After a year’s hiatus, Milwaukee Cocktail Week is back, promising a wealth of opportunities for both industry professionals and cocktail enthusiasts to learn, network and engage with Milwaukee’s growing cocktail culture.
The annual celebration will take place Monday, Sept. 23 through Monday, Sept. 30 and will include a line-up of unique tasting events, educational seminars and panel discussions.
The week will kick off with a cocktail party at Central Standard Craft Distillery, 613 S. 2nd St., on Sept. 23 from 9 to 10 p.m. during which attendees can enjoy cocktails made with locally distilled spirits while mingling with the city’s finest bartenders.
From there, attendees can choose from a wide range of events including "Neat Pours & Neo-Soul," a Glenmorangie single malt scotch whiskey tasting and education event followed by jazz/neo-soul fusion from Pocket Change on Sept. 25 at the Jazz Estate, 2423 N. Murray St.; and the J Henry Reward Yourself Cocktail Competition on Tuesday, Sept. 24 at The Iron Horse Hotel, 500 W. Florida St.
The growing slate of events also promises pop-up bars, dinners, film screenings, and tasting events, all of which will be showcased at cocktailmke.com.
For those interested in building a career in the beverage industry – or boosting their knowledge with expert-led programming, there will also be a series of educational seminars. Topics will include financial management for tip-based employees, social media marketing and health and wellness.
In an effort to make Cocktail Week accessible to all, most events are free or low cost. Any profits gleaned from events will be donated to the USBG National Charity Foundation.
For more information or to RSVP for events, visit cocktailmke.com. You can also follow the fun by following Milwaukee Cocktail Week on Instagram.
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.
