WATCH: Get in the mix with Moray Cocktail Week
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IT'S been 35 years since Tom Cruise made cocktails sexy with his starring role as a bartender in the movie Cocktail.
And cocktails are as popular as ever among those who like a little spirit of adventure with their drinks.
You don't have to head for the big cities to savour wonderful cocktails, with many of Moray's hotels and bars offering amazing taste sensations.
Many of them will come together for the first time with a week-long Cocktail Week hosted by Visit Moray Speyside (VMS).
From February 17-24 there will be great offers on cocktails and masterclasses in the art of creating a cocktail.
With 13 businesses joining the event from all across Moray Speyside, you can expect to find great discounts on your favourite cocktails, special or unique cocktail concoctions, and classes teaching you how to make the perfect cocktail.
The Cocktail Joint in Elgin is one of the businesses taking part and it is owned by Lauren McIntosh.
"People are starting to get adventurous, said Lauren (24). "You can have fun with cocktails."
Lauren, who is from Hopeman, had worked in a distillery and a local bar, before launching her own cocktail business.
She said: "I set up a mobile cocktail bar just after Covid and that led me into doing some delivery cocktails and I became friends with the local pub and they gave me space to do my thing in return for some cocktails."
She then teamed up with Callum's Kitchen to provide a cocktail delivery service.
"You can do anything with cocktails. I have even seen people using mushrooms."
Lauren then took out a lease on the former pub premises in Lossie Wynd to open her cocktail bar.
"I did have a menu at one time which was sitting at over 40 (cocktails), but now I am working solo, I have reduced it down to about 20 and I also do specials at the weekend.
"There are some cocktails on the menu, if I take them off customers would never return.
"Pretty much the entire menu is mine, although I have re-created some of the classics."
Coco Chanel and Breakfast at Tiffanys are among the favourites.
She added: "If I see an idea on Instagram, Facebook or wherever, I think 'I'm going to try that'. Sometimes people like it, other times they are hesitant.
"Aberdeen, Edinburgh, Glasgow, London all have their cocktail weeks so we need something. This is exciting."
Visit Moray Speyside is responsible for promoting the region as a visitor destination and improving the overall visitor experience.
Cocktail Week is under the VMS 'Taste of Moray Speyside' which was launched last year.
Gemma Cruickshank, CEO of VMS, said: “Moray Speyside is known around the world as the ‘Home of Malt Whisky’, yet we also boast a fantastic cocktail scene, and this event aims to shine a light on our vibrant cocktail culture.
"With lots of fantastic local businesses getting involved, I would encourage everyone to get out and make the most of great deals on offer.
“Cocktail Week provides visitors with yet another reason to visit Moray Speyside during what is traditionally a quieter month for hospitality and tourism businesses," she added.
Lauren Murray from the 1881 and Dowans hotels in Archiestown and Aberlour is also part of the inaugural Cocktail Week.
As is Tom Ingham, a senior host with The Glenlivet and a former cocktail bar manager in the Midlands.
Asked about the idea of a cocktail week, Lauren said: "I think it's great. So many cities around the UK do have them and it brings in a huge amount of people from external areas.
"Showcasing what we can do up here is very important and I am very excited about it."
Tom added: "Hospitality is one of the biggest businesses in the country, whether it be cocktail bars, individual pubs, coffee shops etc, it is a fantastic thing to support hospitality as it is such a key part of our lives, and deserves to be appreciated and supported by local people.
"Who doesn't like a cocktail?"
Lauren added: "It gives an opportunity for people who maybe don't get involved in certain elements of the drinks industry to come out and try things, and maybe have their eyes opened to a different spirit that they haven't tried before."
Moray is renowned for its whisky industry, with gin, rum and craft beers also produced locally.
However, as Tom pointed out: "The beauty of cocktails is you can appreciate and use all of these ingredients. The best type of cocktail bars use local ingredients, whether it be local whiskies, local gins. It is using them and in different ways to get people interested."
As for their favourite cocktails, Lauren likes a 'Tommy's Margeruita, although she made a lovely caramel and apple cocktail at the preview event in The Cocktail Joint.
Tom is a fan of 'Penicillin', which has peated whisky, honey and ginger, essentially a 'Hot Toddy'.
The cocktails made at the preview event were:
Cocktail Joint - Resting Witch Face, Bananarama, Amphitrite and Clarified Eton Mess.
Hotel 1881 - Caramel Apple; Dowans Hotel - Chilli Sour.
The Glenlivet -Taiwan Jam and King's Dram.
You can view the full list of participating businesses and see exactly what deals are on offer
by visiting https://tasteofmorayspeyside.com/cocktail-week/
Remember to always drink responsibly but have fun at the same time.
