Immerse into the world of cocktails when the Bangkok Bar Show descends into the Thai capital for a whirlwind weekend this November.
Hong Kong and Singapore may be considered the de facto cocktail capitals of Asia by well-travelled cocktail bon vivants, but Bangkok is beginning to stir up as a contender as well. Bangkok’s cocktail scene has exploded in recent years, with many edgy cocktail joints opening up across in the bustling capital from fancy lounges in luxury hotels to speakeasy-style watering holes hidden from plain sight.
One of the reasons fuelling that growth is Bangkok Bar Show. First introduced in 2019, the cocktail-focused festival continues to recognise and celebrate Thailand’s emergent cocktail scene. Back for its 2024 edition, this year’s festival will take place at the historic Royal Bangkok Sports Club from 1 to 3 November 2024, and is again set to gather the best of the local, regional and international bar industry to shine the spotlight on Bangkok’s growing love for cocktails.
Visitors to Bangkok Bar Show can expect to sample world-class cocktails from some 19 renowned bars and bartenders from Tokyo, Singapore, and even New York. They will be shaking and pouring alongside over 30 alcohol brand booths, each with tasting opportunities through unique experiences and fun activations.
Participating spirits brands include big and well-known global names such as Suntory Whisky, Roku Gin, Jameson Whisky, and Naked Malt, but also made-in-Thailand marques such as Chalong Bay Rum, Iron Balls Gin, and Bangkok Vodka.
Aside from the show floor, attendees can also immerse themselves into the business of bars and cocktails if they are keen to dive into the industry. Bangkok Bar Show has curated a lineup of nine seminars headed by some of the most important thought leaders and players in this space, including not just one but three 50 Best Academy chairs – Sorrel Moseley-Williams, 50 Best Academy Chair in South America; Nicholas Coldicott, 50 Best Academy Chair for Japan; and Rachel Tann, 50 Best Academy Chair for Southeast Asia and Korea.
Other speakers include Lorenzo Antinori from Hong Kong’s Bar Leone, the #1 Bar on Asia’s 50 Best Bars 2024; Uno Jang, Group Creative Director of Singapore’s Jigger & Pony; founder Yugnes Susela of The Elephant Room in Singapore; and Grace Tsai, bar manager of Taipei’s Indulge Experimental Bistro.
Leading up to – and part of – the Bangkok Bar Show is the latest edition of Thailand’s 20 Best Bar Awards, which will take place on 31 October at Rosewood Bangkok to identify and recognise the nation’s top bartending venues and talent.
But if you’re unable to make the official show, you can always catch the various guest shifts by award-winning bars that will be in full swing across the city during that weekend. A major highlight will be ‘A Celebration of Southeast Asian Flavours’ at Independence Bar and Asia Today, Backdoor Bodega (Penang), The Elephant Room (Singapore) and The Haffington (Hanoi), while an epic K-wave will descend on Bangkok when the bartenders from Pine & Co, Alice in Cheongdam, Le Chamber, Soko Bar, Yeon Nam Mashi, Zest and Bar Cham takes over a yet unnamed bar.
For more information about Bangkok Bar Show, visit their instagram page at https://www.instagram.com/bkkbarshow/. You can purchase your tickets here.
[Image credits: Bangkok Bar Show]
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