A New Event Is Born

No, Prague is not just the city of beer and mini bottles (though they can literally be found on every street corner). Like many European capitals, the "city of a hundred spires" is determined to make a name for itself in the cocktail world.

The goal of this festive week was to celebrate the art of bartending, bring it closer to the general public, and allow anyone interested in mixology to visit as many venues as possible without spending half a month’s salary.

An Organization That Leaves Nothing to Chance

This first edition was put together by three men with solid experience in the bar world, namely brothers David and Filip Stránský from AnonymouS Concept, and flair champion Václav Abraham, who, in addition to being brand ambassador for Monin, also leads the Czech Flair Team CBA.

The timing of the event was not chosen at random:

It all started with the World Cocktail Day, which falls on May 13, the exact day the first officially known definition of a cocktail was published in 1806 in The Balance & Columbian Repository. Thus, the Prague Cocktail Week begins on May 6 and ends on May 13. – Filip Stránský

Cocktails at a Reduced Price

Over the course of eight days, aficionados could enjoy a selection of cocktails (usually four per venue) at the reduced price of 155 CZK (about €6) instead of 295 CZK (€12) in around thirty establishments. All you had to do was buy a ticket for 250 CZK (€10), then pick up a wristband at one of the participating bars to take advantage of these prices all week long.

As part of the festivities, the Truffle Old Fashioned with Brugal rum from Tretter’s Obecní Dům and the Bohemian Gimlet made with must-try Becherovka at the U Staré Paní Jazz & Cocktail Club were real standouts.

But the prize for originality and flawless execution undoubtedly goes to Alcron Bar, which made a strong impression with top-notch offerings like the Charter Flight with rye and Aperol and, above all, a smoky and captivating Walk in Woods made with Botran rum and pine resin.

In short, it was an excellent deal for those of us from France, considering that in Prague a cocktail rarely costs more than €10 or €12.

The only minor drawback was that the partner brands were used a bit too systematically in the recipes—especially Three Cents sodas and Paragon cordials—but that’s just part of the deal to attract sponsors.

Workshops, Tastings, and Competitions

This Prague Cocktail Week also featured various workshops, tastings, and events. On May 7, for instance, the Cloud 9 bar hosted a Nikka whisky tasting conducted by its ambassador Kryštof Hordina, while on May 11, La Casa Havana held a tasting of Planteray rums.

More offbeat and open to all “festival-goers,” the Three Cents Speed Bottle Opening Challenge took place on May 8 at Ideas Are Bulletproof. The following day, the AnonymouS Bar organized a very funny Boxing Challenge. In the first case, contestants had to open five bottles of Three Cents soda as quickly as possible, while in the second, bartenders were challenged to make their cocktails wearing boxing gloves!

To conclude this festive week in style, the Czech final of the Monin Cup 2024 took place on May 13 (Cocktail Day), and was won by Adam Bohuněk (@adam_bohunek) from Bugsy’s Bar (@bugsysbar). The 23-year-old bartender will represent his country at the world final in December at the Villa Monin in Bourges and he’ll be aiming to bring the trophy home again, following his compatriot Barbora Kulhánková’s 2022 win.