Event Details

Friday, September 12, 2025

6PM

Grab a seat at the ultimate Martini Dinner for the Martini Cocktail Cognoscenti! We’ll kick off Martini Expo in style with a multi-course dinner at Brooklyn’s most exciting new restaurant, Confidant (brought to you by chef/owners Brendan Kelley and Daniel Grossman) and co-hosted by The Mix co-founder Robert Simonson and Fords Gin founder Simon Ford. Start the evening with light bites and a welcome aperitif cocktail followed by a four-course family-style dinner with Fords Gin martinis to accompany each course. Conversation, cocktails and Confidant’s delicious dishes - an unparalleled night that is not to be missed!
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Buy tickets for the Martini Dinner at Confidant

Saturday, September 13, 2025

Afternoon Events

12–3PM

What were the first Martinis like? What’s better—shaking or stirring? How important is vermouth? Learn the answers to these questions and more, taught to you by the most revered experts in the field during an afternoon of educational seminars devoted to the history and culture of the Martini—these seminars accompanied by a Three Martini Lunch catered by Confidant and featuring Martinis using the best spirits, provided by the sponsors of The Martini Expo. Martini experts scheduled to speak include Dave Arnold (Bar Contra), Martin Doudoroff (noted cocktail app creator), William Elliott (Maison Premiere), Philip Duff (creator of Duff Genever), Brian Evans (Hotel Chelsea), Kenta Goto (Bar Goto), Allen Katz (New York Distilling Company), Sarah Morrissey (Frenchette, Ernesto’s, Le Veau d’Or), Salvatore Calabrese (London Bar Legend), St. John Frizell (Gage and Tollner), Keli Rivers, Robert Simonson, Masa Urushido (Katana Kitten), Takuma Watanabe (Martiny’s) and noted historian David Wondrich.
View the lineup of seminars

3–5PM

Burgers and Books: all ticket holders will enjoy specialty burgers by George Motz, and have the opportunity to attend signings by their favorite cocktail book authors. Expected authors who will be on hand to sign books included Dave Arnold, Dale DeGroff, Lowell Edmunds, Nicola Nice, Steve Reddicliffe, Julie Reiner, Noah Rothbaum, Amanda Schuster, Robert Simonson and David Wondrich. Light aperitif and spritz-style cocktails will also be served.

Buy tickets for just the afternoon events
(12pm–5pm) Buy ticket bundles (save $75) for entire day (12pm–8pm)

Evening Events

5–8PM

The Martini Mixer Cocktail Party is the finale of The Martini Expo, an assembling of the world’s greatest Martini makers and Martini ingredients. Behind the bar will be a rotating roster of acknowledged Martini Masters mixing up their signature versions of the cocktail, including cocktail legends Dale DeGroff (King Cocktail himself), Julie Reiner (Clover Club, Milady’s), Salvatore Calabrese, Katie Renshaw (Chicago’s Hawksmoor), David Wondrich (legendary cocktail historian and author), Sarah Morrissey (Frenchette, Ernestos, Le Veau d’Or), Masahiro Urushido (Katana Kitten), Jeff Bell (PDT), Takuma Watanabe (Martiny’s & Midnight Blue), Phil Ward (Long Island Bar) and William Elliott (Maison Premiere)

5:00P-5:45P

Dale DeGroff, Julie Reiner and Phil Ward

5:45P-6:30P

Salvatore Calabrese, Takuma Watanabe and Dave Wondrich

6:30P-7:15P

Sarah Morissey, Jeff Bell and Masa Urushido

7:15P-8:00P

Katie Renshaw and William Elliot

Simultaneously, the Martini Expo’s curated list of spirit sponsors—including Fords Gin, Farmer’s Gin, Sipsmith Gin, Altamura Vodka, Hayman’s Gin, Second Sip Gin, Haku Vodka, Roku Gin, Barr Hill Gin, Atheras Spirits, Sinpatch Vodka, Junipero Gin, Staple Gin, Tenmile Distillery, Listening Rock Gin, Haus Alpanz vermouth portfolio, Carpano Dry Vermouth, Borghetti Espresso Liqueur, Sake Ono, Chartreuse, the New York Cocktail Company, Quincy Olives and many more—will have set up shop to discuss and offer samples of their gins, vodkas, vermouths, bitters, garnishes and more.

Food will be provided by the celebrated Hamburger America and Crif Dogs, as well as The Frying Pan Brooklyn and WakuWaku. Additionally, guests will get to enjoy caviar from Tsar Nicoulai Caviar and oysters courtesy of Chartreuse. There will be a jazz trio, a DJ, a photo booth and other sorts of fun. Get ready for the cocktail party of the century!

Buy tickets for just the Martini Mixer (5pm-8pm) Buy ticket bundles (save $75) for entire day (12pm–8pm)

9PM

After party, location TBD

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