By Sacha Delfosse
Cockatoo Island will be hosting a three-day cocktail celebration for both consumers and trade from November 19-21, with the last day an exclusive hospitality industry day.
Cocktail Island creator, Marco Faraone, is hoping that the inaugural cocktail festival will introduce the general public to the history, nuances and amazing flavours of global cocktails, from the classics to the latest local and overseas trends.
Visitors will be able to enjoy product trainings and tastings in the Exhibition Hall and can chill out in The Piazza, which will act as a central hub with a café, live music and room to relax.
Bordering The Piazza will be six Tasting Rooms operated by different liquor brands that will be have bars set up to serve cocktails and provide a space for the brands to interact and engage with visitors.
Drinks will be sold for $6-8 but visitors will be required to covert their money to Cocktail Island Dollars at the Cocktail Island Village Bank to pay for purchases.
Spirit brands such as Hendrick’s Gin, Absolut, Jameson, Midori and Chivas Regal have already signed up to exhibit, while notable local and international industry guests such as Jason Crawley, Phil Bayly, Manuel Terron, Julio Bermejo and Francesco Lafranconi will be presenting a series of fun, interactive master classes.
The Island Bar will also be operating throughout the three-day event, serving cocktails and Italian-style pizzas fresh from a traditional wood-fired pizza oven as well as a selection of drinks and refreshments.