This is not a drill. The announcement of Cocktail Festival is music to our ears, and we are here to bring you all you need to know about it.

It’s no secret that our lovely city enjoys a good drink, but what if we told you that for 4 days, there is a way to experience limited-edition signature cocktails at a cluster of Johannesburg’s most well-known and loved bars? We’ll wait while you find the words… 

From Wednesday, 26 June to Friday, 28 June 2019, Cocktail Festival will be changing the way you spend your evenings. Seven of Johannesburg’s hottest bar’s including, Sin Tax, Mix Bar, Saint, Marble, A Street Bar Named Desire, J Rabbit and The Royale will be participating as they partner up with the best of Diageo’s Reserve brands where they will showcase their World Class Cocktails. 

All cocktails will be World Class in every sense of the word as they are created by World Class bartenders with a selection of Diageo’s Reserve brands including; Bulleit Bourbon, Talisker 10, Ketel One, Lagavulin, Tanqueray 10, Johnnie Walker Black and Don Julio. 

At Sin Tax you can expect to find Bulleit Bourbon a palate taste of orange notes, followed by some warming winter spices and a hint of tobacco leaf, mixed into delicious cocktails. Mix Bar will tantalize your taste buds with Talisker 10 cocktails, a classic island dram from the isle of skye aged for a minimum of 10 years in American oak casks a member of Diageo’s Classic Malt series.

At Saint the new restaurant by celebrity chef David Higgs, will create cocktails with Ketel One Vodka a Dutch vodka produced at a distillery owned by a family-run business which was started in 1691 with a great flavour profile. 

Marble true to its unique interior and menu will use Lagavulin a much sought after single malt with massive peat smoke that is typical of southern Islay, however offers the richness and a dryness that turns into a truly interesting cocktail. 

The new hot spot A Street Bar Named Desire will showcase cocktails including Tanqueray No. Ten, introduced in 2000 Tanqueray No. Ten is named after the still of its origin, pot still number 10. The small batch gin is crafted using whole fresh citrus fruits, such as oranges, limes and grapefruit, along with chamomile flowers and other traditional botanicals. 

J Rabbit will be crafting whisky cocktails including the ever favourite Johnnie Walker Black, a much loved and respected blended scotch, Johnnie Walker Black Label is one of the world’s most famous blends. Johnnie Walker Black Label is a blend of 40 whiskies with a distinctive mellow smoky note. 

Finally the Royale or Shucked will fashion tequila cocktails with Don Julio Reposado, smooth and balanced tequila from Don Julio, aged for just under a year in bourbon barrels. 

This is certainly a festival you don’t want to miss, a festival that will show you not only what, when and how to drink, but to drink better. 

Enjoy responsibly. Not for sale to persons under the age of 18.