About Time: You Discovered the Best Events at Old Fashioned Week 2018By Iona Goulder
Join Woodford Reserve in celebrating the ten-day global cocktail festival, Old Fashioned Week 2018 (1st-10th November) that pays homage to every whiskey-lovers favourite classic cocktail – the Old Fashioned. Woodford Reserve will be exclusively collaborating with a select number of London’s best bars to host bespoke experiences, events and cocktails with a modern twist on the American classic. Here’s 5 Old Fashioned Week events you simply can’t miss:
1. Woodford Presents Eric Ranzoni Trio at Oriole Bar
The Lowdown: Renowned for its live music, Smithfield Market’s Oriole and Woodford Reserve will be celebrating Old Fashioned Week by hosting a special night of blues music with one of the finest singers and piano players around – Eric Ranzoni. On Monday 5th November, treat yourself to Eric’s distinctive style and knack for crowd entertainment at the enchanting underground oasis Oriole offers. Opened in 2015 as the second bar from the team behind Nightjar, Oriole’s special Old Fashioned menu is sure to display the bar’s talent for gentle twists on old classics.
When: Monday 5th November, 9-11pm
Where: Poultry Avenue, EC1A 9LH
2. Punch Up at The Cocktail Trading Company
The Lowdown: For one night only, on Tuesday 6th November, The Cocktail Trading Company will be collaborating with its sister bar in Bristol, HMSS, to deliver a Punch Up evening to celebrate the Old Fashioned cocktail. Giving you the chance to experience the mysterious and stylised atmosphere of HMSS, The Cocktail Trading Company in Brick Lane will provide a variety of Old Fashioned cocktails that will take you through the history of the drink. As the brainchild of three lifelong bartenders, The Cocktail Trading Company is intrinsic to the UK bar culture and has won numerous awards, making this unique event something not to be missed.
When: Tuesday 6th November
Where: 68 Bethnal Green Road, Brick Lane, E1 6GQ
3. A 1950s Night of Blues Music at Swift
The Lowdown: Based in the cultural hub of Soho, both of Swift’s slick and stylish bars will be recreating the 1950s “boudoir” atmosphere associated with the Old Fashioned cocktail with a night of blues music and signature American Old Fashioned serves. Swift’s downstairs bar has long been renowned for its focus on whisky; its attentive bartenders are the experts in using Woodford Reserve to create innovative twists on the Old Fashioned cocktail.
When: Thursday 8th November
Where: 12 Old Compton Street, Soho, W1D 4TQ
4. Blues and Bourbon Night at The Ned
The Lowdown: Famous for its incredible live band, The Ned will be collaborating with Woodford Reserve to organise a Bourbon and Blues evening on 6th November from 8.30pm, following its members masterclass. The Ned’s Nickel Bar is renowned for its time-honoured American staples and classic cocktails, and the stage alongside is no stranger to jazz and blues performances. To accompany the music and dancing, choose from a selection Old Fashioned cocktails from The Ned’s special Woodford Reserve menu for Old Fashioned Week.
When: Tuesday 6th November
Where: 27 Poultry, London, EC2R 8AJ
5. A Night of Blues Music at The Principal
The Lowdown: Escape the everyday at The Principal London Hotel’s new bar, Fitz. Named after Charles Fitzroy Doll, the original architect of Kimpton Fitzroy London, this plush and glamorous bar has newly partnered with Woodford Reserve and will be celebrating Old Fashioned Week with a night of blues music dedicated to the Old Fashioned Cocktail. The bar’s flamboyant detail, featuring original stained-glass windows, lends itself perfectly to recreate the world this classic cocktail originated from.
When: Wednesday 7th November
Where: The Principal London, 1-8 Russel Square, Bloomsbury, WC1B 5BE
