The first NY Cocktail Expo was held on April 9, 2016, at Cannon's Blackthorn in Rockville Centre, NY & saw a sold-out attendance of 400+ guests - including spirit & cocktail enthusiasts. It was a celebration of friends, fun, & community + an opportunity for bartenders, bar owners, & restaurant owners to find inspiration for their cocktail programs, discovering the spirits that make up the libations we love.

 

Spirit Brands showcased cocktail & spirit samples, while the best cocktail bars in the area served their own creations, featuring those same great spirit brands. Cork & Kerry of Floral Park was awarded 1st place for Best Cocktail, followed by Hush Bistro in 2nd place, & Bartender Mark Seaman, previously of Roots Bistro & now at Flight Patchogue, in 3rd place.

 

Growing quickly, the 2nd NY Cocktail Expo was held on March 12th, 2017, in Astoria at the Bohemian Hall & Beer Garden, attracting a sold-out crowd of over 600 guests. With more than triple the number of spirits showcasing their brands to cocktail enthusiasts, many bar owners & bartenders attended to taste, network, & grow together. The Official Cocktail of the NY Cocktail Expo Queens, the 'Monkey Jam Sour' from Monkey Shoulder, welcomed guests with a sample upon entry, making a memorable impression on the cocktail & spirit tasting adventure.

 

Cocktail enthusiasts were inspired & enlightened about new spirits & which cocktail bars to visit after the event concluded. The best cocktail bars in Queens showcased brands like Wyoming Whiskey, Virgil Kaine Low Country Whiskey Co., Queens Courage Old Tom Gin, Gracias Adios Mezcal, & many more. Official NY Cocktail Expo judges Eamon Rockey (Betony, Aska, Atera), William Elliot (Maison Premiere/Sauvage), & Betsy Fischman (boozemenus.com) awarded the best cocktail in the bartender throwdown to 1st place winners The Bonnie, 2nd place to Mar's, & 3rd place to The Last Word.

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In 2018-2019, the NY Cocktail Expo grew to over 2,000 attendees at Melrose Ballroom, featuring more than 60 spirit brands & bar exhibitors like Death & Co., Leyenda Brooklyn, The Aviary NYC, & many more. It has become the home of NY's Official Best Cocktail of the Year Competition and the acclaimed "TIKI THROW DOWN" tropical cocktail competition. The New York Cocktail Expo is the only show that features NY's top bars and invites consumers, cocktail enthusiasts, spirit enthusiasts, industry professionals, and media alike to come together and celebrate the cocktails and spirits we love.

 

Focusing primarily on hospitality & guest experience, the Expo has gained acclaim from its peers in the cocktail community for bringing attention back to these crucial elements. This focus fosters a thriving community of cocktail enthusiasts, spirit brands, & the bars we love to visit time and again. It also inspires the growing movement of home bartenders & entertainers, where true hospitality emerges. 

 

The NY Cocktail Expo made its triumphant return on August 20th, 2023, after a hiatus since 2019, during which time online spirit seminars were held. The event brought together new & old bars from all corners of New York City, rekindling the spark cocktails have on our "spirited" community! 

 

2024 solidified our incredible return by tripling in size, marking a bold continuation of New York City’s cocktail renaissance.