoy a tipple or two, alongside an exclusive new events space which will host everything from cocktail masterclasses, whisky tastings, and floral arranging, to live music and secret DJ sets.
2024’s GCW programme also involves a new retail space in Princes Sq on the ground floor run by Good Spirits Company offering 10% off products to all wristband holders, and new events including the ‘perfect girls day out’ with a make-up masterclass enlivened by botanical cocktails from Edinburgh Gin.
Cocktail connoisseurs can also spend a Saturday sipping on Espresso Martini tasting sessions with Belvedere Vodka and Cross Brew, enjoy a special gin and chocolate pairing hosted by Brockmans Gin, or attend a luxe floral workshops and cocktails from Bee Wild Blooms, and whisky tastings with Glenmorangie, Woven, Dewar’s and Aberfeldy whisky to name a few.
A mix of independent and ‘beloved’ brands will feature throughout the festival. There will be cocktails and events from Belvedere Vodka, Glenmorangie Whisky, Brockmans Gin, Bacardi, Edinburgh Gin, Smokehead Whisky, Eminente Rum, Buck and Birch, Woven whisky, Cross Brew, Langs Rum, Dewar’s, and Aberfeldy, with more to be announced.
In addition to GCW’s presence in Princes Sq, the festival features a city wide takeover with 40+ bars participating, including some of Glasgow’s favourite venues. New for 2024, there’s the Alchemist, Flight Club Dart’s, the soon to be launched Corset Club, The Citizen, The Locale, The Gate, Malo’s, and VEGA.
Cocktail fans can explore the city with the first ever Glasgow Cocktail Trail digital map, in partnership with Experience Glasgow Food & Drink. Set to spotlight 20 of Glasgow’s best bars, the GCW trail promises to put cocktails firmly on the map this spring.
Glasgow Cocktail Week organiser, Nicola Gemmell Moir, said: “We’re so excited to introduce Glasgow Cocktail Week’s brand new popup bar and events space in the stunning surroundings of Princes Square. A place where cocktail lovers can sit back, relax and try some of the city’s most innovative cocktails, right on their doorstep, it’s the start of a new era for GCW.
“Whether it’s a make-up masterclass, cocktail tasting or live music, Glasgow Cocktail Week is mixing things up for 2024, pairing your favourite drinks with fun live events for the first time. We can’t wait to reveal more from this year’s programme and toast to a city wide takeover this spring!”
Centre director at Princes Square Katie Moody, said: “We are delighted to host the first Glasgow Cocktail Week Hub bar and events space, welcoming some of the city’s favourite bartenders and brands to Princes Square for an exciting programme of events and bar takeovers. Princes Square is a unique place to be and I’m sure our guests will enjoy the opportunity to discover quality cocktails and join experiential masterclasses.”
The festival works by selling its guest wristbands or digital tickets, which they can then use to unlock exclusive festival menus and discounted cocktails in participating bars.
