Now in its 3rd year, Asheville Cocktail Week is coming at ya April 29 – May 6. From food + beverage professionals & cocktail connoisseurs to the casual day drinker, there are events for everyone during the week-long event. And of course, because it’s Asheville, there’s plenty of food involved too.

All events are a la carte and range from swanky prix fixe dinners to un-ticketed celebrations. If you’re in the restaurant industry, some of the events are free or deeply discounted. Cocktail Week’s signature event, the craft cocktail competition Elixir, is ticketed ($36), so you’ll want to grab your spot now and get ready to sample drinks from some of the most creative bartenders in the industry.

Ready to take a deeper dive into Cocktail Week? Here’s what to look forward to:

Industry Events

Free and exclusively for food + beverage workers, these include meetings and workshops on topics like the role of wood in liquor maturation, comparative cognac tasting, and Kentucky mash. Workshops are scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday – Thursday of Cocktail Week. See the schedule here.

Are you a bartender? Don’t miss the US Bartenders’ Guild Meeting, happening at 1 p.m. on Monday and led by Scottish Auchentoshan (gloss: a single malt whisky) Master Brand Ambassador Simon Brooking at AC Hotel’s Capella on 9.

Bar Takeovers

6 bar takeovers are scheduled for the week:

Sunday: @MG Road (19 Wall St.) with Jake Skinner, from 1618 in Greensboro
Monday: @ Rhubarb (7 N. Pack Sq.) with Julian Goglia, owner of ATL’s Pinewood Tippling Room + The Mercury
Tuesday: @S&W Times (56 Patton Ave.) with talent from Seattle
Wednesday: @S&W Times with talent from Florida
Thursday: @Aux Bar (68 N. Lexington Ave.) + Social Lounge (29 Broadway St.)

Raise a glass

The week includes special drink-devoted events, dance parties + of course, the festival’s signature soiree, ELIXIR craft cocktail competition. Here are a few on our radar:

Wednesday: Fire on the Mountain Redneck Tiki | 6 – 9 p.m. | The Lazy Diamond | 98 N. Lexington Ave. | Hillbilly cocktails with tiki flair from guest bartender Seth Sullivan from The Cardinal in Boone. Surf rock from the Krektones.
Friday: Cocktail [out of] the Can | 7 – 9 p.m. | Smoky Park Supper Club | 350 Riverside Dr. | Includes regional breweries + cideries as well as local and national distilleries
Saturday
- Kentucky Derby Day Party | 4 – 7 p.m. | Post 70 Indulgence Bar | 1155 Tunnel Rd. | Sip mint juleps in your biggest, floppiest hats and get a front row seat for the races.
- Cinco de Mayo Dance Party | 10 p.m. | Post 25 Kitchen & Lounge | 2155 Hendersonville Rd. | Drink specials, plus slushies + beer. Tunes from DJ Costradamus.

And the mother of them all...

ELIXIR Craft Cocktail Competition | Thursday, May 3 | 7 – 9 p.m. | Grove Arcade | $36 | Sample cocktails created by teams of bartenders + distilleries as you snack on heavy hors d'oeuvres. Tickets here.

Perfect Pairings

For the best in Asheville food + drink, add these to your calendar:

Sunday: 3rd Annual Polynesian Dinner | April 29 | 7 – 11 p.m. | Cucina 24 | 24 Wall St. | $55 | 3 courses + dessert and 4 rum cocktails. Call the restaurant to reserve.
Monday: Second in Command Dinner | 6 – 9 p.m. | Vivian | 348 Depot St. | $99, discounts available for industry workers | 5 Northern Italian-themed courses; sous chefs from Vivian, Cucina 24 + Table take center stage. Tickets here.
Tuesday: Whisk(e)y bn the River Dinner | 7 p.m. | Ol’ Shakey’s | 790 Riverside Dr. | $71.50 | Courses from Sovereign Remedies chef Grahm House + Beam Suntory whiskey. Tickets here.
Sunday: Gospel Brunch | May 6 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m. | The Waterbird | 197 Charlotte St. | Music from the Reggie Sullivan Jazz Quartet + a prix fixe menu. RSVP on the Facebook event page.

Other events include a “Beautiful Booze” photography seminar (Friday), a talk + book signing with Lisa Laird Dunn, vice president of Laird & Company, a distillery that creates apple spirits (Wednesday).

Want to know all the events happening in conjunction with Cocktail Week? Click here for the full schedule.

I’ve always loved making up my own cocktail recipes (Earl Grey-infused vodka, anyone?), but I’m excited to soak up the knowledge from actual experts in the industry during Cocktail Week.

And as an long-time AVL local, I already know that Elixir will be the spot to be seen on Thursday.

I’ve also loved seeing our Beer City USA come into its own in the craft cocktail world, and I’m excited to see how our passion for local ingredients pops up in our spirits, with more distilleries opening all the time.

What’s your favorite local cocktail or spirit? Tell us by replying to this email, leaving a comment, or letting us know over on Facebook, Twitter, or Instagram.

– Ali