Bar Convent Berlin: 7th – 9th October 2019, Station Berlin
Bar Convent Berlin (BCB) returns for its 12th yearly outing next month, retaining the longer three day run-time that was introduced last year. As you would expect of the world’s best booze trade show, some of the industry’s most notable figures are involved in the seminars and masterclasses, meaning attendees will have a lot to see and do when they aren’t nailing Boilermakers at Stagger Lee (Berlin’s best bar, in our humble opinion).
The main stage will see the meatier seminar subjects addressed, with social responsibility, embracing ‘locality’, and the pitfalls surrounding unsafe and illegal ingredients on the agenda. The rum category is well represented, with Mauritius being this year’s country of honour. In addition to the seminars, there will of course be the opportunity to learn about and sample brands too numerous to list here.
Tickets for BCB are on sale now, ranging from €40 to €30, depending on how many are booked. Visit the BCB ticketing page for details.
BCB 2019 Programme Highlights
The Main Stage
The Mixology Main Stage is the knowledge centre of Bar Convent Berlin where lectures by international experts as well as panel discussions with opinion makers of the global bar and beverage scene will take place. Highlights include:
1. Jeffrey Morgenthaler | Bartending Today
2. Camper English | Cocktail Safe! Dangerous or Illegal Drink Ingredients and Techniques, and What To Do About Them
3. Stephanie Simbo | Hiring The Unemployable: A Guide to Hire People Formerly Incarcerated
4. Vijay Mudaliar | An Exploration of Bartending Based on Identity, Sourcing and a Responsible Ethos
Demonstration Bars
Expert speakers and brand ambassadors from around the world will present spirit tastings, cocktail demonstrations and practical advice across two demo bars. Highlights include:
1. Alex Kratena and Erwan de Kerros | Pepper Exploration – Understand Pepper Diversity And How To Use It In Mixology
2. Javier de las Muelas | Enhancing Flavours
3. Thanos Prunarus, Thodoris Pirillos and Dimitris Kiakos | O/Purist: Top 10 Greek Bartenders Re-invent Tsipouro
Rum Stage
Speakers and brand ambassadors will cover every corner of this category through tastings and lectures. Highlights include:
1. Ian Burrell | DOS MADERAS Rum and the secret of double ageing process and Understanding the Rhums of Madeira
2. Matt Pietrek | In search of high ester rum and How the British Navy influenced the birth of Tiki
3. Maggie Campbell | WTF is Élevage Tho? #AllThingsRumBusiness
Forum
Hosted by Park Street, the Business Forum offers a programme of talks and seminars for anyone wanting to accelerate their business. Highlights include:
1. Jaap Kras | How Alcohol and Cannabis Stack Up
2. Gabe Barkley | Luxury Beyond Price Point
3. Louis de Rohan | Learning From The Biggest Mistakes Made By Drinks Entrepreneurs
4. Shilen Patel | Non Alc’s World Domination and What’s Fuelling Its Growth
WSET Taste Forum
The WSET Taste Forum is a space for visitors to get beneath the skin of categories and expand their knowledge with brand-neutral, expert-lead tastings. Highlights include:
1. Nick King | Various
2. Natsuki Kikuya | Simplifying Sake: Starting Your Professional Journey
3. Pawel Gruntowsky | Sherry Uncovered
4. Liam Scandrett | Attract, Engage, Train and Retain
Coffee Stage
Showcasing the increasingly important role that coffee is having in the bar industry. Highlights include:
1. Timon Kaufmann | Coffee Creativity – How To Create The Perfect Mix
2. Timon Kaufmann, Reinhard Pohorec, Hannes Fendrick and Nicole Battefeld |
Coffee and Spirits – A Sensory Debate
3. Romyna Robledo y Mendez | Cascara – The Banned Ingredient
4. Raymund Peters | Tea Infusion In Cocktails
5. Ali Vogel | Latte Art – Eye Catcher In The Bar
A full list of BCB 2019 seminars, talks, events, and exhibitors can be found on the BCB website.
Photo: Ken Buslay