With only three weeks to go until Glasgow Cocktail Week (GCW) takes over the city, the festival has announced an eclectic mix of masterclasses, unique events, and tasting sessions set to delight cocktail lovers.
Pairing up Haircuts and Highballs for a pop-up barber shop like no other, Coffee and Cake sessions tailor-made for a BFF day out, a makeup and cocktail masterclass with the ‘Darling’ of makeup brands Charlotte Tilbury, or Master the Margarita as a unique way to kick off a Friday night in town – GCW 2024 has brand new experiences to suit every taste.
Taking place from Friday 19th April – Sunday 28th April 202, in their beautiful new Courtyard bar and events space in the stunning surroundings of Princes Square, GCW welcomes in a new era of interactive mixology classes where guests can roll up their sleeves and learn more about how to make their favourite serves at home, at the city’s biggest cocktail festival. And what’s more, to get you in the mood for the festival, you can enjoy a special 25% spring discount off wristbands this weekend. Buy yours now priced at £7.50 (normally £10) with a masterclass and cocktail included. Use promo code PAYDAY until midnight on Sunday, 7th April.
Whisky fans can indulge in the world of whisky blending with Woven Whisky or partake in Islay’s Smokehead Whisky masterclass, whilst gin fans will learn how to pair the perfect Brockmans Gin serve with luxurious chocolate, or walk on the wild side with Buck and Birch’s exotic Scottish flavours. Or enter the world of Sugarlandia with Don Papa rum in an interactive session. Guests will enjoy a cocktail before the 30 – 45 minute classes, and can indulge in post-class cocktails at the GCW Courtyard Bar in Princes Square to round off this unique cocktail experience.
Subscribe to our daily newsletter
Why? Free to subscribe, no paywall, daily business news digest.
The hands-on sessions will take place on the ground floor of Princes Square at GCW’s Courtyard Bar. Your choice of masterclass plus one cocktail is included with the purchase of a GCW wristband.
What’s more , the festival has also announced a special festival warm-up with Pavilion Festival as its secret DJ set on Saturday night in their Princes Sq popup bar. With DJ sets from STREETrave residents Casey Boyne and Stevie Green. It’s the perfect way to get warmed up for the big event and if you’re lucky you might get your hands on a pair of VIP tickets, as they give away surprises on the night.
Glasgow Cocktail Week 2024 Programme:
BRAND NEW FESTIVAL EXPERIENCES
Botanical Floral Arranging
Saturday 20th – 1pm. £49pp 1.5 session Ticket includes one drink, a GCW wristband and the class, and a dried floral creation to take home.
Luxe florist, Bee Wild Blooms combines the artistry of beautiful blooms matched with GCW botanical serves. Whether you’re drinking or not, tickets include a session with florist Amy, who’ll take you through crafting your own spectacular dried floral creation to take home, alongside a serve from Edinburgh Gin, or creation from Crossip.
Pavilion Festival DJ Takeover
Saturday 20th April 7pm – 10pm
Princes Sq Courtyard Bar
Pavilon Festival is teaming up with Glasgow Cocktail Week for a Pavilion Festival DJ Takeover on Saturday 20th of April with STREETrave residents Casey Boyne and Stevie Green. It’s the perfect way to get warmed up for the big event and if you’re lucky you might get your hands on a pair of VIP tickets.
Cocktails Glow Up With Charlotte Tilbury
Sunday 21st – 2pm £25pp 1hr makeup class, x2 cocktails and a goody bag with GCW wristband and Charlotte Tilbury deluxe samples.
Discover the secrets to Charlotte Tilbury’s iconic ‘Hollywood Glow’ while you indulge in perfectly paired Edinburgh Gin serves. Ticket includes two drinks, and 1hr makeup class and a goody bag with a GCW wristband and deluxe makeup samples.
Haircuts and Highballs
Thursday 25th 12 – 6pm and Friday 26th April 1pm – 8pm £15 includes haircut, GCW wristband and one whisky cocktail Book slots.
Enjoy a 45-minute haircut from a top stylist in GCW’s pop-up barber shop, complete with one refreshing highball from a Smokehead Whisky’s exclusive menu. Whether you fancy a fade or a new do, top barber and football star, Josh Gemmell from Amo Barber Co will be on hand during this two day event. Very limited tickets.
COCKTAIL TRAILS
19 – 28th April in 40+ venues across the city
The #GCW2024 ticket unlocks exclusive GCW cocktail menus in your favourite bars with cocktails starting from £8.5 – £12 in premium venues.
With over 40+ bars taking part in this year’s festival including South Side’s Lunar, City Centre’s Flight Club, Alchemist, Absent Ear, Citizen, West End’s Locale, Finnieston and Eat End favs, The Gate, don’t miss out on going on a cocktail trail. We do recommend booking in advance for weekend visits to your favourite bars.
MASTERCLASS PROGRAMME
Each of these masterclasses, you’ll enjoy a wristband for GCW, a drink on arrival before an interactive session hosted by our brand partners. Use promo code PAYDAY here to enjoy a 25% discount.
Master the Margarita with El Sueño Tequila and and VIVIR Tequila
Friday 26th April, 5pm, 6pm and 7pm
1 hr session includes a cocktail on arrival, 1 GCW wristband and two taster cocktails
A must for any margarita-lovers, you’ll learn how to make three innovative tequila cocktails that you can enjoy at home. From a deep dive into agave to a build-your- own cocktail station, it’s the perfect start to a Friday night in Glasgow! El Sueño and VIVIR’s expert ambassador will guide you through the process of making three delicious cocktails: Tequila Watermelon Spritz, Tequila Espresso Martini, Tequila Old Fashioned.
