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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T123000
DTSTAMP:20260505T140029Z
CREATED:20260429T225701Z
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UID:4446-1786361400-1786365000@torontococktailconference.ca
SUMMARY:Spirit-Sponsored Seminar: The NA Cocktail Renaissance: Redesigning Bar Culture Beyond Alcohol
DESCRIPTION:Presented by NOA \nSpeakers: Philippe Castonguay & Kat Saulnier \nThere are four certainties in life: Death. Taxes. First-round exits from the Leafs. And alcohol in bars. \nHistorically\, alcohol has been the default in shared public spaces. It has been ritualistically built into our lives and our bars as a symbol of connection and belonging\, almost to a fault. The shame around moderation boiled down to two questions: “Are you driving?” or “Are you pregnant?” If you answered “no” to both\, you were expected to drink. For a long time\, mindful drinking didn’t coexist with nightlife\, cocktails\, or hospitality. It lived outside of them. It was treated as a deviation from the experience instead of part of it. Inclusivity in bars had a blind spot and moderation lived squarely inside it. \nGoing into 2026\, that expectation is breaking down. There has been a dramatic shift in the stigma around refraining from drinking\, drinking less\, or just not drinking right now. People are starting to explore what their relationship with alcohol actually is\, prioritizing health and lifestyle choices over intoxication while still seeking connection\, ritual\, and social belonging. NA is not a trend. The need for moderation has always existed. What we lacked were the tools\, the products\, and the cultural permission to take it seriously. That has changed. With non-alcoholic products now sitting at par with their alcoholic counterparts\, we finally have the space to design experiences that welcome every guest regardless of what\, how much\, or why they drink. \nThis seminar explores the lineage of non-alcoholic culture in bars\, the reframing of sobriety and moderation in hospitality\, how wellness enters nightlife\, and how generational renewal is redefining social ritual. It also names the real choice hospitality is now facing: evolve\, or fall flat. We’ll focus on the human and guest experience first: how to restructure menu placement\, language\, and service dialogue around access to moderation in ways that feel inclusive and welcoming rather than apologetic or burdensome. We’ll look at how well-designed NA programs don’t just change guest behavior\, they change staff culture\, confidence\, and care inside the bar. Then we’ll move into the financial impacts and operational benefits of curated NA and low-ABV programs: higher-margin revenue streams\, brand trust\, guest retention\, and how moderation-inclusive menus future-proof a business instead of diluting it. \nThe future of hospitality is not overconsumption. It is psychological. It is inclusive. It is human. The NA Cocktail Renaissance positions non-alcoholic\, low-ABV\, and full-strength cocktails as equal expressions of the same discipline not as compromises\, but as parallel forms of pleasure\, complexity\, and meaning. \nThis seminar is for anyone who designs experiences for other humans and embrace the future of NA in the decades ahead. Because in ten years\, people won’t ask:\n“Does your bar have non-alcoholic options?”\nThey’ll ask: “Does your bar understand people?”\nAnd the bars that don’t will quietly disappear.
URL:https://torontococktailconference.ca/event/spirit-sponsored-seminar/
LOCATION:Underground (Drake Hotel)
CATEGORIES:Seminar
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T113000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T123000
DTSTAMP:20260504T152511Z
CREATED:20260429T230458Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260504T152511Z
UID:4460-1786361400-1786365000@torontococktailconference.ca
SUMMARY:Seminar: On the House: The Other Side of Service
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Linda Douglas and Touré Folkes \nThe hospitality industry thrives on connection — but what happens when we extend that spirit beyond the bar and into our communities? This seminar explores the vast spectrum of ways to do good: starting a nonprofit\, building mutual aid networks\, championing career development\, supporting community organizations\, or simply finding the path that’s uniquely yours. Join Linda Douglas and Touré Folkes for actionable insights\, real-world examples\, and practical tools to help you identify your role in building stronger\, more equitable communities. More than ever\, we need to not only look for the helpers — we need to become them to reflect real social change.
URL:https://torontococktailconference.ca/event/seminar/
LOCATION:South Lounge (Drake Hotel)
CATEGORIES:Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T150000
DTSTAMP:20260512T195632Z
CREATED:20260429T225942Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260512T195632Z
UID:4450-1786370400-1786374000@torontococktailconference.ca
SUMMARY:Spirit-Sponsored Seminar: Beyond the Guest Shift: Building Permanent Alliances in Temporary Spaces
DESCRIPTION:Presented by Planteray Rum \nSpeakers: Adrienne Stoner & Diana Condori  \nThe Pop-up Playbook! Our Pitch: Join us to reveal the blueprint for professional longevity. This isn’t about making drinks; it’s about making history. Learn the high-level networking and reputation management required to turn every away game into a career-defining milestone. \nOne night behind a foreign bar shouldn’t just leave a hangover—it should leave a mark. Learn how to transform a five-hour guest shift into a year-long marketing boost.A pop-up should never feel like an invasion—it should feel like an evolution. This session goes beyond the menu to explore the human infrastructure of a guest shift. Learn how to organize a common vision that respects the host bar’s local community while highlighting the visiting team’s unique DNA. You’ll learn how to build a bridge that supports the weight of three distinct interests: the bartender\, the bar\, and the brand.
