Scotland Served brings together more than 400 venues across the country, making it one of the biggest celebrations of cocktail culture to take place in Scotland. From established favourites to new names worth knowing, the festival is an opportunity to explore the bars shaping the country’s drinking scene right now.

Iain McPherson, bartender and owner of award-winning cocktail bar, Panda & Sons in Edinburgh, says: “Scotland Served is a brilliant opportunity to put our fantastic cocktail scene on the map, while celebrating the people behind the bars. We will be creating even more memorable experiences for our guests during the festival and showing just how versatile Scotch can be. It’s exciting to see venues across Scotland coming together for a celebration like this and we’re looking forward to welcoming people through our doors and serving up something a little unexpected.” 

During Scotland Served, participating venues will be serving exclusive cocktails created with Johnnie Walker and The Singleton. Expect inventive serves that put whisky at the centre of the drink while showcasing the skill and personality of the bartenders behind them.

With more than 400 venues involved, great cocktails are only half the story. Scotland Served is also about great spaces, the people running them, and embracing the full night-out experience. From established cocktail bars to whisky-focused specialists, here are the destinations across the country worth putting on your list… 

Ninety-Nine & The Tippling House 

Aberdeen has two names on the Scotland Served line-up, with Ninety-Nine and The Tippling House both taking part in the festival.

Visit TheTipplingHouse.com & 99.CameronDuthie.com

Draffens 

Hidden in Dundee city centre, Draffens has a Prohibition-style set-up and specialises in cocktails.

Follow @DraffensOfDundee

The Singleton of Glen Ord Distillery Bar

Near Inverness, The Singleton of Glen Ord offers a chance to experience whisky closer to source. The distillery's bar serves The Singleton alongside cocktails and locally sourced food.

Visit Malts.com

Gleneagles American Bar

There’s also a particularly special guest shift at Gleneagles’ American Bar, where Ago Perrone of London’s Connaught Bar and Erik Lorincz of KWANT Mayfair will take over the bar on Saturday 17th October. 

Both are also judges at this year’s World Class Global Finals, which brings more than 50 of the world’s top bartenders to Scotland. In fact, the judging panel is welcoming plenty of home-grown Scottish talent this year, including Iain McPherson of Edinburgh's award-winning Panda & Sons; Andy Gemmell, owner of The Gate pub in Glasgow; and Kaitlin Wilkes, co-founder of The Ada Coleman Project.

Visit Gleneagles.com

Scotland Served runs from 14th October to 1st November, bringing together more than 400 bars for a nationwide celebration of cocktails, hospitality and world-class bartending. To discover participating venues and plan your next night out, visit the Scotland Served festival hub at Malts.com 

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