Whiskey Factory Detroit plays host to a handful of the most knowledgeable and respected names in the spirit and hospitality industry for a lineup of immersive industry seminars. Your ticket includes light breakfast and lunch plus water courtesy of Topo Chico. The first 50 attendees will receive a signed copy of The Modern Mixologist by Tony Abou-Ganim courtesy of Campari. Seats are limited.

9:00 a.m. – Light Breakfast / Coffee Service

10:00 a.m. – ASTRO COFFEE

10:45 a.m. – WHAT’S IN A R(H)UM
Join Melissa Pinkerton of SPIRIBAM for an immersive rum seminar focusing on the history and rums from Martinique and Saint Lucia. We will learn how rhum came to be on the French Caribbean island of Martinique and the rich culture of the French West Indies. The rules and regulations of the Martinique AOC and WIRSPA on these islands are helping to lead the category into a more reputable and sought after place.

Melissa Pinkerton started her hospitality career during her time at UNC Chapel Hill and continued on in Chicago as she developed a passion for service, food, spirits, wine and cocktails. Her time as a bartender, Restaurant Manager and Beverage Director in Chicago led her to the SPIRIBAM portfolio. She has now represented these rum brands over the past two years throughout the Midwest as the Regional Midwest Market Manager. Melissa prides herself on quality, education and knowledge, spreading the love for rum and turning every drinker into a rum drinker.

11:30 a.m. – MODERN HOSPITALITY AND RESTAURANT CULTURE
Prime and Proper sommelier Liz Martinez looks back on her journey working in the hospitality industry and offers up a modern take on separating one’s self from the rigid standards of the past.

Liz Martinez has worked for high-profile establishments in many major U.S. cities including San Francisco, Chicago, and now Detroit. In her current role at Prime and Proper, she created the wine list from scratch and has received multiple accolades, including Wine Enthusiast Top 100 Wine Restaurants in 2018 and 2019 as well as being named one of Food & Wine magazine’s Somms of the Year for 2019.

12:15 p.m. – Lunch

1:00 p.m. – BROCKMAN’S GIN
Brockmans Gin Brand Ambassador Lauren O’Reilly presents an interactive class where you’ll learn the colored past of the gin category, what sets Brockmans Gin apart from the rest and finally, how to make your own classic Brocktail. Learn, make, sip, enjoy!

1:45 p.m. – TONY ABOU-GANIM’S STATE OF THE UNION ADDRESS
Join Tony Abou-Ganim, AKA The Modern Mixologist, as he takes you on an entertaining journey into our profession; from our humble beginnings and those who helped mold our craft, to what’s shaking today! Discover what makes a simple cocktail an experience, and what’s ultimately the most important element of our craft, hospitality!

Tony Abou-Ganim is widely regarded as one of the pioneering and leading bar professionals in the world. He has made dozens of national TV appearances on shows including TODAY, Iron Chef America, Good Morning America, CNBC, Fox News and more. Abou-Ganim is the author of The Modern Mixologist: Contemporary Classic Cocktails (Agate, 2010) which offers readers an in-depth look into spirits and ingredients available to today’s mixologist, both professional and amateur alike. This entertaining and informative journey will take readers from the early stages of the cocktail to what Abou-Ganim has come to deem “Modern Mixology.” Abou-Ganim also has a DVD to his credit, Modern Mixology: Making Great Cocktails at Home, and hosted the Fine Living program Raising the Bar: America’s Best Bar Chefs. Abou-Ganim has also won three Iron Chef America competitions; pairing cocktails with Iron Chef Mario Batali; with Iron Chef Jose Garces and most recently with challenger Chef Sean McClain. His signature branded line of Modern Mixologist bar tools and his second book, Vodka Distilled (Agate, 2013), are available now at www.modernmixologist.com.

3:00 p.m. – ENTREPRENEURS ANONYMOUS
Ever think about starting your own business? Michael Forsyth, founder of Detroit City Distillery, shares the good, the bad and the ugly behind DCD’s start-up story. Plus, Michael shares practical tips and resources for starting your own business from his time as the City of Detroit’s Small Business Director.

Michael is a co-founder and partner of Detroit City Distillery. Detroit City Distillery makes small batch craft whiskies, gins and vodkas in the heart of Detroit’s historic Eastern Market. Today, Detroit City Distillery is the fastest growing distillery in the state and is expanding its national presence.

Prior to becoming a full-time entrepreneur, Michael served as the Small Business Director with the Detroit Economic Growth Corporation. In his six years with the DEGC, Michael designed and managed two-cutting edge programs, Motor City Match and REVOLVE Detroit to facilitate entrepreneurship, real estate development and arts investment in Detroit’s neighborhood business districts. Michael attended Michigan State University where he earned a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Studies and a master’s in Urban Planning.

Celebrate the launch of Detroit Cocktail Week and hang out with the hardest working bartenders in Detroit as they gear up for Detroit Cocktail Classic 2019!