URL:https://torontococktailconference.ca/event/spirit-sponsored-seminar-2/
LOCATION:Underground (Drake Hotel)
CATEGORIES:Seminar
END:VEVENT
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DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T140000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T150000
DTSTAMP:20260504T182512Z
CREATED:20260429T230552Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260504T182512Z
UID:4463-1786370400-1786374000@torontococktailconference.ca
SUMMARY:Seminar: The Flavour Toolbox: Sommelier Sensory Skills for Bartenders
DESCRIPTION:Speaker: Renée Sferrazza \nBehind every great cocktail is a trained palate. While bartenders develop strong instincts through repetition and technique\, sommeliers often train their senses in a more structured way — learning to identify aroma\, texture\, acidity\, bitterness\, sweetness\, and balance through intentional tasting exercises. \nThis seminar introduces bartenders and beverage professionals to sommelier palate-training techniques that can strengthen sensory awareness behind the bar. By exploring aroma recognition\, flavour mapping\, and texture perception\, participants will gain tools to taste more intentionally and describe drinks with greater clarity and confidence. \nThrough guided sensory exercises and tasting examples\, this session focuses on developing awareness rather than memorization — helping professionals trust their palate\, communicate flavour more effectively\, and refine cocktail balance through sensory understanding. \nWhether working with wine\, spirits\, or cocktails\, a trained palate is one of the most valuable tools in hospitality.
URL:https://torontococktailconference.ca/event/seminar-2/
LOCATION:South Lounge (Drake Hotel)
CATEGORIES:Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T170000
DTSTAMP:20260605T160630Z
CREATED:20260429T230036Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260605T160630Z
UID:4452-1786377600-1786381200@torontococktailconference.ca
SUMMARY:Spirit-Sponsored Seminar: Understanding Baijiu: Exploring Price vs Quality
DESCRIPTION:Presented by Sinocan Supply Inc. \nSpeaker: Rob McCaughey \nBaijiu varies widely in both price and style; but how do you know if it’s worth what you’re paying? And does more expensive mean better or just different? \nIn this practical\, sponsored seminar\, we’ll explore three key styles of Baijiu: sauce aroma\, strong aroma\, and light aroma. \nWe’ll begin with a side‑by‑side tasting of two differently priced Baijiu within the same style\, examining not only their relative price points but also how those differences show up in the glass. Then we’ll compare with examples of two other styles\, focusing on their defining aromas and flavour profiles. \nBy the end of the session\, you’ll understand: \n\nWhat to expect from lower‑ vs higher‑priced Baijiu\nThe key aromas and flavours of each major style\nHow to recognise quality Baijiu\, so you can buy—and recommend—with confidence
URL:https://torontococktailconference.ca/event/spirit-sponsored-seminar-3/
LOCATION:Underground (Drake Hotel)
CATEGORIES:Seminar
END:VEVENT
BEGIN:VEVENT
DTSTART;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T160000
DTEND;TZID=America/Toronto:20260810T170000
DTSTAMP:20260505T135818Z
CREATED:20260429T230627Z
LAST-MODIFIED:20260505T135818Z
UID:4465-1786377600-1786381200@torontococktailconference.ca
SUMMARY:Seminar: Personalizing the Classics
DESCRIPTION:Speakers: Emma Janzen and Toby Maloney  \nFor the first few decades of the cocktail revival\, the techniques and histories of classic cocktails mattered greatly as bartenders everywhere figured out how to do this whole “mixology” thing\, but today’s zeitgeist lies in the subtle art and craft of personalization. For the launch of their new book\, The Classic Cocktail Sessions (out June 2026)\, Toby Maloney and Emma Janzen pull back the curtains on how to approach personalizing classic cocktail recipes with restraint and aplomb. As they explore concepts like seasonality\, comfort and curiosity\, aroma\, and modern trends like stacking ingredients and adjusting ratios and serves\, this presentation will offer inspiration by the pound for at-home mixers\, new bartenders\, and jaded professionals looking to challenge existing habits and expand their horizons.
URL:https://torontococktailconference.ca/event/seminar-3/
LOCATION:South Lounge (Drake Hotel)
CATEGORIES:Seminar
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