This is a sponsored article on behalf of Cocktails in the City.
Listen up, cocktail lovers. The subterranean labyrinth of secret passages and railway arches beneath Waterloo station is being transformed into the discerning drinker's dream destination — for a few days, that is.
From Thursday 4 April to Saturday 6 April, Cocktails in the City (AKA the UK's greatest cocktail festival) takes over The Vaults for three days of mixology-based mayhem, as 25 bars battle it out to be crowned London's best. On your epic underground cocktail crawl, sample new signature serves from the likes of Mr Fogg's, Cahoots, B&H Buildings, Ella Canta, and Heads + Tails — to name but a few — for just £7.50 per cocktail.
Cocktails in the City brings back all of the ingredients that made last year's sell-out event such a success, along with some exciting new additions for 2019. Take The Tasting Flight, for instance. If you're not sure which cocktail to opt for, sample three drinks and pick your favourite for £7.50 from a selection of bars.
We're intrigued by the Sensory Cocktail Journey, where sight, sound, touch, and smell are used to create a bespoke cocktail based on your emotions.
There's more to the festival than delicious drinks (though admittedly that makes up a good chunk of the appeal). Seven of The Vaults' arches have been totally transformed to suit a variety of moods.
Fancy getting back to nature? Choose garnishes for your botanical cocktail from the hanging plants in B&H Buildings' sensory greenhouse and escape to the floral oasis of the Secret Garden.
Or, if you're a sucker for all things vintage, head to Cahoots' tube carriage-turned-1940s speakeasy for a good old-fashioned knees-up, infused with a hearty dose of Blitz spirit.
In the Experimental Lab, maverick mixologists reveal the astonishing alchemy that goes into creating award-winning drinks, while The Good Times Vault is the place to let your hair down, hosting party bars including London Cocktail Club.
If you're after a more refined experience, get a taste of the high life sipping on sumptuous champagne drinks in the House of Luxe. Alternatively, The Neighbourhood invites you to venture further afield, showcasing some of the hidden gems of London's outer boroughs.
Finally, there's the International Negroni Lounge. That's right, there's a whole bar dedicated to the most suave of Italian cocktails. Buona.
Cocktails in the City takes place Thursday 4 April-Saturday 6 April 2019 at The Vaults. Entry costs £20 and includes a free cocktail from the bar of your choice. All additional cocktails cost £7.50. Tickets can be bought here, but be speedy — last year's event completely sold out.
