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Edinburgh to host Scotland’s first international bar show
Scotland will welcome its first international bar show in April, held in Edinburgh and organised by industry veterans Iain McPherson, Jamie Faulds and Gary Anderson.
McPherson is behind celebrated Edinburgh bar Panda & Sons, nominated last year for Best International Cocktail bar – Europe at the Spirited Awards, while Faulds and Anderson are the creators of Edinburgh’s annual cocktail week.
Named Edinburgh Bar Show (EBS), the festivities will take place between 8 and 10 April and promise ‘memorable events with a distinctly Scottish slant’ that ‘champion the world-class spirits, drinks brands, bars and talent that Scotland has in abundance’.
Anderson said: “This is what differentiates Edinburgh Bar Show from others. Scotland has so much to offer; the spirits created here are unique and should be celebrated and our bar scene has a different story and provenance to other places.
“We want to infuse all of that into Edinburgh Bar Show at the same time as bringing together and showcasing international talent.”
A slew of headline events have already been confirmed, including a House of Suntory bar takeover with Erik Lorincz, an Absolut bar takeover with Stockholm bar Röda Huset, a two-day wrap party hosted by Rémy Cointreau, and another closing party hosted by Hendrick’s Gin.
Distillery tours, seminars, demonstrations and tastings throughout the city will also take place over the three days. Inclusivity will be at the show’s core, with a ‘resilience in hospitality’ seminar from Manchester-based LGBTQ+ bar Red Light and talks on sustainability solutions.
Guests can also expect a daily programme of wellness, meditation, yoga and fitness activities – aspects that Faulds explains are “increasingly relevant, and important, to bar professionals in 2024” to help cultivate a healthy work-life balance.
EBS has secured support from drink brands including The Botanist, Bruichladdich, Ardbeg, Hendrick’s Gin, Aberfeldy, Craigellachie, Royal Brackla, Absolut, Spearhead Whisky, Campari Academy, House of Suntory, Edinburgh Gin, Smokehead, Axia, Patrón Tequila and Eminente Rum.
McPherson added: ‘This is a chance to bring a new generation of bartenders together to experience quality from all over the world. It’s an opportunity to share knowledge and network.”