This week’s Business Brief is written in honor of the late James L. Wright Jr., a longtime Washington Informer who ordinarily wrote this column and covered business and politics throughout the region for decades.
DC Cocktail Week returned on Dec. 1, transforming the District into a spirited trail of discovery through Dec. 7.
The annual celebration, sponsored by Events DC with presenting sponsors Johnnie Walker and Responsibility.org, brings more than one hundred restaurants and bars into a shared showcase of cocktails and bite pairings for one price. It is the kind of week where every corner of the region offers something bright, bold or quietly surprising.
The Restaurant Association of Metropolitan Washington (RAMW) produces the event, and the organization views the week as a toast to the District’s bar and restaurant community.
“This is another way for us to amplify and highlight our amazing restaurant and bar community,” said Shawn Townsend, president and CEO of RAMW. He added that the District’s bar scene is world class and a powerful place for friendships to grow.
Organizers boast that walking into a DC Cocktail Week venue feels much like entering a tasting room where the stories are told through the glass.
Jane Jane on 14th Street NW, the 2025 RAMMYS Cocktail Program of the Year winner, offers its signature balance of precision and charm.
Tune Inn on Capitol Hill, the 2025 RAMMYS Best Bar of the Year, promises to add a mix of history and personality.
Baan Mae, created by Restaurateur of the Year Seng Luangrath, presents a pairing built on the vivid complexity of Lao flavors.
Tapori, shaped by rising culinary star Suresh Sundas, offers a modern Indian approach that unfolds with every sip and bite.
Michelin-starred and Bib Gourmand restaurants will contribute to the excitement. Bresca pairs imaginative dishes with cocktails that unfold like a tasting journey. Amparo Fondita, Laos in Town, Oyamel, Resident’s Café and Bar and Sababa all bring their own beverage interpretations— each one proof that the region’s culinary imagination still has new directions to explore.
This year includes a nod to the repeal of Prohibition.
On Dec. 3, Matt and Tony’s in Alexandria, Virginia, hosts “The History of the Cocktail, a Spirited Progression,” a tasting dinner that moves through four eras of cocktail making.
“This is our little way of celebrating the repeal,” said Townsend, celebrating December 5, 1933, a moment that reshaped American drinking culture and remains a touchstone for bartenders today.
Daily events add warmth to colder evenings.
Jula’s on the Potomac hosts a holiday-themed social hour on its heated terrace each afternoon. Little Blackbird offers a one-night-only happy hour with $10 wine selections.
Classes and tastings give guests a chance to sharpen their palate.
At SOST, a DC Cocktail Week cocktail class guides attendees through shaking, stirring and building drinks with confidence. Other events spotlights regional distillers, with tastings that introduce guests to local spirits and the people who craft them.
Pisco y Nazca offers a Peruvian pairing of its Pisco Sour and Traditional Ceviche for $18, and the restaurant has added the Holiday Coquito for the month, a winter drink shaken with rum, house made coquito mix and garnished with cinnamon.
Throughout the week, Responsibility.org encourages guests to make safe and informed choices, and Townsend encourages guests to pace themselves, enjoy the food that accompanies cocktails and know their limits.
“We of course want everyone to drink responsibly,” said Townsend.
Attendees are also reminded to hydrate, eat before going out and arrange safe transportation home. The Virtual Bar app, promoted through Responsibility.org, helps guests estimate their blood alcohol concentration based on what they consume during the evening.
D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser emphasized the week as a time to support local businesses.
“Be on the lookout for great deals across the city for your next happy hour, date night, or family dinner at one of D.C.’s world-class restaurants and bars,” she wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter, on Dec. 1. “Let’s come together and support the Real D.C. businesses that keep our city moving.”
A full list of participating restaurants, pairings and events is available at dccocktailweek.com.