The No and Low Sessions with Crossip
Saturday 20th and 27th April, 1pm
30 – 45 min session includes a mocktail on arrival, 1 GCW wristband.
Fans of no and low alcohol don’t have to miss out, with this session showing how to elevate your no/low drinks with a masterclass on flavour and presentation. No boring mocktails in sight!
Gin and Chocolate Pairing with Brockmans Gin
Saturday 20th and 27th April, 1pm and 3pm
30 – 45 min session includes a cocktail on arrival, 1 GCW wristband.
Cocktail fans with a sweet tooth…rejoice! Brockmans Gin’s specialists will show you how to match the perfect gin serve with the ultimate chocolate treat for a sweet Saturday afternoon in the city.
A Taste of the Wild Exotic of Scotland with Buck and Birch
Saturday 20th and 27th April, 2pm
30 – 45 min session includes a cocktail on arrival, 1 GCW wristband.
Spirit pioneers Buck and Birch will show the class how to use their unique wild foraged range at home, utilising the very best natural flavours found in Scotland’s wild and beautiful landscape.
Espresso Martini Masterclass with Belvedere Vodka and Cross Brew
Saturday 20th and 27th April, 2pm
30 – 45 min session includes a cocktail on arrival, 1 GCW wristband.
An introduction to this classic cocktail with Belvedere, combined with Cross Brew’s rich coffee liqueur – this masterclass is a must for coffee and cocktail fans!
Let’s Get Blended with Woven Whisky
Saturday 20th and 27th April, 3pm
30 – 45 min session includes a dram on arrival, 1 GCW wristband.
A guided introduction to the wonderful world of Woven Whisky, the class will be led on how to expertly craft the ultimate dram by the Leith distillers who blend the best whiskies from around the world.
Coffee and Cake Sessions with Cross Brew
Saturday 20th and 27th April, 4pm
30 – 45 min session includes a cocktail on arrival, 1 GCW wristband.
Cake and cocktails – what more could you need? Scottish brand Cross Brew will host this interactive session with a guided walkthrough on pairing up a classic Espresso Martini with flavoursome cake to accentuate each and every flavour.
Botanical Flavours with Edinburgh Gin
Saturday 20th and 27th April, 4pm
30 – 45 min session includes a cocktail on arrival, 1 GCW wristband.
You’re invited on a whimsical journey through flavour with Edinburgh Gin from refreshing summer spritzes to sweet spring serves.
Don Papa Rum Masterclass
Saturday 20th and 27th April, 5pm
30 – 45 min session includes a cocktail on arrival, 1 GCW wristband.
Enter the mystical world of Sugarlandia with Don Papa Rum as the team guide you through their blended-to-perfection rum.
Smokehead Whisky Masterclass
Saturday 20th and 27th April, 5pm
30 – 45 min session includes a cocktail on arrival, 1 GCW wristband.
Islay’s single malt whisky will pop up at GCW’s event space, to show whisky aficionados their best serves combining bold new flavours and alternative blends.
Brugal Rum Masterclass
Saturday 20th and 27th April, 6pm
30 – 45 min session includes a cocktail on arrival, 1 GCW wristband.
Welcome to the house of rum mastery as Brugal Rum run this guided session, pushing the boundaries of rum making with their classic Dominican Aged Rum.
A first for GCW, the new Princes Sq bar will ensure cocktail aficionados can pop in for the very best beverages Glasgow has to offer running Thursdays – Sundays during the festival. The bar will welcome cocktail lovers to beautiful booths where they can enjoy a tipple or two from pop-up brands, plus expect live sets from buskers and an exciting secret DJ takeover on Saturday 20th April, in addition to the huge range of masterclasses.
The festival features a city wide takeover including some of Glasgow’s favourite venues for a late night cocktail from the decadent Alchemist, the luxe interiors of The Citizen, West End fav The Locale to East End hotspot The Gate, Malo’s intimate negroni and wine bar setting, views of the city at VEGA and more. This year, a GCW ticket includes a cocktail masterclass, plus ticket holders will once again access exclusive discounted cocktails and unlock Glasgow Cocktail Week menus with their wristbands at a host of top venues across the city.
Glasgow Cocktail Week organiser, Nicola Gemmell Moir said:
“Now more than ever, you want to seek out new experiences with your friends. That’s why we’ve created brand new interesting events, and our first ever line-up of GCW masterclasses that combine premium brands and beautiful cocktails in our stunning popup bar and events space in Princes Sq. We’ll be bringing some of the UK’s most exciting drinks brands to the city centre, to invite cocktail lovers to learn more about classic serves, and potentially discover their new favourite cocktail.
“These fun, interactive classes are the perfect way to mix things up for a totally unique day out in Glasgow, with limited spaces available. Plus, after the classes, guests can sit back and relax in the popup Courtyard Bar, enjoy our immersive setup, and get some great cocktails and pictures for the ‘gram.
Don’t miss out – book your tickets now!”
Glasgow Cocktail Week is a cocktail experience like no other. A chance to sample the best cocktails across the city with a programme packed with parties, delicious drinks and an exploration of mixology.
The 2024 festival partners include Belvedere Vodka, Glenmorangie Whisky, Brockmans Gin, Smokehead Whisky, Edinburgh Gin, Eminente Rum, Buck and Birch, Don Papa Rum, Woven whisky, Cross Brew, Langs Rum, Highland Park whisky and Brugal rum. We’ll also be showcasing No and Lo with Crossip drinks, and Fevertree.
Tickets for Glasgow Cocktail Week are now on sale. Tickets are £7.50 until Sunday 7th April with special promo code ‘PAYDAY’.
