They said it would happen. Eventually, we would return to a golden era of cocktails. Conjuring images of The Great Gatsby, tickets are officially on sale for the inaugural Toronto Cocktail Festival, taking place across the city from October 22–26, 2025. Finally!
Presented by The Alchemist magazine, the Toronto Cocktail Festival is envisioned as a week-long celebration of cocktails, creativity, and community. Throughout the event, Toronto’s top bartenders, chefs, and brand ambassadors will take centre stage, showcasing the city’s vibrant cocktail culture through innovative experiences and spirited collaborations.
Your Guide to the Toronto Cocktail Festival
✨ The Gala of Cocktails (October 24, at Waterworks) — A glittering night with 20+ cocktail stations, a DJ, and gourmet bar bites. Join guests and Toronto’s top ‘tenders for an unbelievable night of creative cocktails. Get tickets early for this one!
🍸 The Neighbourhood Cocktail Crawl — A guided adventure through three neighbourhoods. Each stop? A featured bar, a signature cocktail, a tasty bite, and a warm welcome from a brand ambassador. Sip, stroll, repeat. Sign us up!
The finale on October 26 will be the Closing Cocktail Brunch at Reign Restaurant & Bar at the Fairmont Royal York. A lively five-course feast with brunch cocktails will be served to toast the end of festival week.
The seminar series will feature big voices in the industry.
- The World of Liquid Transformations: The 2022 World Class Bartender of the Year and founder of Mother Cocktail Bar, Massimo Zitti, is presenting his fermentation process and its role in sustainable cocktail programs.
- The New Wave of Baijiu: Alex Black spins a tale on the world’s oldest spirits and its new role in modern cocktail culture.
Hands-on experiences are also part of the menu. At Bar XXX, the Classic Martini Seminar—presented by Tanqueray—will be led by the one and only H. Guests will be treated to three distinct martinis, complemented by playful amuse-bouches and engaging stories. Whether dirty, dry, crisp, or quirky, the martini will never be the same way again.
Meanwhile, at No Vacancy, another standout experience awaits. Understanding Umeshu, a multi-course tasting led by Shotaro Ozawa (CHOYA) and Troy Gilchrist (No Vacancy), will highlight the remarkable versatility of umeshu cocktails. Each pour will be paired with inventive Japanese bites, allowing both light and delicate, as well as bold and spirit-forward nuances to come forward.
The Toronto Cocktail Festival is also giving back. A portion of the proceeds will support Mind The Bar, a Canadian non-profit focused on mental health in the hospitality industry.
Get tickets and learn more: thealchemistmagazine.ca
All images by Libby Roach.