#FOOD: TORONTO COCKTAIL FESTIVAL RUNS OCTOBER 22 TO 26, 2025

Tickets are now available for the start of the seminars and events at the first annual Toronto Cocktail Festival, taking place across the city from October 22 to 26, 2025. More seminars and events are scheduled to follow in the coming weeks. Watch https://www.thealchemistmagazine.ca/tcf/

Presented by The Alchemist magazine, the festival offers a week of immersive experiences that highlight both the artistry and innovation of cocktail culture. More than just a celebration of cocktails, it’s a destination event that aims to showcase Toronto’s award-winning bartenders, chefs, and brand ambassadors.

At the heart of the festival are its two signature gatherings. THE MAIN TCF EVENT: The Gala of Cocktails takes place on October 24 at Water Works. It will be a glamorous evening featuring more than two dozen cocktail stations, DJ, and a gourmet bar bite plate station, hosted by bartenders and brand ambassadors from the city and around the world.

Also headlining the week is the Neighbourhood Cocktail Crawl, a guided exploration of Toronto’s vibrant bar scene. Each cocktail crawl spans three neighbourhoods, with three featured bars per route. At every stop, guests will be welcomed by a brand ambassador, while bar teams serve a signature cocktail paired with a curated bite. It’s a fun, sip-and-stroll experience showcasing the city’s cocktail creativity, block by block.

The festival concludes on October 26 with the Closing Cocktail Brunch at Reign Restaurant & Bar in the Fairmont Royal York. This lively, gourmet 5-course finale brings imbibers together over inventive brunch cocktails and celebratory fare.

The seminar series introduces guests to some of the most engaging voices in the industry. In The World of Liquid Transformations, Massimo Zitti, the 2022 World Class Bartender of the Year and founder of Mother Cocktail Bar, will guide an in-depth exploration of fermentation and its role in sustainable cocktail programs. Meanwhile, Alex Black’s session, The New Wave of Baijiu, will explore the history and offer a rare opportunity to discover one of the world’s oldest spirits and its new place in modern cocktail culture. Both speakers will be available for media interviews.

Or, step behind the bar at Bar XXX for this Classic Martini Seminar, presented by Tanqueray and led by the one-of-a-kind H. Equal parts education and entertainment, this session takes the martini off its pedestal and explores its many personalities: crisp, dirty, dry, or just plain unexpected. Guests will taste three martinis, each paired with a playful amuse bouche, while H shares stories, techniques, and a few surprises along the way. Come ready to sip, snack, and see the martini in a whole new light.

Beyond the seminars, Toronto Cocktail Festival’s event program offers distinctive experiences that showcase Toronto’s dynamic cocktail scene. Step into No Vacancy for Understanding Umeshu– this multi-course experience spotlights the versatility of Choya Umeshu, from bright highballs to bold, spirit-forward cocktails, each paired with inventive Japanese bites. Expect flavour combinations that range from delicate and refreshing to rich, playful, and unexpected, showcasing why umeshu is more than a liqueur; it’s a canvas for creativity. A night of balance, surprise, and exploration, designed for those who love discovery in every sip and bite. Hosted by CHOYA Brand Representative, Shotaro Ozawa and GM and Beverage Director of No Vacancy, Troy Gilchrist.

The Toronto Cocktail Festival proudly supports the hospitality sector by donating a portion of its proceeds to Mind The Bar, a Canadian non-profit organization dedicated to mental health.

We recently attended a preview of what to expect:

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