Espolòn Tequila takes over Willis Show Bar all night long to celebrate Detroit Cocktail Week! Featuring $8 cocktails, DJs, food, and a guest bartender.

Flowers of Vietnam kicks off Detroit Cocktail Week!
Join us on Tuesday, October 1st for an intimate dinner with Brugal Rum from the Dominican Republic to celebrate… all things RUM.
Chef Azar has created a special menu that pairs Vietnamese cuisine with Beverage Director Marlowe Johnson’s rum cocktails. Get ready to indulge in an evening of fine dining with traditional Asian style service, educational imbibing and a fun night learning about rum.

Seats are limited.

Dinner includes 5 courses and 5 rum cocktail pairings

Dinner Menu
Gὀi Ngũ Sắc
Papaya salad
green papaya, aged nuoc mam, traditional accompaniments
-Brugal Viejo Anejo Milk Punch-

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Gà Nướng Sả
Lemongrass Chicken
mango coconut jasmine rice
-Brugal Perilla Mojito-

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Cà Ri Sò
Cockle Curry
lemongrass + coconut curry, Mexicantown Bakery banh mi

Hiramasa Nướng
Grilled Hiramasa
bok choy, nuc man
-Ladybird-

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Thịt Lợn Nướng
BBQ Pork Platter
gem Lettuce, fresh herbs, pickled vegetables, hoisin

Bap Xao
Vietnamese Street Corn
yuzu mayo, chili oil
-Brugal Aloe Negroni-

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Bánh Rum
Rum Cake Crumble
Spiced Longevity Ice Cream
Caramelized Bananas
– Brugal 1888 Amaro Old Fashioned-

To celebrate Detroit Cocktail Week, Detroit City Distillery partners with Chef Thomas Lents and the Apparatus room, for a multi-course, family style dining experience. This dinner will perfectly compliment the single barrel DCD rye that was created by Chef Thomas Lents and Team, featuring 100% locally sourced rye grains.

This communal dining experience will take place in the Apparatus Room of the Detroit Foundation Hotel.

We look forward to seeing you! Cheers!

Take an exclusive trip across the border with Global Ambassador Dave Mitton and experience a full day learning how whisky is made at the Canadian Distillery of the Year, Hiram Walker! You will be taken through all aspects of production, including grain in-take, fermentation, distillation, barrel drain and fill, and sip on whisky from the casks in our warehouses holding over 1.6 million barrels!

Pick-up: 9:00 am, Location will be e-mailed with RSVP confirmation
Drop-off: 4:00 pm, The Keep

Space is EXTREMELY LIMITED! Please RSVP to corbycanadianwhisky@gmail.com to gain a spot!

Transport to the north as we transform The Keep into a Canadian Wonderland! Cocktails and drinks featuring Corby Spirit and Wine’s award-winning whiskies – Lot 40, Pike Creek, Gooderham & Worts and J.P. Wiser’s. Come have a drink with Global Ambassador Dave Mittion and U.S. Educational Program Manager Gina Fossitt, and get all of your Canadian whisky questions answered. Oh… and double-denim is highly encouraged.

Takoi and Herradura / El Jimador Tequila celebrate the transition into fall during Cocktail Classic Week with an evening of dinner and drinks. Takoi will be curating a special coursed meal paired with original Herradura and El Jimador Tequila cocktails designed by the talented bar staff at Takoi. Seating for the dinner is limited! Due to the special nature of this event, we cannot accommodate SUBSTITUTIONS OR DIETARY RESTRICTIONS.

Detroit Cocktail Week presents the Two James Late Night Happy Hour featuring $6 cocktails specials with Two James Doctor Bird Rum’s “Painkiller”, 28 Island Vodka’s “Rosemary’s Baby”, and Old Cockney Gin’s “Corktown Mule.”

The Detroit Cocktail Classic is the cocktail party of the year, encompassing two sheds in historic Eastern Market and featuring Detroit’s most celebrated drinking establishments, spirits, and brands serving up craft cocktails. VIP Early Entry Tickets ($65) include access at 6pm, 15 sample cocktails, and light appetizers. General Admission Tickets ($40 in advance/$50 day of) include access at 7pm and 10 sample cocktails.

Grab some grub from some of the area’s best food trucks during this year’s Detroit Cocktail Classic 2019! This is a FREE event open to the public. Attendees do not need to purchase a ticket to the Cocktail Classic but it’d be a lot cooler if you did…

Participating Trucks:
Detroit BBQ Company
Ruckus Taco Co.
The Mac Shack
Hero Or Villain Van
Shimmy Shack

Who will be crowned the champions of Detroit Cocktail Classic 2019? It all comes down to this. Winners will be crowned and spirits will be imbibed as we bring Detroit Cocktail Week to a close. Presented by Spirabam and Marie Brizard.

Attendees at Detroit Cocktail Classic 2019 will vote in the following categories:

Best in Show
Best Cocktail
Best Dressed Bartender
Best Display Presentation
Best Cocktail Name
Best Service/Hospitality
Best Spirit Brand Presentation