Cape Town Cocktail Week

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Cape Town Cocktail Week

CTCW is a map-based Cocktail Safari ™ where festival goers explore Cape Town via its bars. Stay tuned.

Attendees purchase wristbands, which give them access to R50 cocktail specials at participating venues. They also receive a festival map and an events guide listing CTCW activities, and are invited to chart their course in a choose-your-own-adventure format. There’s plenty of excitement in store, from interactive games to guest shifts, pop-ups and more, all to be revealed in due course … and with some surprises along the way.

12/05/2026

Hot off the press: Alex Francis Bar Cards!

They’ll be available to trade guests at tomorrow’s De Vie shift at Art of Duplicity, powered by our friends at Arbikie. Supply is limited, so get there early to avoid missing out. Alex starts slinging at 8pm.

Not sure who Alex Francis is? Nobody’s perfect – swipe to see his Bar World 100 bio and get up to speed on why the global bar industry follows his every move.

bar of.duplicity

04/05/2026

From 7–13 December, CTCW returns as a citywide Cocktail Safari, but this year we’ll begin with a focused, trade-led programme designed to place Cape Town firmly within the global drinks conversation.

Introducing the CTCW Education Programme, a carefully assembled repertoire of seminars, panels and workshops led by leading local and international voices, pushing the Cape Town bar industry forward.

SPEAKERS

Have a strong idea, perspective or topic to share?
Send us your pitch via the link in bio.

(https://bit.ly/CTCW26EdProg )

BRANDS

Keen to position yourself as a thought leader, driving positive change?
Get in touch to discuss how you can support the programme.

The line-up will be curated by Director of Education Kurt Schlechter, the visionary behind pioneering local cocktail bar Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen.

With three decades of experience mentoring bartenders across the continent, Kurt is well placed to ensure a balanced and comprehensive education experience.

02/05/2026

Introducing Arbikie Sustainability Salon II, a continuation of CTCW’s collaboration with Arbikie Highland Estate, the B Corp distillery known for its estate-to-glass approach and measurable environmental standards.

For this edition, the focus shifts to one of the bar world’s most resource-intensive elements: ice.

We’re delighted to welcome as our global guest, representing .bar, the Paris-based cocktail bar where drinks are built entirely without ice – challenging conventional ideas of dilution, texture and temperature.

Hosted by at .of.duplicity, the evening takes the shape of a collaborative guest shift with an educational twist, where Brent rises to the challenge by presenting two no-ice cocktails of his own, exploring what sustainability looks like when a core ingredient is removed.

📍 The Art of Duplicity
🗓 Wednesday 13 May
⏰ From 8pm

Pouring Arbikie Highland Rye.

Cocktails served at standard sizes and prices. Bookings encouraged – link in bio .of.duplicity

First arrivals will get a limited-edition Alex Francis Bar Card

📸

CTCWbarcards

01/05/2026

If you enjoyed the last Arbikie Sustainability Salon as much as we did, good news: the next one is coming up on 13 May. Details to follow, but yes, there will be Bar Cards ⚾

30/04/2026

Mark your calendars!

CTCW26 will run from 7–13 December

Can’t wait to see you all there

👸🏽
👸🏽
👸🏽
📸 Waldo Levendal

21/04/2026

CTCW is proud to announce Kurt Schlechter as our new Director of Education.

A respected mentor and one of the most influential figures in South African cocktail culture – and owner of the award-winning Cause Effect Cocktail Kitchen – Kurt brings decades of experience developing bartenders across the continent through training, leadership and hands-on industry guidance.

Under Kurt’s direction, CTCW26 will introduce a dedicated Education Programme to the festival, featuring seminars, panels and masterclasses led by local and international voices.

Kurt will work closely with festival founder and long-time associate Leah van Deventer to bring this exciting new platform to life – built by Capetonians for Cape Town, with global standards and appeal.

Further information, including an open call for speakers and sponsors, will follow.

Welcome aboard, Kurt.

LocalIsLekker

26/02/2026

Introducing the Arbikie Sustainability Salon, a collaboration between Cape Town Cocktail Week and Arbikie Highland Estate, a certified B Corp distillery recognised for its environmental and social standards.

Hosted at Anthm, this event takes the form of a guest shift with an added educational layer, exploring how Arbikie’s estate-to-glass philosophy translates into cocktails.

Brent Perremore (Art of Duplicity) joins Anthm’s Tetsuo Hasegawa behind the stick, each presenting two cocktails with a focus on low-intervention thinking, thoughtful sourcing and clarity of flavour.

📍 Anthm, 63 Loop Street
🗓 Wednesday 4 March
⏰ From 7pm

Walk-in only. Cocktails served at standard sizes and prices.

Join us.

19/12/2025

We’re excited to share the winner and runner ups for the CTCW Reàl Cocktail Challenge, who walk away with a whopping R20k in cash prizes, compliments of Rialto.

FIRST PLACE | R10k

Brent Perremore
The Art of Duplicity .of.duplicity

One Piece Jerk Goat Curry

Hampden 5 YO Jamaican Rum
Arbikie Chili Vodka
Cynar
Reàl Mango Puree Infused Syrup
Reàl Pineapple Puree Infused Syrup
Jerk Spice Falernum
Whipped Goats Cheese

Garnish: Mango wedge, curry leaves, chilli slivers

SECOND PLACE | R6k

Liam de Wet .de_wet
Queens Lounge

The Prickle & the Pearl

Coconut-infused Angostura 7 YO
Pineapple Juice
Lemon/Lime Juice
Reàl Prickly Pear Infused syrup
Celery Bitters
Angostura Bitters

Garnish: White chocolate and prickly pear foam, toasted coconut shavings

THIRD PLACE | R4k

Christopher Kleynhans
The President Hotel

The Bee Hive

Bee Pollen Gin
Zingy Cordial
Reàl Yuzu Citrus Blend Infused Syrup
Citrus
Fresh Basil

Garnish: Vanilla tuile, bee pollen

Congrats to everyone who competed, and a huge thanks to Vlad Klaic and his judging panel for lending their expertise.

13/12/2025

FLASH GIVEAWAY – TODAY ONLY

We’ve got a handful of CTCW wristbands left so we’re giving some away today.

The first 10 people to arrive at the CTCW wristband collection desk at Tommy’s Chop Shop between 4.30–6.00 pm today will receive a complimentary wristband on the spot.

How it works:

– Come to the ticket stand
– Say the password: “CTCW INSIDER”
– If you’re one of the first 10, the wristband is yours

Good luck – and see you later 🍸

12/12/2025

CTCW is proud to welcome Sip Exclusive as our Official Bar Solutions Partner for 2025.

If you work in the drinks industry in Cape Town, you'll already know that the SIP team get things done properly, handing everything from mobile bars and custom cocktail menus to full event bar operations. They also support venues with practical, scalable solutions, with their production studio turning out syrups, cordials, sodas, and garnishes under the SIP! Supply label.

For private events, SIP provides turn-key solutions to make your wedding, birthday, anniversary or other special occasion a breeze, letting you have fun while they sort out logistics.

With Owen O’Reilly leading the charge, SIP brings solid craft and clear thinking to every project, and we’re thrilled to have them powering the back end of the festival.

10/12/2025

Pull in to get a drink from The Rabbit aka , behind the stick at today until 9, serving

Address

Cape Town

Website

http://www.capetowncocktailweek.com/

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