10 quirky London Cocktail Week drinks

London Cocktail Week celebrates its eighth anniversary this week, which makes us feel old, as the inaugural cocktail fest back in 2010 feels like yesterday…

Running from 2-8 October, LCW will bring together the best bars and bartenders in the capital for a celebration of all things shaken and stirred.

Wrist bands have been scrapped this year in favour of digital passes that can be downloaded onto your phone.

A £10 pass gives you unlimited access to £6 cocktails in over 250 venues in the capital throughout the week, in addition to discounts at bars, restaurants and ticketed events.

Among the bars taking part this year are Nine Lives, Super Lyan, the Rumpus Room, Bar Termini, Untitled, Original Sin, Black Rock, The Blind Pig and Dickie’s Bar.

The Cocktail Village at Old Spitalfields Market is the beating heart of London Cocktail Week featuring a maze of pop-up bars and street food stalls.

With so many sips to choose from we’ve rounded up 10 of the quirkiest cocktails on pour this week, from an asparagus-laced Negroni to a nitro popcorn Espresso Martini.

Eat the Acorns

We’ve long been fans of savoury cocktails at db and this salty critter, made with Jabugo ham-infused Ketel One vodka, takes savoury to a new level.

60 ml Jabugo infused Ketel One, 
2 bar spoons apricot and Earl Grey chutney, 10 ml dry white port, 
2 drops of green lemon bitters

Shake all the ingredients and double strain into a chilled glass. Garnish with a piece of toast with tomato and olive oil, and zest of a lemon.

*Try it at The Natural Philosopher, 489 Hackney Road E2 9ED

Barrel-rested Asparagus Negroni

When it comes to cocktails we’ll try most things, but we have to admit that asparagus isn’t the first thing that comes to mind when we want our thirst quenched. But in the spirit of experimentation, we urge you to try this crazy cocktail made with Portobello Road’s asparagus infused vodka.

The twist on a Negroni is made with equal parts 
Portobello Road Gin
 and Asparagus Vodka, Campari
 and Sweet Italian Vermouth served on the rocks with an orange wedge and a baby asparagus spear.

*Try it at The Distillery, 186 Portobello Road W11 1LA

All City Cobbler

Served in a spray can, this flavourful slushy mashes up Hennessy VS Cognac with rose & raspberry sherbet and almond & bitter orange essence.

It’s made with 2 parts Hennessy VS
, 1 part rose and raspberry sherbet and 1 part almond and bitter orange essence.

*Try it at Hennessy Bringing Colour to the Mix Bar at The Cocktail Village

Nitro Popcorn Espresso

Fancy an Espresso Martini with an explosive twist? Then this smoking nitro cold brew is for you.

Made with 150ml nitro cold brew coffee, 35ml vodka
 and 15ml popcorn syrup, you’ll find this bubbly concoction at  the Apothecary Shop by Monin at The Cocktail Village, which has been decked out to look like a turn of the century apothecary.

Pink Flamingo

Dead of the Dead chic is all the rage at the moment, and with Halloween approaching, you can get yourself in a ghoulish mood with this refreshing Tequila-laced sip.

Made with 50ml of  Don Julio Blanco, 20ml of pistachio shrub, 20ml of lime juice and a dash of white balsamic, it’s served in a traditional Mexican skull mug with a watermelon popsicle.

*Try it at Nine Lives, 8 Holyrood Street SE1 2EL

Tito’s PB & J

Those with a sweet tooth who love a Moscow Mule should head down to the Tito’s Texan Mule Cart at The Cocktail Village to try its signature sip – Tito’s PB & J.

A Texan twist on a Moscow Mule, this all American cocktail is made with 35ml Tito’s Handmade Vodka
, 
15ml lemon juice
, 25ml peanut butter & honey syrup, 25ml apple juice and a dash of chocolate bitters, topped up with cloudy lemonade and garnished with a strawberry twizzler – natch.

Yuzu & Juniper

The first Nikka Coffey Gin cocktail in the UK takes inspiration from the Japanese citrus fruit yuzu, which looks like a lime but tastes like a tangerine.

This delicate sip blends 50ml Nikka Gin, 
25ml fresh lemon juice, 
15ml double sugar syrup, 
1/2 barspoon of Yuzukosho, 20ml egg white and 2 dashes of orange blossom water. Shake and double strain. Garnish with orange peel and shisho powder and flourish with a shisho flower.

*Try it at Roka Mayfair, 30 North Audley Street W1K 6HP

Candy Floss

Who doesn’t love candy floss? This sip plays on our nostalgia for the pink fluffy stuff via Monkey 47 Dry Gin, Fraise des Bois Liqueur, Lemon, Candy Floss Syrup and soda water.

Shake first four ingredients and strain into tall thin jam jar over cubed ice. Top with soda, stir to combine. Pop in a stripy straw and garnish with a candy cane.

*Try it at Wunderbar of Adventure up at The Cocktail Village

Patrón Echo

Created by the team at The Clumsies bar in Athens, this cooling sip combines the agave centric notes of Patrón Silver with a smoky element from the mezcal and a spicy dimension from two cheeky drops of green Tabasco cooled by a homemade cordial made from cucumber, courgette and chives.

Add all ingredients to cocktail shaker. Double strain into chilled coupette glass and garnish with chilli threads.

*Try it at The Patrón Cocktail Lab at The Cocktail Village

Sainio

And finally, Kyrö Distillery Company has recreated the flavour of Finland with this sweet little number, which blends Napue Gin, sour sea buckthorn and vanilla syrup garnished with a vanilla pod.

*Try it at Kyrö Sauna Bar at The Cocktail Village