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Feature
Unmissable spirits events in 2024
The next 12 months will be full of exciting drinks events around the world. Here, we highlight the ones you should take special note of for 2024.
This year is all about growth, with exhibitions upping their spirits areas, extending dates and inviting even more exhibitors.
With so many events to attend, you’ll need to plan your year wisely. Here are the shows we think are truly unmissable.
Miami Rum Congress
Miami, US
9-11 February
Rum enthusiasts should take note of the fifth edition of Miami Rum Congress, held in the largest consumer market for the category in the US. Drinkers can expect hundreds of rum samples and educational seminars from Park Street University.
Wine Paris & Vinexpo Paris
Paris, France
12-14 February
The 2024 Vinexpo Paris event will feature 25% more space in the Be Spirits area, which will cover categories such as Tequila, umeshu, vermouth, vodka, whisky, mezcal, Calvados, Cognac, gin, and more. The trade fair is expecting a 35% increase in visitor numbers to 40,000 guests, with 3,900 exhibitors set to showcase their products.
Prowein
Düsseldorf, Germany
10-12 March
Trade show ProWein will create a new area for spirits for 2024. ProSpirits will welcome 300-plus exhibitors across 4,800 square metres – 1,000sqm more than in 2023. There will also be Trend Hour Tastings covering vodka, liqueurs, agave spirits, brandy, and ready-to-drink. Korean soju, Mauritian rum and Mexican spirits will also be spotlighted.
IAADFS Summit of the Americas
Florida, US
14-17 April
Florida’s West Palm Beach will play host to the Summit of the Americas, a crucial event for those in the Americas and Caribbean duty free sector. Attendees can expect educational seminars from executives, panels and networking opportunities. Drinks exhibitors already confirmed include: Bacardi, Beam Suntory, Diageo, Flor de Caña, Latin Gin and Tito’s Handmade Vodka.
Vinexpo Asia
Hong Kong
28-30 May
In 2024, wine and spirits fair Vinexpo will bring its Asia show back to Hong Kong, after heading to Singapore for the first time in 2023. Future events will alternate between the two countries. The 2023 show welcomed nearly 10,000 professionals from 64 countries, alongside 1,000 exhibitors.
Bar Convent Brooklyn
New York City, NY, US
11-12 June
After a successful fifth edition, where more than 4,500 visitors flocked to New York City, Bar Convent Brooklyn will be back in June. The show’s organisers have promised to introduce “fresh concepts, immersive experiences and unparalleled opportunities” for the trade in 2024. The educational committee has also been confirmed, which includes the likes of Lynnette Marrero, Tiffanie Barriere, and Julie Reiner.
Vinexpo America
New York City, NY, US
24-25 June
Vinexpo America will return to the Jacob K Javits Convention Center at a later date than last year’s fair, as it will be held alongside the Specialty Food Association’s Summer Fancy Food Show. Now in its sixth year, Vinexpo America will bring together international producers with North American wine and spirits buyers for two days of tastings, networking and seminars.
Imbibe Live
London, UK
1-2 July
Thousands of drinks professionals will head to Olympia London for Imbibe Live. A key event for the UK on- and off-trade, Imbibe Live hosted more than 100 spirits exhibitors in 2023, and provides an insight into the UK’s biggest cocktail and spirits trends.
Tales of the Cocktail
New Orleans, US
21-26 July
The annual cocktail festival will be back in July for its 22nd event. The 2023 festival gathered spirits and cocktail fans from 48 countries and held nearly 400 events, including 20 seminars. The 2024 theme will be ‘Inspire’, which aims to entice and challenge the global drinks sector to ‘embrace future thinking’.
TFWA World Exhibition & Conference
Cannes, France
29 September-3 October
The Tax Free World Association’s (TFWA) yearly conference in the South of France will see big and small spirits producers highlight their activity and exclusive products in the travel retail channel.
The Spirits Business will also host its annual Travel Retail Beach Party on Monday 30 September.
tfwa.com/tfwa-world-exhibition-conference
The Whisky Show
London, UK
6-8 September
The UK’s biggest whisky festival will feature more than 1,000 drams, alongside stage demos, masterclasses and cocktails. The 2023 show followed the theme of ‘the people’, and featured masterclasses on whisky-and-popcorn pairing, the future of Japanese whisky, and Diageo’s Special Releases.
London Cocktail Week
London, UK
3-13 October
Cocktail lovers from around the globe will land in London for one of the world’s biggest on-trade events in October, which will run for 11 days. The dates have been picked so it doesn’t clash with trade show Bar Convent Berlin (BCB). Drinkers can expect bar takeovers, masterclasses and cocktail dinners, with wristband holders getting cocktails at discounted rates.
Bar Convent Berlin
Berlin, Germany
14-16 October
The so-called ‘bartender’s Christmas’ is back in Berlin for a three-day stint, bringing together thousands of visitors from across the globe. Last year’s event attracted 15,000 visitors and more than 500 exhibitors, alongside spotlights on agave spirits and low-and-no. Attendees can expect to discover the latest spirits innovations and bar trends.
Bar Convent Singapore
November 2024
BCB held its first show in Asia last year, which placed an emphasis on education, with 33 sessions held on topics such as sustainability and bar design. Some of the companies in attendance, covering 18 countries, included Brown-Forman, Rémy Cointreau, Campari Group, and Pernod Ricard. Exact dates in November are yet to be confirmed.
Athens Bar Show
Athens, Greece
5-7 November
For a taste of the Greek bar and spirits scene, don’t miss the Athens Bar Show. The 2023 event saw bartenders including Line Athens’ Vassilis Kyritsis and The Connaught’s director of mixology, Ago Perrone, host seminars.
The SB Awards Ceremony
London, UK
14 November
As it prepares for its sixth year, The Spirits Business Awards will be revamped into a black-tie soirée at The Underglobe in London. Attendees can expect to enjoy dinner and cocktails while finding out who took home the top accolades.