The Lagos Cocktail is celebrating this year’s edition with a bang. The 9-day event, which is taking place from October 14th to 22nd, 2022 has lined up its traditional seminars, masterclasses, bar battles, an elite guest-speaker list, and some of the world’s most renowned drink brands.
At a briefing at the Wheatbaker Hotel in Ikoyi, Lagos. LCW sponsors and stakeholders, were in attendance. According to the founder of Lagos Cocktail Week, Lara Rawa, the inspiration behind the theme is to celebrate the individuals who work tirelessly behind the scenes, to deliver a great hospitality experience through their craft. These individuals include bartenders, mixologists, and brand managers at drinks companies.
Rawa informed that the participating bars in the Bar-Hop aspect of the event, which is sponsored by MasterCard, will serve attendees unique African-infused signature cocktail creations throughout the duration of the 9-day event.
In addition, the award winning Mixologist also highlighted another element which makes this year’s LCW unique: This year’s festival will feature more female bartenders than ever, and will focus on highlighting the work of women in the industry. “I believe that this is a step towards making the cocktail industry more inclusive and welcoming to all people,” she said.
As a means of supporting these female bartenders, Lagos Cocktail Week is partnering with Her Network, a global inspirational and lifestyle platform that equips women with resources they need to thrive in their respective endeavors. As part of the partnership, 4 female bartenders will compete in a “Mixher challenge,” in which they will be tasked with creating memorable cocktails based on women that inspire them. Judges will pick winners, who will win cash prizes to support their bartending career.