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A Toast to World Gin Week in New York City

World Gin Week ends in New York with a juniper-fueled celebration at The Ivory Peacock and Ploume.

By Johnny Motley Published June 19, 2026

Alcohol, Beverage, Cocktail — David Manrique / Room 207

If your week was anything like mine, you’ll need a strong cocktail or three this weekend. Mercifully, the martinis will flow like water this Saturday in New York City for the grand finale of World Gin Week. For the past seven days, elite cocktail bars from Cape Town and Kyoto to Singapore and Mexico City have hosted panels, bartender residencies, and tastings in celebration of all things juniper. Think of it as the World Cup for cocktail connoisseurs.

Here in Gotham, World Gin Week culminates on June 20 at The Ivory Peacock, a craft cocktail mainstay in NoMad, and its subterranean sister bar, Ploume. The two venues will host pop-ups helmed by bartenders from cathedrals of mixology like Sip & Guzzle, Dante Aperitivo, and Room 207. Expect all manner of martini mania, along with gourmet hors d’oeuvres to ensure you’re still standing at the evening’s end.

In praise of the Martini

My poisons of choice are whiskey and wine, but when I do indulge in a cocktail, it’s invariably a gin martini. As much as I admire haute mixology, I find elaborate cocktails cloying. I’ll gladly take a sip of your double-smoked, fat-washed, cacao-infused Sazerac, but an entire glass is enough to make my palate commit seppuku. However, a proper gin martini—a frosted coupe, London Dry gin, olives, perfumed vermouth—that I can drink like mother’s milk.

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Certain times and places practically cry out for a martini. Long airport layovers at a bar overlooking the tarmac. The hotel lobby lounge at 10 p.m. after a full day of meetings. First dates when attraction is palpable but awkwardness has yet to subside. In such moments, Chardonnay or even a neat pour of Michter’s simply won’t do.

As I mentioned, this week has been so hellacious that I would just as soon pick up a bottle of Steel Reserve from my bodega. But instead, I’ll head to The Ivory Peacock and drown my cares the same way Humphrey Bogart, Ian Fleming, and the Queen Mum did: with gin. I am very much looking forward to seeing what this distinguished cadre of New York City mixology maestros has ginned up for the evening.

Author

Johnny covers travel, men's fashion and whiskey.

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