Melbourne Cocktail Festival to return in April

Bars are gearing up for the return of the Melbourne Cocktail Festival in Australia next month.

Melbourne Cocktail Festival (MCF) launched in 2020 and will return to the Australian city from 12-18 April in partnership with Grainshaker vodka.

Registration is free and the festival will offer a complimentary cocktail for the first 1,000 people to sign up. Consumers can sign up from 12 March via melbournecocktailfestival.io.

Those who take part in the festival will be able to take part in the Bar Safari, with participating venues offering bespoke AU$15 (US$12) cocktails throughout the event.

The Bar Safari will also include a month-long 10% discount on all purchases from the Good Spirits online store, as well as a digital cocktail recipe book.

Michael Bascetta, Melbourne Cocktail Festival founder, said: “At MCF, we seek to celebrate diversity, talent and nightlight culture of our great city and know that we will rebound with resilience and continue to show the world how incredible this city and its makers are.”

Melbourne Cocktail Festival will also offer a selection of special events, such as the Waste Not Taste Lots experience at Byrdi on 17 April, priced at AU$120 (US$94) per person. The session will offer a sneak peek of the soon-to-be-opened venue by award-winning bartender Matt Whiley, which will focus on sustainability and reducing waste, as well as serving top drinks.

Other sessions available include Tropical Escapism at Black Pearl on 15 April, priced at AU$20 (US$16) per person.

The ticket includes a complimentary drink on arrival before guests will immersed in a tropical party filled with wine-based cocktails by Nick Tesar, of Bar Liberty, and Felix Woods, of Black Pearl.

Bars already signed up to take part include: Above Board, Bad Frankie, Bar Margaux, Black Pearl, Boilermaker, Eau de Vie, Gin Palace, Nick and Nora, and The Everleigh to name just a few.