Thirst Boston is back for its 6th annual weekend extravaganza featuring all things cocktails! A massive celebration of New England cocktail culture – and arguably one of Boston’s best weekends of the year – Thirst Boston is produced by Maureen Hautaniemi and Nick Korn, co-founders of leading events & catering company OFFSITE, who each year somehow go bigger and better with creative parties, sold-out seminars, unique sampling opportunities, industry celebrities and experts, and more! Thirst Boston has something for everyone – cocktail novices, at-home aficionados, seasoned professionals, and everyone in between – and is, as always, guaranteed to be a memorable one.
Tickets are now on sale for blow-out evening events, seminars, and all-access badges.
THE PARTIES
Thirst Boston Presents: State Lines
Saturday, April 27, 6pm – 9pm; Innovation Design Center, $35
Bartenders from across New England (and Seattle, our wild card pick!) come together in an Urban State Fair complete with carnival games and prizes, as well as sips and bites from local brewers, cideries, distillers, and makers all raising money for Lovin’ Spoonfuls. Local American blues band GA-20 to provide live musical entertainment. Admission includes one cocktail and samples from distillers and purveyors. Additional food & beverage is available for purchase of which a portion of the proceeds will benefit our charity partner.
The Intergalactic Blender Bender
Sunday, April 28, 8pm – 11pm; China Pearl, $65
The long awaited annual Blender Bender returns once again! This year, the countdown is on as twelve bartending teams go head-to-head in a blended drink competition that’s out of this world. Possibly one of the hottest parties of the year, attendees and bartenders alike dress their best for a visit to a galaxy far far away. Sample each of their concoctions, and vote to decide who makes the best in the Milky Way while moonwalking through an epic dance party. Admission includes samples of competition beverages and snacks. Beer is available for purchase with proceeds donated to BAGLY.
HIGHLIGHTED SEMINARS
Once again, the Boston Center for Adult Education (BCAE) is home base for more than 30 interactive seminars ($25/seminar) and conversations taking place Saturday and Sunday. Over two packed days, Thirst Boston will have something for everyone, including but not limited to:
Tiki Through a Polynesian Lens
Saturday, April 27th, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Presented by: Sam Jimenez
As tiki culture continues to gain in popularity, it is time to take a fresh look at tiki history and the colonization of Polynesia. This seminar compares genuine cultural aspects of Polynesia with the representation of Polynesia in conventional tiki culture, and encourages the respectful and responsible representation of island cultures in today’s tiki resurgence.
An Afternoon With… Natural Wine
Saturday, April 27th, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Presented by: Lauren Friel of Rebel Rebel and Haley Fortier of haley.henry and nathálie
Natural wine represents a fraction of the world’s total global wine production, but it’s one of the wine industry’s most hot-button topics. Join award-winning wine pros Haley Fortier (haley.henry, nathálie) and Lauren Friel (Rebel Rebel) at Drink (348 Congress Street) for a tour through natural wine’s past, present, and future. We’ll explore the movement’s origins, its influences on everything from government regulation to how wine looks in your glass, and why this small (but growing) group of punk rock wine nerds is creating space in the industry for more women, queer folks, and people of color. We’ll also drink some dope shit. Don’t miss!
Clay is the New Oak: Ageing Spirits in Clay
Saturday, April 27th, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Presented by: Francisco Terraza
For thousands of years clay has played a role in alcohol production—fermentation, distillation, aging—and virtually every step of the process can be influenced by the introduction of ceramics. Amphorae-fermented and aged wine is becoming ever popular. Clay-distilled mezcals are some of the most sought-after in the market. On the other hand, clay-aged spirits are difficult to come by at best. However, prior to readily available glass demijohns, black clay was the defacto standard for storing and resting spirits in rural Oaxaca. Join us as we take a look at the role clay has played in alcohol throughout history and taste through several clay-aged wines and spirits.
