Vancouver Cocktail Week Seminars

These educational events feature a combination of sessions for industry and consumers.

There is serious education and training that goes into every cocktail. Learn about spirits, their history, cocktail techniques and more from some of Canada’s greatest experts in the field.

Check back often as more seminars will be added in the coming weeks. 


Sunday, March 3


Brunch Better Cocktails

Taste of Legacy
1637 Manitoba Street
11:30 am-1:30 pm

Elevate your brunch experience with an unforgettable morning of mastering the art of classic cocktails. Join us as Diageo’s expert mixologists guide you through the creation of three iconic libations: the Espresso Martini, French 76 and the Caesar. Sip and savour your way through this delectable brunch affair, where you’ll learn the secrets behind each nuanced flavour profile.


Make your Menu Work with Jesse Vida (Cat Bite Club, Singapore)

Laowai
251 East Georgia Street
1-3 pm

Jesse Vida is one of the most esteemed bartenders on the planet with a wealth of experience under his belt, from his days at NYC’s The Dead Rabbit (named World’s Best Bar by Tales of the Cocktail) to becoming head bartender at World’s 50 Best Bars-recognized Atlas in Singapore and now partner in the agave-forward speakeasy Cat Bite Club. He’ll share his insights in this not-to-be missed session.

See also the Cat Bite Club Guest Shift at Laowai. 


Copperpenny Distilling Co. Presents: The History of Tonic

Copperpenny Distilling Co.
103–288 East Esplanade, North Vancouver
4-5:30 pm

What’s gin without tonic? And what, exactly, is tonic anyway? Bartenders Tarquin Melnyk and Robyn Gray, both esteemed cocktail artisans and flavour profilers, are guaranteed to not only keep everyone in good spirits, but also to generously impart a wealth of new knowledge about the world of spirits and tonics. Your ticket includes five cocktails from Copperpenny Distilling Co., which, since opening in 2022, has been delighting patrons with its gin and tonic concoctions.


Monday, March 4


Chinese Spirits with Hope & Sesame

Laowai
251 East Georgia Street
1-3 pm

Learn about fascinating Chinese spirits like baijiu and the cocktails you can make with them from the team at Hope & Sesame from Guangzhou, No. 74 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list.

See also the Hope & Sesame Guest Shift at Laowai.


Tuesday, March 5


European Vermouth Lunch and Learn

Carlino
1115 Alberni Street
11:30 am-2 pm

Sample six styles of vermouth from three different producers from three European countries—Italy, Spain and Greece. Sample the different styles from each region and experience six low-proof cocktails paired with food from their country. Sample six styles of vermouth from three different producers from three European countries—Italy, Spain and Greece. Sample the different styles from each region and experience six low-proof cocktails paired with food from their country. Hosted by Dr. John Volpe, wine and vermouth educator and researcher from the University of Victoria.

View menu

 


A Hospitality Roadmap to Entrepreneurship

Botanist
1038 Canada Place
3:30 to 5 pm

Hospitality expert, author and serial entrepreneur Evelyn Chick shares her journey from global bartender to multi-business owner in an honest and open discussion on how to navigate the future of hospitality by investing in yourself and leaning into community, creating opportunities unknown. Limited copies of her book will be available. 

INDUSTRY ONLY – Please email gnugent@glaciermedia.ca to register for this free seminar


Wednesday, March 6


Salmon Guru RESET

Laowai
251 East Georgia Street
11 am-1 pm

Lessons from Diego Cabrera and his newly renovated Madrid cocktail bar that is currently No. 16 on the World’s 50 Best Bars list, and a past winner of the Michter’s Art of Hospitality Award.

See also the Salmon Guru Guest Shift at Laowai.

 


Classic Cocktails Master Class – SOLD OUT!

The Watson
3080 Main Street
4-6 pm

Hosted by the World Class Team, learn a combination of classic cocktails and new #trending sips featuring select spirits from the Diageo Reserve collection.


Thursday, March 7


Minds Inside Bartenders

Jungle Room
961 Denman Street
1 pm

What sparks the creative process? How is it a trainable, manageable, and self sustainable practice? Canada’s three Most Imaginative Bartender finalists—Élise Hanson (Bar Raval, Toronto), Liz Kalles (Jungle Room, Vancouver) and Dyl Brentwood (Bar Kismet, Halifax)—weave together a detailed look at all things creative, organic, and fuelling for life behind the bar, in competitions, and in all creative pursuits.This seminar looks at the track of emerging bartenders in this country and where they find fuel. Three speakers look at their process involving cocktail creation, competition preparation, and connection to external creative pursuits and passions outside the bar. Elise, Liz, and Dyl bring extensive experience and unique perspective to cocktail design, competition presentation, bartender entrepreneurial engagement, mentorship, and discuss the fuels of inspiration. Each presenter will focus on an element of career preservation and escalation in this industry including – mental wellness, ingredient manipulation, public speaking, and working with nature. You will gain skills that can adapt for your market to create seasonal drinks, be competition ready, and find mindful practices for your bar and your bar team. Seminar includes a welcome cocktail crafted collaboratively by all three speakers.


Route of Dreams and Flavours

Laowai
251 East Georgia Street
1-3 pm

Ronato (Tato) Giovannoni is one of the world’s greatest bartenders, named Altos Bartenders’ Bartender in 2020 and winner of the World’s 50 Best Bars’ Roku Industry Icon Award in 2023. He is the owner of Florería Atlántico in Buenos Aires, where he celebrates the flavours and history of Argentina, paying tribute to the settlers who arrived via transatlantic journeys, placing sustainability at the heart of everything he does and working closely with farmers to cultivate indigenous ingredients. At this session, he will share a lifetime of experience and expert advice.

See also the Florería Atlántico Guest Shift at Laowai.


Friday, March 8


Scrappy’s Bitters Master Class – SOLD OUT!

Taste of Legacy
1637 Manitoba Street
7 pm

VCW is excited to welcome brand ambassador Ben Sheffield and the entire team from Scrappy’s Bitters to Vancouver for a master class designed to educate drinks enthusiasts how to better utilize cocktail bitters in their libations. Founded in Seattle by Miles Thomas in 2008, Scrappy’s is now a mainstay product that can be found behind any serious cocktail bar around the world. This seminar will walk attendees through some of Scrappy’s proprietary methods and explore how different botanicals (fresh vs. dry) can yield such drastically different results in cocktails. Using a variety of bitters flavours, we’ll use our VCW partner brands Fords Gin and Diplomático Rum to create a comparative cocktail tasting, as well as take a deep dive into the history of the category and the science behind why just a little bit can go such a long way. Tickets include a cocktail tasting and a Scrappy’s mini gift box set to take away.


Sunday, March 10


Cocktail Bitters: The Not-So-Secret Ingredient that Makes your Cocktails Shine — SOLD OUT!

The Modern Bartender
28 East Pender Street
2 pm

VCW is excited to welcome brand ambassador Ben Sheffield and the entire team from Scrappy’s Bitters to Vancouver for a unique cocktail bitters master class designed to educate drinks enthusiasts how to better utilize cocktail bitters in their libations. Founded in Seattle by Miles Thomas in 2008, Scrappy’s is now a mainstay product that can be found behind any serious cocktail bar around the world. In this seminar, Sheffield will be joined by veteran Vancouver bartenders Rhett Williams and Chris Enns as they walk attendees through best practices for using cocktail bitters. Learn how to utilize premium bitters brands like Scrappy’s to mix ’em with the best for your next cocktail party. Tickets include a cocktail tasting and a Scrappy’s mini gift box set to take away.


See all Vancouver Cocktail Week events