1: Quintessential Anthology Of Gin

If you’re going to have a weekend-long branded excursion into curious discussion and entertainments, you’d be better off doing it right, not to mention with a drink in hand. Among a number of events offering what we take to be a thoughtful and engaging perspective on the sponsors’ signature drink, this one stands out. Hendrick’s British Ambassador Duncan McRae (what a job title) will be offering ‘history, anecdotes and mythology’, as well as tasting samples
11 Aug, 2.30pm, £15

2: How To Read A Story

Outside the confines of the Book Festival, the Carnival of Knowledge whets our bookish appetites with some literary events presented by *3Granta*2. First we think you should learn how to promote your own, as comedian Viv Groskop, Literary Death Match’s Suzanne Azzopardi and *3Granta*2’s Saskia Vogel discuss the art of short story reading in public
9 Aug, 7.30pm, £12.

3: Alasdair Gray In Conversation

The author of Lanark is, of course, one of Scotland’s greatest living novelists. What will he end up discussing with the BBC’s wonderfully-named Head of the Arts for the UK Jonty Claypole? His writing? His art? His nation, which the independence referendum growing ever-closer? Hopefully all of the above and more besides
10 Aug, 5pm, £12

4: The Architecture Of Our Dreams

Historian and presenter Dan Cruickshank is famed for his television shows Around the World in 80 Treasures, Britain’s Best Buildings and What the Industrial Revolution Did For Us. With his appearance inside the Carnival of Knowledge he explores, and we quote, ‘the world’s greatest cities, buildings and monuments’. All in an hour, so he’d better talk fast
10 Aug, 2.30pm, £12.

5: Literary Salon

Raised in Newarthill, Lanarkshire, writer, journalist and ‘salonniere’ Damian Barr now lives in Brighton, hosts the literary salon at Shoreditch House and has written the well-received book of memoirs Maggie & Me. Here, he brings his salon experience to Edinburgh in the company of writers including Janice Galloway and Maggie O’Farrell
8 Aug, 8.30pm, £12

Hendrick’s Carnival of Knowledge is at 1 Royal Circus from 8–11 Aug. See hendricksgin.com/carnivalofknowledge for more on these and other events.