Here's what to expect from Bar Convent Brooklyn

Jun 18, 2023

This year's Bar Convent Brooklyn trade show has a focus on education, with two days of seminars. We highlight some of the sessions on offer.

The brightest minds in bartending will gather in June at Bar Convent Brooklyn. The 2023 edition of the trade show promises to be packed with educational seminars and masterclasses – plus a plethora of networking and brand-building opportunities.

Set to take place on 13-14 June at Brooklyn's Industry City, New York, Bar Convent Brooklyn has quickly grown into one of the on-trade's not-to-be-missed annual events. Now in its fifth year, the seminar schedule has been carefully curated to benefit on-trade professionals.

The programme of educational events was formulated by Bar Convent Brooklyn's head of education, Lynnette Marrero, co-founder of Speed Rack, and beverage consultant. This year's committee comprised: Samantha Casuga, head bartender at Temple Bar; John deBary, author of Saved By The Bellini; Touré Folkes, founder and programme director of Turning Tables; Chelsea Gregoire, founder and hospitality director of Church Bar and owner/consultant of Drinkable Genius; Caer Maiko, co-creator of Daijoubu Pop-Up and general manager at Drink Well; and Sarah Troxell, bar director at Daiquiri Time Out.

"We’re thrilled to share the seminars we’ve cultivated for this year's show," said Marrero. "There was an overwhelming number of great submissions, so it was a bit hard to narrow down. But we feel like we’ve crafted a really strong programme for the main stage that will delight guests and offer thought-provoking insights."

Attendees will have a choice of more than 50 sessions to go to – this year there will be 14 more seminars than at last year's event.

Tickets are available to buy online via barconventbrooklyn.com until 10 June. Pre-purchased tickets will cost US$80 for one day and US$130 for two days.

Any remaining tickets will cost US$100 for one day and US$160 for two days if bought at the door, starting from 11 June.

Jackie Williams, Bar Convent Brooklyn event director, added: "The education programme is the cornerstone of Bar Convent Brooklyn, offering opportunities to learn about the latest trends, use insights as jumping off points for discussions, develop friendships and much more. We’re really excited for this year's schedule and can't wait for our attendees to experience it."

Read on to discover some highlights from the line-up of tastings, panel discussions and demonstrations with industry experts.

Intro to Cocktail & Bottle Photography

Time: 11am-11.45am, Liquid Lounge B – Building 5, second floor

The educational sessions will start on 13 June with a photography-focused seminar from award-winning photographer Jordan Hughes, of High-Proof Preacher.

The 45-minute session will teach attendees how to take their drinks photography to the next level, with tips on image composition, styling, lighting, editing, and more.

Which Cognacs for Which Cocktails?

Time: 12.15pm-1pm, Liquid Lounge A – Building 5, second floor

Join Cognac educator Dan Nicolaescu as he demonstrates the versatility of youthful Cognacs in cocktails – and yes, there will be samples.

What Makes Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon Unique?

Time: 1.15pm-2pm, Liquid Lounge A – Building 5, second floor

Bourbon lovers can tune into what is sure to be a fascinating deep dive into Garrison Brothers Texas Straight Bourbon with master distiller Donnis Todd. Did you know that Garrison Brothers was the first legal whiskey distillery outside of Kentucky since Prohibition? That's certainly piqued our interest.

Caribbean Drink Culture: Medicine, Myths & Music

Time: 2.30pm-3.15pm, Main Stage – Building 5, second floor

This session will explore the multifaceted drinking culture of the Caribbean in the company of Sly Augustin, owner of the Trailer Happiness bar in London, Alexander Kong, commercial spirits manager at Jamaican rum brand Worthy Park Estate, and Kiowa Bryan, the on-trade and marketing director of US rum distributor and marketer Spiribam.

Tequila + Caviar, Why The #@&% Not!

Time: 5.15pm-6pm, Liquid Lounge A – Building 5, second floor

This session allows attendees to join Fortaleza's New York ambassador, Kelvin Uffre, international Fortaleza representative Stefano Francavilla, business development and sales at Calvisius Mario Cifarelli, and Travis ‘The Hood Somm’ Padilla as they prove that Tequila can be paired with caviar thanks to the sheer versatility of the Mexican spirit.

Danish Whisky: Building a New Whisky Region from Scratch

Time: 6.15pm-7pm, Liquid Lounge A – Building 5, second floor

A group of Danish producers, including presenter Hans Martin, co-founder of Stauning Whisky, will aim to separate the wheat from the chaff when it comes to quality whiskies from Denmark.

Beyond Booze: Navigating the Rise of Non-Alc Beverages

Time: 11.30am-12.30pm, Park Street University – Building 8, second floor

There is no denying the rising interest in non-alcoholic beverages. To help professionals capitalise on this burgeoning trend, a panel of experts, led by David Crooch, co-founder and CEO of Ritual Beverage Company, will offer consumer insights into the booze-free market and views from non-alcoholic suppliers.

Sweet as Sugar: Koji in Spirits and Cocktails

Time: 1.15pm-2pm, Liquid Lounge A – Building 5, second floor

Do you know much about koji? It's what gives Asian spirits like shochu, soju and baijiu their umami qualities. Join consultant and educator Don Lee, and award-winning bartender Lauren Paylor O’Brien as they delve into the science of koji, and demonstrate its potential in cocktails.

Hello Grappa Masterclass: Authentic Spirit, European Essence

Time: 2pm-2.45pm, Liquid Lounge B – building 5, second floor

Crafted from grape pomace, this sustainable spirit has been part of Italian drinking culture for centuries. Discover the history, production process, sustainability practices and diverse use of grappa in this masterclass.

WTF is Singani: Bringing the Newest Spirit Category to the United States

Time: 3.30pm-4.15pm, Main Stage – Building 5, second floor

Join film director Steven Soderbergh, founder of Singani 63, and Luis Pablo Granier, fourth-generation operator of Bolivian distillery Casa Real, and producer of Singani 63, as they discuss this emerging category.

Meet the World's Newest Official Category of Spirit – American Single Malt!

Time: 6pm-6.45pm, Liquid Lounge B – Building 5, second floor

Single malt whiskey made in the US is finally getting attention. So don't miss out on this chance to learn more about the newest established American whiskey category.

For the full education seminar, and more information about Bar Convent Brooklyn, see barconventbrooklyn.com.