Mark your calendars folks! Old Fashioned Week (OFW) is back for 2017 and it’s bigger than ever! With 10 Ambassadors around the world, the reach is going to be awesome and we want YOU, whether you’re a bartender, bar owner or cocktail drinker to be a part of it.

 

Once again, I’m proud to serve at the UK Ambassador and so please do feel free to get in contact via thefloatingrumshack [at] gmail [dot] com if you’ve any questions, but (to be honest) it’s all very straight forward and all you need to do is to register and follow the links.

Our buddy Michael will tell you more in this short video...

 

 

 

 

2017 sees some familiar faces in terms of partner brands and some new faces. Angostura is the official bitters of OFW and will be in your glass along with Havana Club (who are focusing on their 7yo expression), Monkey Shoulder, Wild Turkey and Rhum JM. For those looking to be involved in the US, you’ll find that Altos Tequila will be your alternative option as you guys just haven’t got past your ‘Cuba issue’ yet – at least at an official level.

 

For those in the London area of the UK, the official press launch party will be at the SMWS’s, Kaleidoscope Bar this September – if you’d like to be on the invite list, please do drop me a line (spaces are limited).

 

We are hoping bars will offer menus that push the boundaries on just how cool an Old Fashioned Cocktail can be and will point out, once the main partner brand requirements are met, you are free to work with existing relationships as needed, or explore the possibilities – you are limited only by your imagination! Angostura Bitters must be the main bitter and you’ll need to choose two partner brands, one for each of your registered serves. Once that requirement is fulfilled, the bar and any associated events you choose to put together for the week will be listed on the OFW website and promoted through our social channels. 

 

You can read more in the following official press release, but for now, please do ensure you’re following OFW on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Oh, and if you’re a cocktail drinker and you want to give your local haunt a nudge to be involved – that would be very welcome thank you very much! 

 

 

 

For ten days in November, bartenders around the world will rally to set aside their shakers and reach for their mixing spoons.  Old Fashioned Week (OFW) will sweep into town for this global celebration of the father of all cocktails.  Intending to double the impact from its second year in 2016, Old Fashioned Week 2017 now launches with ambassadors in ten zones, to cover most of the world’s most high-profile cocktail cities.  This embassy of top spirits experts and writers will help inspire bars to serve up the most classic, innovative, original, premium or daringly different Old-Fashioned cocktails.  They aim to extend the legend that makes it the most enduring and popular cocktail in quality bars (in the World’s 50 Best Bars).  Bars are invited to participate by registering on the OFW website by 20 October; all set for Old Fashioned Week from 2-11 November.  So, expect to hear that call of the Old Fashioned, enticing discerning cocktail drinkers to their favourite bars.  www.old-fashioned-week.com

 

Old Fashioned Week will target over 600 bars in 2017, with the confident aim to increase to 1,000 bars in 2018.  It has blossomed from its modest creation by Michael Landart of popular neighbourhood bar Maria Loca in Paris, and rum enthusiast Cyrille Hugon, to become a worldwide celebration.  For 2017, it partners internationally with six renowned brands: Angostura Bitters, Havana Club rum, Altos tequila (for US activities), J.M Agricole Rhum from Martinique, Monkey Shoulder Blended Scotch malt whisky, Wild Turkey bourbon whiskey.  Participating bars will serve Old Fashioned cocktails using at least two of these brands.  Beyond that, they can freely use their other regular listed spirits.  Consumers can expect to enjoy individually conceived events, promotions, and generally good old-fashioned drinking fun.  Bars, and also shops, can announce their activities on the Old Fashioned Week website and show off their creations via OFW social media - where innovation is always a point of positive controversy: Anyone for a gin Old Fashioned?

 

Cyrille Hugon, co-founder and director of Old Fashioned Week, comments: “For 2017 we are really getting out there, with a confident plan to involve even more high-quality bars, bartenders, and even drinks shops.  Old Fashioned Week is a celebration of cocktail heritage and bartenders’ skills and encourages fresh thinking, innovation, and convivial drinking.  Our OFW ambassadors are well known to bars in their country zones, and above all, they are as enthusiastic as we are about drinking an Old Fashioned made to perfection.  Our mission is also to help the bars attract customers and maximize their cocktail sales.

 

“In the recent couple of years, many bars which started as rum or whisky bars have become fashionable, classic drinking destinations in their cities.  In the same way, the Old Fashioned has become a cocktail which is forever-stylish and has certainly expanded in popularity thanks to the evolution of these bars”.

 

www.old-fashioned-week.com For participating bars, history, new fascinating bar stories and videos.

Twitter @OldFWeek #OldFashionedWeek

Facebook https://www.facebook.com/oldfashionedweek

Instagram https://www.instagram.com/oldfashionedweek

 

How to make a classic Old Fashioned:

• 4cl spirit.  Choose bourbon / rum / rye whiskey / Scotch whisky / cognac
• 1 dash of Angostura Bitters
• 1 sugar cube
• 1 sliver of orange zest
• 1 maraschino cocktail cherry

• Muddle the bitters and sugar with a splash of soda for 1 minute in the glass.  Add the spirit and fill the glass with ice. Garnish with the orange zest and cherry.
• The sensations of taste should be fruity-aromatic with citrus sweetness, whilst letting the pure, punchy spirit flavours shine through.
• Generally, its requisites are that it is a short cocktail, and it should always be garnished.  

History of the Old Fashioned cocktail

The most popular cocktail sold by the ‘World’s 50 Best Bars’

How Old Fashioned Week was conceived

Old Fashioned Week founders and international ambassadors

International brand partners