Golden State of Cocktails

It’s here! Part cocktail education, part cocktail celebration, all California Dreamin’ – it’s the Golden State of Cocktails (GSC), the 2nd annual festival to celebrate that hallowed beverage we all know and love: the cocktail. On January 26 through January 29th, the Los Angeles Athletic Center will be taken over by cocktail luminaries and the city of Los Angeles will be graced with many amazing imbibing opportunities because of it.

If you’re in the industry – sign up. There are seminars all week presented by the best in the biz. At GSC 2015, you will learn technique, science, and business from the best in the industry, who have honed their skills in the trenches and are looking forward to sharing that experience with you. Some notable seminars are: The Pharmacology Behind Creating Flavor-Addicting Cocktails, Advanced Bar Techniques and To Comp or Not to Comp: The Art of the Buyback as well as many tasting rooms to discover new spirits.

Public Events

If you’re not a bartender or in the hospitality industry, there are still plenty of ways to get your drink on! You can drink to charity or learn some cocktail history. Here are a few select events that are open to the public.

Speed Rack

They’re going the distance. They’re going for speed. The ladies are back! My favorite speed bartending competition is going to be in Los Angeles, where the fastest gals behind the stick match up to raise money to fight breast cancer. Speed Rack tickets are $20 which include drinks from sponsor brands & food from local eateries. All proceeds from ticket sales will go to breast cancer research, education and prevention.
Sun Jan 15 @ 3p-7p | Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel

Bon Vivants Finger Lickin’ Opening Party

Good Times at Davey Wayne’s hosts the Bon Vivants on on Monday, January 26th! Great music, great drinks & all the fried chicken! Tickets are $20 and all proceeds will go towards the Pig and Punch charity supporting local schools across the country. This party is open to the public, and tickets include all food and drink!
Mon Jan 26 @ 1p-4p | Good Times at Davey Wayne’s

Santa Monica Bar Crawl

Westside! Join Anchor Distilling for a bar crawl at four of Santa Monica’s top cocktail bars; The Chestnut Club, Brilliantshine, Copa D’Oro, and The Back Room at 41 Ocean. Your ticket to this event includes transportation from the first bar to the last, a hosted drink at each venue, food at the end of the crawl, and a special swag bag. $50/ticket
Tue Jan 27 @ 8p-12p | Santa Monica

Touring the Cocktail: King Cocktail in Story and Song

The King is in the house! “King Cocktail” Dale DeGroff, in conjunction with MOTAC (The Museum of the American Cocktail, will have a special edition of “Touring the Cocktail” for GSC 2015. Hear how Dale became “King Cocktail,” how he went from LA’s Hotel Bel-Air to New York’s Rainbow Room, why he and a group of like-minded craft cocktail pioneers established MOTAC, and colorful tales of events along the way. You should not miss this event! Admission includes signature cocktails prepared from recipes by MOTAC Advisory Board members Julian Cox, Josh Goldman, Michael Neff, and Lesley Jacobs Solmonson, as well as a selection of gourmet appetizers courtesy of Casey’s Irish Pub.

Tickets are $40 for SoFAB-MOTAC, USBG, and Craft in America members and all Golden State of Cocktails attendees; $50 General Admission, if purchased in advance; and $60 at the door (if available).
Wed Jan 28 630p-830p | Casey’s Irish Pub

Spirit Dinners

Beam Suntory Dinner Series

A delicious affair, spirit & dinner pairings at some of Los Angeles’ finest dining establishments.

Presented by Imbibe Magazine, these exclusive 4-5 course dinners are paired with delectable spirits. Tickets for each dinner are $100 and open to the public, available at the Golden State of Cocktails website or you can call each restaurant directly to reserve a spot. Options are available for any guests with dietary restrictions.

Tues Jan 27 7p | Scopa 
Wed Jan 28 7p | Comissary at the Line Hotel 
Thurs Jan 29 7p | Apartment A

Angel’s Envy & Eveleigh

Another heavenly dining opportunity at Eveleigh, where diners will be treated to 5 courses paired with cocktails featuring Angel’s Envy. Dine with Master Ambassador Wes Henderson & toast the evening with Angel’s Envy Cask Strength. Tickets are $85 – Call Eveleigh to reserve your spot.

Mon Jan 26 7pm | Eveleigh

Follow Along

I will be posting updates and last minute additions to my Twitter & Facebook pages & cocktails on Instagram, so follow me there for up-to-date information.