You need this. Okay, maybe it’s just me, but if you’ve had the week I’ve had, then this is where you want to be. St. Louis’ fifth Craft Spirits & Cocktail Celebration returns this week and kicks off tonight to Lafayette Square. The event highlights the growing popularity of craft spirits and craft cocktails that are city has been enjoying.
Drink Like a Local | September 10th—18th 2016
Drink like a Local begins September 10th and celebrates local craft distillers and artisan cocktail bars. Participating locations will be serving specialty cocktails using local spirits. Stop by any Drink like a Local venue and pick up your play card.
Purchase a cocktail using a local spirit and earn a stamp. On September 18th the St. Louis Bartenders Guild invites you to Punch in the Park. Bring your stamped card to receive prizes including: swag, merchandise, spirits, gift cards and more! Prizes will be awarded depending on the number of stamps collected. So Drink like a Local and visit St. Louis vibrant cocktail and craft spirits scene.
The Classic Cocktail Party in Lafayette Square Park | Saturday September 10th
Tonight 15 local craft distilleries and Drink Like a Local restaurants will showcase specialty cocktails using their unique spirits at the The Classic Cocktail Party. Live music will be provided by Ralph Butler Band. Bring your chairs and dinner, or purchase food from various restaurants which will be set up on site at the park.
The event is 6 – 10 pm and is a fundraiser for the Arts Council of Lafayette Square. Cocktail small taste is $2.50 (1 ticket) and a full cocktail will be $5.00 (2 tickets). A special VIP Ticket can be purchased and covers the cost of all cocktails that evening, an event T-Shirt and a tasting glass for $30.00.
Punch in the Park | Sunday September 18th
Enjoy BBQ and special craft spirit inspired punches made by local mixologists. The event will also serve as the ending of the Drink like a Local promotion. The event runs from 1:00 – 5:00pm at the Kern Pavilion in Lafayette Square Park. The tickets are $20.00 per person and cover all food and drinks. This is a fundraiser for the St. Louis Bartenders Guild.
Craft Distilling is a very fast growing industry both in St. Louis and across the nation. By combining fresh ingredients in small batch production these distillers are producing truly unique flavors for people to enjoy. Secondly, the celebration wants to help people in St. Louis explore the resurgence of the classic cocktail in America by offering great combinations of flavors to go with the unique spirits.
The party is being organized by the good folks at Square One Brewing and Distilling, the home of Spirits of St. Louis Distillery.
Square One began its journey as a brewery and restaurant in February 2006. Two years later, in 2008, it became the first micro-distillery in Missouri since Prohibition. Square One focuses on producing high-quality, unique flavors in small batches, offering both beer and spirits crafted on-site.
In 2012, due to growing demand, owner Steve Neukomm expanded his operation to further develop the popular “Spirits of St. Louis” brand.
“We saw the distillery as a natural extension of our brewery operations. After obtaining the necessary licenses in 2008 and receiving our first still, we started producing a variety of spirits including vodkas, liqueurs, aquavits, whiskeys, and gins. This move allowed us to diversify without creating competition between our beer and spirits offerings,” said Neukomm.
Who you can sample
Showcased this week will be Crown Valley Distilling, Pinckney Bend Distillery, Spirits of St. Louis Distillery, The Big O, Mastermind Vodka, StilL 630, Wood Hat Distillery, StillJoy Spirits, St. Louis Distillery, Rocheport Distilling, Union Horse Distilling Company, Grand River Spirits, Defiance Whiskey, Tom’s Town Distillery and R. Griesedieck Distilling. Participating Restaurants are Retreat Gastropub, The Fountain on Locust, Mission Taco CWE, Mission Taco Soulard & Mission Taco Delmar Loop, The Gin Room, BBQ Saloon, Planter’s House, Square One Brewery & Distillery, Libertine and Gaslight Bar.
