Commercial Drinks, Australia’s newest event dedicated to the on-premise liquor sector, aimed at operators of bars, pubs, clubs and restaurants, launches next week.
Taking place over four days at the newly built ICC in Sydney, the show is co-located with Fine Food Australia, the country’s leading event for the food industry.
At Commercial Drinks, operators of licensed venues looking to improve and differentiate their drinks list will be able to browse hundreds of quality beer, spirits and wine brands on display.
The Speakeasy Stage, presented by Winterhalter, will provide visitors with a program of free educational sessions addressing a number of pertinent industry topics, all offering insight and solutions designed to directly and immediately benefit business.
Sessions will cover: what it takes to operate a successful bar, what good bar design can do for your business; cocktails that drive revenue; staff training & retention, and maximising the wine spend of your patrons.
A selection of successful Sydney bar operators and industry experts will make up the session panels, including Jared Merlino, Managing Director of Kittyhawk, Danielle Allen, Director of Two Birds Brewery, the ‘Beer Diva’ Kirrily Waldhorn (pictured) and Seamus Brandt, Senior Sommelier for Rockpool Bar & Grill.
Content has been specifically tailored to reflect current industry trends and demands and, in response to the rising popularity of craft spirits, one session is dedicated entirely to celebrating the Australian gin industry. Facilitated by Nigel Weisbaum from Archie Rose Distilling Co., and Stu Gregor, President of the Australian Distillers Association, the session will present eight gins to taste including spirits from Manly Spirits, Four Pillars, Kangaroo Island Spirits, Archie Rose, and more.
In another session, Samantha Payne from NOMAD Wine and industry expert David Messum will highlight future drinking trends, including a look at what’s trending internationally, the popularity of prosecco, and the latest fascination with premium mixers.
All of the Winterhalter Speakeasy Stage sessions have been planned with the objective of providing practical advice, from curating the perfect beer menu to learning the best business models for bars.
Commercial Drinks takes place 11-14 September at ICC Sydney in Darling Harbour. For more information and to register, visit www.commercialdrinks.com.au