Portland Cocktail Week Guide: Must-Hit Events and Participating Bars

Third shot's the charm...
by Amy Wolfenberger in Event Listing
Portland Cocktail Week Guide: Must-Hit Events and Participating Bars

As beer festival season draws to a close and the weather grows colder, Portlanders can take comfort in the fact that their bartenders are just warming up. For an entire week, from October 21–25, Portland will host bartenders from around the country as they learn even more ways to keep you warm until the sun returns.

Held for the third year in a row, Portland Cocktail Week will pick up where the Great American Distiller’s Festival leaves off by hosting panels, seminars, classes and, most importantly of all, parties. Although the majority of the week is designed specifically for bartenders, you can join the party at various events around town. Even if you don’t have time for a big night out, make sure to stop by any of the bars listed at the bottom of this article for an exclusive drink made just for Portland Cocktail Week 2012.

“On The Town” with Dale DeGroff presented by Pernod Ricard
Monday, October 22, 6 PM
Living Room Theaters
After tasting the best of American spirits over the weekend at the distiller’s festival, learn more about the history cocktails and liquor in the United States from renowned mixologist and author Dale DeGroff. From Benjamin Franklin’s famous love of beer to the bootleggers of folklore, DeGroff has all the tools he needs to a paint a vivid history of America’s tumultuous relationship with drinking. Don’t worry, with music from jazz guitarist Tracy Kim, cocktails and hors d’oeuvres, this is a party, not a lecture. $35 presale or $40 at the door benefits The Museum of the American Cocktail so these colorful stories can be preserved and shared.

Novo Fogo Bars on Fire
Monday, October 22, 5 PM-8 PM
Metrovino
Take a break from the hectic pace of Cocktail Week with three hours of Brazilian Zen. The founder of Novo Fogo cachaças, Dragos Axinte, and L.A. bartender Jaymee Mandeville invite you to get into the spirit of the week's celebration by ordering a caipirinha in a jar and shaking it yourself. If you'd rather just kick back, enjoy happy hour cocktail prices, soccer talk and, best of all, delicious cachaça.

House Spirits Distillery Pairing Dinner
Tuesday, October 23, 6 PM
The Country Cat Dinnerhouse & Bar
Come out to try a three-course dinner from Adam Sappington before he competes in this year’s Portland Iron Chef competition. House Spirits Distillery’s Christian Krogstad will be on hand to expertly pair drinks to accompany your meal. $45 includes dinner, drinks and gratuity so all you have to do is remember not eat too much at lunch and show up on time! Call ahead to book your place at 503-403-1414.

‘Merica! Red, White and Booze presented by the United States Bartenders Guild
Thursday, October 25, 8 PM–midnight
Jupiter Hotel
This is your chance to finally bridge the gap between you, the expert bar patron, and the experts behind the bars that you love! Join bartenders from all 34 chapters of the USBG as they raise money for the Oregon Bartenders Guild’s mission to elevate mixology around the world. $40 provides an entire night of food, drinks and entrance to the last party of Portland Cocktail Week 2012. Send off your new out of state drinking buddies with a bang! Tickets can be found online this week.
 

Want an exclusive Portland Cocktail Week 2012 special for just $7? Check out any of these bars between October 21–25.

 

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