Montréal Cocktail Fest: Mixology culture from around the world converges on the city

Pop-ups; masterclasses and seminars covering everything from the evolution of the martini to the intricacies of cognac and the rise of zero-proof and low-ABV cocktails; pairing dinners at restaurants like Taverne Sur Le Square and Foxy—the Montréal Cocktail Fest is the first of its kind in the city, created by hospitality professionals for hospitality professionals.

Founded by Kevin Demers, owner and operator of award-winning Montréal cocktail bars The Coldroom and El Pequeño Bar (as well as Bisou Bisou and Bar Bello) alongside Bisou Bisou partner and beverage director Gregory J. Buda, the festival is offering all attendees four days of mixology exploration and engagement with global industry leaders while remaining accessible to all those who wish to participate.

Everything on the menu

Those looking to learn deeply about what the world has to serve on the rocks without leaving the city's limits can find it here: The line-up here's long and star-studded for its first showing, with 25 bars and three restaurants that'll range from Copenhagen's Ruby, Mexico City's Licorería Limantour and Paris's Danico to New York destinations like Dead Rabbit and Dante, as well as established Canadian bars like Toronto's Library Bar and Vancouver's Laowai.

Its pop-ups, headed by some of the world's most acclaimed bars, include:

• Dante (NYC) taking over Bar Bello in Little Italy.
• Quebec City's Honō Izakaya takes over El Pequeño.
• A pairing dinner featuring Clive's Classic Lounge (Victoria, BC) at Tavern Sur Le Square.
• Another pairing dinner presented by Dillon’s, where their spirits will be matched with dishes from Foxy. 
• Danico (Paris) and Licorería Limantour (Mexico City), known for their innovative approaches to craft cocktails and world class hospitality.
• Creative concoctions from bars like Library Bar (Toronto), Laowai (Vancouver), and others at multiple bars across Montreal.
• International pop-ups will feature Ruby (Copenhagen), Dead Rabbit (New York City), Manhatta (New York City), and Meadowlark (Chicago)
• A grande finale put together by Schmuck (NYC) & Milady’s (NYC).

The full schedule can be found here.

Schooled on cocktails

Education is a key component of the Montréal Cocktail Fest, as it'll provide attendees with an opportunity to hear and learn from some of the world's greatest living names in the business.

Names include Dale DeGroff, often hailed as the “king of cocktails” for his pioneering techniques and recipes that have revolutionized the craft of mixology and inspired a generation of bartenders, bar owners, hospitality educators, and cocktail enthusiasts, who will be this year's keynote speaker.

Then there's the renowned author and founder of acclaimed New York City cocktail speakeasy PDT (Please Don’t Tell), Jim Meehan, who will be promoting his latest book while sharing insights from his career. Shannon Mustipher, an expert in rum and exotic cocktails, will both speak at an event alongside heading up a special rum-themed pop-up bar.

Shawn Soole of Clive’s Classic Lounge, Schmuck's Juliette Larrouy, and Beth Havers from Kinda Whisky Inc. will also be presenting on a variety of topics.

That said, tickets can be purchased for $5. Once capacity is reached, a limited number of attendees can purchase spots on the waitlist in case there are cancellations or no-shows. Space will be extremely limited, so to ensure good seats are available, no additional guests will be allowed in, and names will be checked at the door with no one allowed to enter after seminars begin—avoiding interruptions to the speakers.

Shaking things up

Creating a platform to connect, collaborate, and be inspired by the scene both here and abroad, the festival promises "an unforgettable experience for international bartenders looking to expand their knowledge, network, and showcase their expertise on a global stage."

It'll push the limits of how creative things can be when it goes into a glass.

Learn more, and find tickets and reservations, with the Montréal Cocktail Fest.