Focus on Imbibe Live 2022 in London
London is truly the cocktail capital of Europe and it’s been too long: a full three years since my last visit. Very excited to see how things have changed and evolved in the past years, and Imbibe live will be the perfect occasion to experience it.
Launched in 2010, the event focuses on beverages, from wines, beers and spirits to soft drinks, RTD's, mixers, tea, coffee, no-and-low abv drinks, waters and other associated products. It’s a great ‘place to try new products and meet niche producers, as well as the man player in the industry.
Imbibe has designated six ambassadors for the 2022 edition, namely:
Aleesha Hansel, wine writer, judge and storyteller. Her Wine Untapped talk will take you through some lesser-known wine regions and introduce you to some ground breaking female winemakers. July 4, 10:45, Tasting room
Gabe Cook, Imbibe Live Cider Ambassador, The Ciderologist is doing a talk on Blurring Boundaries: Innovating Cider on July 4, 12:00, Tasting room.
Laura Willoughby of Club Soda @joinclubsoda, your mindful drinking ambassador talks about no and low alcohol and how they can help your business. July 4, 14:00 pm, Industry Matters
Ian Burrell, the highly entertaining rum guru talks about The Top 10 Bartender Myths about Rum. July 4, 14:30 pm, Cocktail Lounge
Jane Peyton, author and public speaker is the Beer Ambassador who can show how you can big up your beer game. July 4 14:30 pm, Tasting room.
Lorraine Copes, hospitality F&B consultant, speaker and founder of the social enterprise Be Inclusive Hospitality will speak about the Emergence of Black-owned Drinks Brands. July 5, 12:00, Industry Matters.
Ian Burrell.
Gabe Cook.
Some other sessions that caught my eye are:
Spotlight on... Emerging drinks trends by Pritesh Mody, Founder, World of Zing, & Matthew Jones, Lab 22. July 5, 10:45, Cocktail Lounge.
CBD to level up your life behind the bar and beyond by Hannah Glasson, Founder, INTUNE, and Tait Kirk, Bar Manager, Callooh Callay. July 5, 13:15, Cocktail lounge.
How to... Create instagrammable cocktails and shoot them for your socials, by Richard Spence, Photographer, ginsmagic, Emily Chipperfield, Head of Bars, Callooh Callay. July 5, 14:30, Cocktail Lounge.
Just a pizza and beer with 3 legends: Peter Dorelli, Salvatore Calabrese, and Hidetsugo Ueno, in 2017.
Catch the full programme here.
In addition, there are sectors aimed at smaller producers like:
Craft Showcase
This area is dedicated to all things craft, from spirits to beer to mixers and soft drinks, everything new and indie.
The Wine Bar
The Wine Bar concentrates on smaller wine producers and winemakers from around the world. Here you can find and taste niche brands.
Distributor Wanted
This is a meeting place for producers and global brands seeking UK representation.
Exhibitors
Hundreds of producers and suppliers from around the world will be at Imbibe vying for attention and their market share.
Taking aim at the Bonzer Barware stand at Imbibe Live 2017
Hanging with the big boys at Imbibe 2017
It should be exciting this year, as many people will be meeting face to face after nearly three years. I know I am really looking forward to it, and visiting some of the newly opened bars in London. Bring it on!
Useful links
Website: live.imbibe.com
Instagram: @imbibeuk