Raise a Glass During Edinburgh Cocktail Week

Oct. 14–20, Scotland’s capital city plays host to Edinburgh Cocktail Week. The fun takes place in Festival Square, the location of Cocktail Village and adjacent Cocktail Forest. Along with plenty of live musical acts, the Cocktail Village features 19 pop-up bars and a stretch of covered outdoor area devoted to street food from local purveyors such as Mac Man, The Butcher Boy, Norelli and The Garden Hatch.

The Cocktail Forest is a conceptual space imagined as a dusky, autumn-season garden replete with enormous, Alice in Wonderland-worthy toadstools and just enough low lighting to make you dreamy.

Lovers of libations will want to head to the Glasshouse Hotel’s rooftop garden, where drinks are served in multicolored cocktail “domes” erected on two acres of terrace space. The transparent pop-up structures allow guests to sip signature cocktails while drinking in views of the city’s skyline. Each of the six domes is available for private, two-hour bookings, and seat eight guests in a space tricked out with comfy sofas, cozy blankets, soft rugs and twinkling fairy lights.

Also on tap is a selection of activities that includes the following:

Holyrood Distillery Cocktail Experience, with a guided tour of the new premises to learn about gin and whiskey mixing, botanical additions and production

Discover Highland Park Expert Whiskey Tasting with a tasting staged on the rooftop terrace of Cold Town House in the Grassmarket district. The event features a whiskey expert and drams of Valknut and Highland Park 12 year and 18 year.

Cocktails Aboard Fingal, the only floating luxury hotel in Scotland (the vessel was a former Northern Lighthouse Board ship); cocktail partners for the event are the Electric Spirit Co. and The Port of Leith Distillery Co. Drinks are accompanied by charcuterie, cheeses and tasty treats from Bakery Andante.

Classic Movie & Cocktails Night at the Scotsman Hotel’s Scotsman Picturehouse, with a screening of the popular Lionsgate release La La Land, welcome cocktails, plus popcorn and a movie cocktail to enjoy during the film

A hands-on gin blending workshop led by pros from Eden Mill Blendworks, taking place a short stroll from Cocktail Village at the Raging Bull

Beefeater Gin Cocktail Class at the Black Ivy features Beefeater Dry, Blood Orange and Pink Strawberry gins and the chance to create your own cocktail.

The Scottish Bohemian Brunch Extravagaaaaaza! takes place at Brewhemia, and features Edinburgh Gin.

Themed Cocktail Afternoon Tea at the Waldorf Astoria Edinburgh – The Caledonian takes place in the property’s Peacock Alley and includes two cocktails along with all the expected treats, savories and delicacies from a traditional luxury afternoon high tea.

Morning Yoga with Seedlip with three cocktails, including Seedlip’s signature NOgroni; the space is located on the fifth-floor Heights venue at Apex Grassmarket Hotel, with excellent views of Edinburgh Castle. The class is led by a pro from Meadowlark Yoga.