BAR COVENT BROOKLYN
A trade-only event for qualified bar and beverage industry professionals.

Driven by an appreciation and passion for premium and craft spirits, Bar Convent Brooklyn is a welcoming and collaborative environment in which the pioneers of the bar and beverage community gather to celebrate and sculpt the future of liquid culture through education, sharing best practices and generating business opportunities. It is a curation of the most premium brands driving the cocktail movement.

HOST: RX Global
PRICE:  $100 for one day, $160 for two days
DATE:  June (annually)

CAMP RUNAMOK
Find a friendly fellow squirrel!

Camp Runamok is a six-day adventure located in the heart of Bourbon country, brought to life by the Lush Life Productions team. You’ll spend your days touring Kentucky’s finest distilleries, afternoons by the pool, and nights participating in paintball, talent shows, and campfires with 150 new friends.

The name says it all – so bring your party hat, and by the looks of things, maybe your party panties too. ??

HOST:  Lush Life Productions
PRICE:  Free (if application is approved)
DATE:  Spring Session (May/June), Fall Session (August)
LOCATION:  Louisville, KY

SPEED RACK
High-speed competition for female bartenders.

As a female bartender, I might be a little biased here, but it’s true what they say – “girls just want to have fun.” And we certainly know how to throw a party!

Speed Rack is a friendly competition set in front of a cheering crowd with energetic music, dancing and light-hearted trash talk. It is designed to highlight up-and-coming self-identifying females in the cocktail industry and give back to those impacted by breast cancer.

Each year, online applicants are chosen to participate at regional competitions held in major cities across the U.S. The winners of regionals then go on to face off at Tales of the Cocktail for the number one spot and opportunity to be crowned Miss Speed Rack.

TALES OF THE COCKTAIL
The world’s leading cocktail conference.

Tales of the Cocktail is an annual trade conference, festival, and gathering of cocktail and spirits industry professionals in New Orleans, Louisiana. During the week-long celebration, over 15,000 attendees immerse themselves in tastings, workshops, seminars, networking activities and competitions.

The conference includes the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Spirited Awards to recognize each aspect of the industry for its contributions, and Bombay Sapphire’s Most Imaginative Bartender Competition, complete with a $20,000 creative grant.

HOST:  Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
PRICE:  Varies (during the week-long festival, Tales of the Cocktail hosts hundreds of events. In order to build your own schedule, all tickets are sold individually.)
DATE:  July (annually)
LOCATION:  New Orleans, LA

USBG CONFERENCE & GALA
Uniting the bar industry through education, community, and advocacy.

In the off chance you haven’t already heard about the United States Bartenders Guild (USBG), here is a quick rundown. The current USBG offers its three branches – education, networking and competitions, as well as, a charity arm focused on bartender wellness programs and relief funds, and an accreditation program going up to Master Mixologist.

The USBG’s annual conference and gala is a four-day celebration including everything from morning fitness activities, brunch and daily seminars to afternoon pool parties and evening documentary screenings – not to mention, plenty of cocktails and networking.

All the festivities culminate with a “cocktail attire” gala dinner and awards ceremony recognizing the past year’s most influential “movers and shakers” within the hospitality industry. 

HOST:  United States Bartenders’ Guild
PRICE:  $350-$850 (early bird member pricing – meals, seminars, gala and hotel included)
DATE:  August (annually)
LOCATION:  Phoenix, AZ

TAG GLOBAL SPIRITS AWARDS
The most comprehensive spirits competition in the world.

The TAG Global Spirits Awards competition was created in 2022 by world-renowned mixologist Tony Abou-Ganim, U.S. industry veteran David Grapshi, and American ambassador of Mexico’s National Chamber for the Tequila Industry Julio Bermejo.

Over the course of four days, an acclaimed panel of domestic and international judges, who specialize in the spirits they evaluate, determine outstanding spirits within categories, as well as, best in class.

The competition includes various public and industry events, culminating with an awards ceremony gala to celebrate the results of the competition with music, culinary delights and signature libations from supporting supplier hosts.

HOST:  Tony Abou-Ganim, David Grapshi, Julio Bermejo and Sean Ludford
PRICE:  Unknown
DATE:  February/March (annually)
LOCATION:  Las Vegas, NV

WORLD CLASS
The bartender of the year competition.

We might have saved the best for last here. ?

World Class is a global bartending competition. It offers an opportunity for bartenders of all skill levels and backgrounds to test themselves, join a community of competitors and judges from around the world, and ultimately become a stronger bartender through educational programs and mentorship opportunities.

Details change a little each year, but paper applications are usually due in November to narrow it down to the top 100 competitors from the United States. The top 100 then work their way through a series of regional competitions to be further narrowed down for the national final held in May. One bartender from the national competition is announced as the “US Bartender of the Year” and then advances to the global final held around September in the fall.

Campari Day of Service
Annually in September

In partnership with Campari, the USBG Foundation hosts an annual National Day of Service in September, concurrent with Negroni Week. The goal of the program is to increase the bar industry’s participation in volunteer service activities in local communities. Some of the many activities include participation with food banks, beach clean-up, homeless shelters and urban agriculture.

Negroni Week
Annually in September

Since 2013, Imbibe Magazine has hosted Negroni Week, a celebration of one of the world’s great cocktails and an effort to raise money for charitable causes around the world. Thousands of venues around the world participate by signing up, donating, and then serving classic Negronis (or variations) for one week in September. Every year, a different charity is chosen as the benefactor.

Old Fashioned Week
Annually in October

Old Fashioned Week operates pretty much the same as Negroni Week. It runs for 10 days and to no surprise, it’s hosted by Elijah Craig and PUNCH Magazine. Participating bars and restaurants nationwide keep it classic or discover creative twists on the Old Fashioned while donating $1 for every drink sold to support food and beverage workers.

BAR & RESTAURANT EXPO
See it! Test it! Taste it!

Consider Bar & Restaurant Expo your one-stop shop to test, taste and get educated on new ideas and trends for your bar or restaurant. This event is specifically designed to meet the needs and challenges of bar and restaurant owners, operators, and professionals. Benefit from real-world, proven advice on how to excel in all areas of running a profitable and efficient bar or restaurant.

HOST: Questex
PRICE: $250 – $800
DATE: March (annually)
LOCATION: Las Vegas, NV