An Afternoon With Jim Meehan and Brother Cleve
Sunday, April 28th, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Presented By: Brother Cleve, Jim Meehan
Join us for an afternoon with Brother Cleve and Banks Rum co-founder Jim Meehan at Drink (348 Congress Street) as we embark on a journey of discovery focused on the origins and history of traditional rum punch. The session will feature a signature welcome punch to help bring to life the remarkable history of this iconic serve.
The Source of Sweetness: The International Sugar Industry
Sunday, April 28th, 12:00pm – 1:30pm
Presented by: Maggie Campbell, Privateer Rum and Alexander Kong, Worthy Park
Where is your sugar from? This is one of the first questions every rum producer is asked. But the answer is often far from simple. How is sugar bought and sold—and what can we do to bring awareness and support to those doing the hard work of sugar making? Who is really using their own sugar? How can we decipher our assumptions and the marketing messages for the reality of what is happening? We’ll address many of the questions behind the question where is your sugar from? and we’ll bring some answers to help us all demystify sugarcane.
Tasting Bourbon with Fred Noe
Sunday, April 28th, 2019, 1:30pm – 3:00pm
Presented by: Master Distiller Fred Noe and American Whiskey Ambassador Tim Heuisler, Jim Beam
Join 7th Generation Master Distiller Fred Noe of the Jim Beam Distillery to sip and chat your way through some of his family’s whiskeys. Plus, American Whiskey Ambassador Tim Heuisler will break down the science of how we taste what we taste in some of the world’s most iconic spirits.
Tricks of the Trade
Sunday, April 28th, 2:00pm – 3:30pm
Presented by: Dean Serneels
Acclaimed flair bartender Dean Serneels will teach some tricks of the trade—literally. This will be an intimate discussion on servicing clients, as a bartender and a consultant, along with a hands-on workshop in some slight of hand with bottles and tins. Dean will demonstrate how to entertain your guests and have fun while serving outstanding cocktails. The seminar will spotlight drinks featuring Reàl cocktail ingredients.
Mezcal Me Maybe: Understanding Mezcal
Sunday, April 28th, 3:30pm – 5:00pm
Presented by: Lou Bank, SACRED Mezcal
Espadin… tobala… tepextate… How do different varieties of agave affect the flavor of your mezcal? And what impact does the production process have on it? Join Lou Bank, founder of agave-based not-for-profit SACRED, in this tasting session that walks you through a way to think about mezcal—plus new ways to talk about it to help your customers understand what all the fuss is about.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
For the third year, the Thirst Scholars work-study program makes the festival accessible to passionate industry professionals from across the country. Dozens of applications were submitted for just ten highly coveted spots, with representatives from Providence to Puerto Rico, New Orleans to Calgary, and more.
Thirst Boston continues its commitment to sustainability initiatives and strives to be as low waste as possible. This includes eliminating straws and cutting down on single use plastics, incorporating reusable supplies, and composting at all events.
Thirst Boston is proud to present Q Mixers as the official premium mixers of this year’s cocktail festival.
For additional information about Thirst Boston, a comprehensive schedule of events and locations, price and ticket sales, media badge requests, and more, please visit http://www.thirstboston.com/.
ABOUT THIRST BOSTON
After five wildly successful cocktail festivals, the sixth annual Thirst Boston returns April 26-28, 2019. Hosted by two industry professionals – co-founder Maureen Hautaniemi and OFFSITE’s Nick Korn – Thirst Boston serves up legendary parties alongside more than 30 classes, seminars, and tastings, taught by some of the big names revolutionizing how we drink in New England and beyond. Seminars are offered in varying styles of instruction and accommodate all levels from the home cocktail enthusiast to professional bartender. An undeniably New England-centric extravaganza, Thirst Boston is a reflection of how the city is on the cutting edge of determining how America experiences cocktails. In the evening, knock-out events include a veritable Who’s Who of New England bartenders. For more information, please visit http://www.thirstboston.com/, follow @ThirstBoston on Twitter, and become a Facebook fan https://www.facebook.com/ThirstBoston.
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