Industry gears up for Imbibe Live

The drinks trade is getting ready for Imbibe Live, the trade event for wines, beers, spirits and soft drinks professionals, set to take place in London next week.

Imbibe Live will take place at London Olympia next week

An annual exhibition for professionals who source, buy and serve drinks in the licensed on-trade, Imbibe Live also features a seminar programme in addition to the trade show floor activity.

The programme is developed with ambassadors from across the industry including Alex Kratena, former Best International Bartender award winner, who has worked on the spirits content.

A Centre Stage space will host a number of events, including the annual Bartenders v Sommeliers competition and the Very Important Personality Award.

Bars from across the UK will also take part in the Shakes & The City final, a contest which will decide which city is the nation’s cocktail capital.

In addition, The Academy area will host sessions run by the Wine & Spirit Education Trust (WSET), Aroma Academy and Maxxium UK’s MIXXIT training team, offering professionals of all levels of experience the chance to further their skills.

Meanwhile, the Cocktail Lounge will host a series of talks curated by Kratena, featuring top bartenders from around the world.

Luke Whearty and Aki Nishikura from Operation Dagger in Singapore will share what it takes to open a world-leading bar, while Marc Álvarez, head bartender for elBarri Adrià, will present eight cocktails matching eight concepts developed by restaurateur Albert Adrià.

For 2016, the Taste Zone will feature Monica Berg, a Scandinavian food and drink expert, hold a session on the world of aquavit, and visitors can also take part in a tutored pisco tasting.

Imbibe Live takes place at Olympia London from 4-5 July. For further details, see Live.imbibe.com.