Events

June 4-7, 2013 – International Rum Conference (Madrid)  The city of Madrid hosted the “First International Conference rum Madrid 2012″, which had never been done in the rum industry. It was a resounding success, from the competition tasting with 144 rums. Keynote speakers included Roneros  Don Francisco Fernandez “Don Pancho” master teacher, Don Tito Cordero, Don Néstor Ortega, Don Federico Schütz y Don Ramiro González, Don Jean-Paul Bouyat, Matthieu de Lassus, Manuel Ribeiro, Javier Herrera, Carlos Esquivel and Don Luis Ayala.

June 6-9, 2013 – The Hukilau (Ft. Lauderdale)  Join us for a fabulous vintage weekend of Polynesian Pop paradise, as we sail away on an adventure full of Tiki, rum-soaked cocktails, sunshine, music, the glorious Mai-Kai, mermaids and more. Whether you’re relaxed and lazy or livin’ it up, The Hukilau has just the right brand of fun for you! Experience The Yankee Clipper with its sunny decks, our beautifully decorated Tiki Treasures Bazaar, air conditioned state rooms and a fantastic swimming pool! Grab a friend and a cocktail for our many activities such as a Savage Live Tiki Carving, Hip Swaying Hula Lessons, Cocktail Symposiums, Taboo Tattoo Tales, Shuffleboard Shenanigans and much, much more!!

June 27-30, 2013 – Ohana (Lake George, NY)  Ohana is the GREATEST, most action filled, fun, value-packed, biggest little event in tiki. It’s a three day charity event, held at the historical Tiki Resort in idyllic Lake George, NY from June 21st-24th, 2012. So, what should you expect if you decide to join us? FUN, friendship, classic cocktails (mixed RIGHT!), live music, DJs, contests, vendors, auctions, prizes, freebies, food and a live Polynesian show!! And that’s just the start of it!! Lake George itself is a wonderful slice of Americana, trapped in time, with weird roadside attractions, old mom & pop themed motels, and more retro architecture than you can shake a stick at!

June 29-30, 2013 – NW Spirits and Mixology Show (Bend, OR)  This is Central Oregon’s chance to meet and mingle with some of the Northwest’s most exciting craft distillers and bartenders, as well as sample over 150 varieties of Whiskey, Brandy, Liqueurs, Vodka, Gin,Mezcal, Tequila and Rum, representing the Northwest and beyond. The mélange of Master Distillers, Craft Bartenders and Connoisseurs, will inevitably spark your interest and feed your palette with eloquently designed cocktails, distilling education and spirits tastings. The collection of craft cocktail artistry represents the cutting edge of the cocktail culture.

July 2-3, 2013 – Imbibe Live! (London, U.K.)  Imbibe Live is designed for wine, beer and spirits buyers, F&B Managers, soft drinks buyers, owners, proprietors, general managers, landlords, restaurant managers, bar managers, bartenders, mixologists, wine waiters and sommeliers. Imbibe Live will actively help drinks staff in the following types of establishment build on their skills and make a positive contribution to their business: restaurants, bars, gastropubs, caterers, hotels, independent retailers, members clubs, nightclubs, premium pubs, private clubs, private sports clubs and specialist drinks shops.

July 17-21, 2013 – Tales of the Cocktail (New Orleans)  Tales of the Cocktail® is the world’s premier cocktail festival, bringing together the most respected minds on mixology for five days of cocktails, cuisine and culture. Held annually in New Orleans, this international event has something for cocktail professionals and enthusiasts alike with a spirited schedule of seminars, dinners, competitions and tasting rooms where brands showcase their latest products.

August 15-18, 2013 – Tiki Oasis (San Diego)  Tiki Oasis is the largest and longest running Tiki Event on planet earth. A family produced event by Otto and Baby Doe von Stroheim of Tiki News Magazine the Tiki Oasis is the tiki community’s annual reunion. Guests have the opportunity to honor historic sites and celebrate all aspects of Tiki Style with entertainment, symposiums, tours, and lots of performances. And don’t forget the exotic drinks in all their fruity, flaming, colorful glory.  Drinks in coconut or tiki glasses with umbrellas is a sign of coolness at Tiki Oasis.

August 24-25, 2013 – 5th Annual San Diego Spirits Festival (San Diego)  San Diego Spirits Festival was founded and launched in San Diego in 2009 by Liz Edwards. San Diego Spirits Festival is a nationally acclaimed celebration of cocktail culture, and is the premiere West coast spirits festival held on the beautiful San Diego bay. With bartender competitions, celebrity chef demonstrations, tastings, seminars and parties, the festival offers a one-of-a-kind opportunity for brands to be supported and gain recognition among San Diego’s cocktail and culinary community!

September 17-22, 2103 – Kentucky Bourbon Festival (Bardstown, KY)  The Kentucky Bourbon Festival gives you 6 full days of smooth Bourbon, delicious food, and great entertainment, with a healthy dose of Kentucky hospitality thrown in for good measure. From black tie galas to historical tours, there is something for all ages and interests. It’s a wonderful six-day event full of activities for the whole family. Beautiful Bardstown is a historical treasure nestled away in the Kentucky countryside. There are shops, fine restaurants, trains, museums and of course the distilleries that have made Bardstown famous the whole world over. Come celebrate the spirit of Kentucky at The Kentucky Bourbon Festival.

October 10, 2013 – World’s 50 Best Bars Festival (London, UK)  The World’s 50 Best Bars Awards and List is organised and compiled by Drinks International Magazine. The drinks industry’s most eagerly awaited night of the year, the awards ceremony will be held at One Mayfair, London, on October 10. Built in 1825, One Mayfair has recently reopened its doors and is fast garnering a reputation as London’s most spectacular venue. This historic landmark in London’s exclusive West End has been carefully restored to regain its majesty, the perfect setting for the World’s 50 Best Bars 2013. Cocktail historian David Wondrich will host the evening and will announce the results of the survey, counting down from bars 50 to 1.

Ongoing

St-Germain Bartender Exchange  Started during the formative years of the cocktail renaissance, the St-Germain Bartender Exchange has been facilitating the interchange of ideas amongst the world top bartenders since 2007. St-Germain arranges for two bartenders from cities around the world to swap bartending shifts over the course of the same three-to-five day period. Bartenders have the chance to learn the host bars menu and share tricks of the trade with fellow cocktail comrades while St-Germain picks up the tab on travel and ground expenses for participants. Past esteemed participants include Phil Ward of Death & Company and Mayahuel (NYC); Brian Miller of Death & Company; Thomas Waugh of Alembic (San Francisco); Kamil Foltan, Zetter Townhouse (London) and Joshua Fontaine of Experimental Cocktail Club and Candelaria (Paris). Bartenders interested in participating in the program can email bartenderexchange@stgermain.fr with the bar and city where they are currently employed and why they should be considered for the next exchange.  Ongoing

On the Town with Dale Degroff (Various Locations)  ON THE TOWN: A Tribute to Bars, Speaks, and Legendary Saloons is an evening of stories, cocktails and songs from legendary watering holes and his forty years of working them. DeGroff explores bar life in America, from Colonial times through Prohibition, revealing the colorful story of the cocktail and the antics that drove this amazing phenomenon. From the role of the tavern in the emergence of cities to his own experience working for the legendary restaurateur Joe Baum at the Rainbow Room, DeGroff celebrates the communal aspect of the bar as much as the craft. Throughout, guests get to sample cocktails from the various eras, along with hors d’oeuvres. Masterful story-telling, crafted cocktails from by-gone eras, and tunes from the Great American Songbook make for an unforgettable evening!