It's time to mark your calendars for the area's premiere spirits festival, Milwaukee Cocktail Week, which will be held Sept. 21-27.
During cocktail week, Milwaukeeans will have the chance to experience, imbibe, enjoy and educate themselves on all things cocktail-related. Some of the city’s best-loved experts will host numerous cocktail events -- including tastings, seminars and dinners featuring cocktail pairings -- in just about every neighborhood in Milwaukee.
"After a successful first year, we are excited to host another great series of Cocktail Week events," remarks Ira Koplowitz of Bittercube. "Milwaukee is home to some of the most up-and-coming bartenders in the country. And we look forward to sharing the best our city has to offer during this amazing, weeklong soirée."
Capstone events during cocktail week will include a Cocktail Week Kickoff on Sept. 21 and Cocktail College on Sept. 27.
The kickoff, which will take place at Horny Goat Hideaway, 2011 S. 1st St. is a tailgate themed event featuring small plates from area restaurants paired with specialty cocktails from some of Milwaukee's best bartenders. Guests will also have the opportunity to cheer on the Packers as they take on the Detroit Lions.
Pre-sale tickets for the kickoff are available online for $35 through Aug. 15, at which point the ticket price increases to $40, $45 at the door.
Cocktail College will provide an opportunity for attendees to taste dozens of spirits from a variety of distilleries, indulge in appetizers and participate in innovative spirits education classes and cocktail seminars. Held at the Iron Horse Hotel, 500 W. Florida St., on Saturday, Sept. 27 from 1 to 4 p.m.
Presale tickets for Cocktail College are available online for $35 through Aug. 15, and $40 through September or until they are sold out.
VIP passes are also available for $65, and include admission to the Kickoff Tailgate, as well as VIP admission to Cocktail College. VIP attendees will receive early access to the Cocktail College tasting room as well as exclusive access to a special 30 minute cocktail seminar.
For more information, visit Milwaukeecocktailweek.com and follow MKECW at on Facebook or Twitter for future updates.
As a passionate champion of the local dining scene, Lori has reimagined the restaurant critic's role into that of a trusted dining concierge, guiding food lovers to delightful culinary discoveries and memorable experiences.
Lori is an avid cook whose accrual of condiments and spices is rivaled only by her cookbook collection. Her passion for the culinary industry was birthed while balancing A&W root beer mugs as a teenage carhop, fed by insatiable curiosity and fueled by the people whose stories entwine with every dish. Lori is the author of two books: the "Wisconsin Field to Fork" cookbook and "Milwaukee Food". Her work has garnered journalism awards from entities including the Milwaukee Press Club. In 2024, Lori was honored with a "Top 20 Women in Hospitality to Watch" award by the Wisconsin Restaurant Association.
When she’s not eating, photographing food, writing or planning for TV and radio spots, you’ll find Lori seeking out adventures with her husband Paul, traveling, cooking, reading, learning, snuggling with her cats and looking for ways to make a difference.
