The first ever Waitrose Drinks Festival will take place in London on the 16th and 17th September. Celebrating the best food and drink available at Waitrose, the festival will be open to the public and will include masterclasses, workshops and a rooftop BBQ. With over 200 Waitrose drinks producers taking part at the Institute of Engineering and Technology in London, the various themed rooms will offer plenty of opportunity for guests to sample a huge range of spirits, beers, ciders and wines, as well as an extensive selection of speciality foods.
There will be wines, sparkling wines and Champagne from all over the world and guests can taste a wide variety, from New Zealand Sauvignon (including The Ned) to top Bordeaux, and a few surprises in between. There will also be a wide range of English wines on offer. Premium spirit brands will be showcasing top dark spirits; whisky, rum, bourbon, brandy, cognacs and liqueurs alongside the botanical world of the light spirits featuring gin, vodka and cocktails. There will also be a wide range of locally produced beer at a designated bar, as well as ciders from the English countryside which will be featured in the adjoining 'orchard' room.
Confirmed suppliers include Hobgoblin, Meantime, Chase, Pedrino, Heineken and Sipsmith, with the roof terrace offering bars hosted by Goose Island Vodka, Codorniu Cavas and Mirabeau. The Waitrose Cookery School will be demonstrating dishes, with drink matches provided by 'There's a Beer for That', and Spanish producers Gonzales Byass. Murray Barlow, winemaker at Rustenberg, Green and Black's and the Wine & Spirit Education Trust will also be at the festival, sharing their expertise during various showcases.
Anne Jones, Category Manager, Wines, Beers and Spirits, says, 'We've been wanting to do a customer event, with our favourite food and drink suppliers, for such a long time. It's incredibly exciting that it's finally happening. Our close relationship with suppliers means that we are able to open a fantastic range of tasting rooms, to provide Waitrose fans with the opportunity to try highlights from all of our ranges under one roof.'
