2023 Melbourne Cocktail Festival Symposium

The idea for Melbourne Cocktail Festival came when the team at Worksmith realised that our city's cocktail culture is up there with the best in the world, but is lacking the recognition it deserves.Working with Melbourne's best bars, and some of the top names in the industry, MCF is here to shine a light on the producers, farmers, suppliers, ingredients, bartenders, and businesses that makeup Melbourne's Cocktail Culture.

Melbourne Cocktail Festival

MCF Symposium is a half day of curated talks, panels and a debate with some of the biggest names in Australia’s hospitality scene.

Music Market at Collingwood Yards

Melbourne Cocktail Festival has announced a killer lineup for its 2023 Symposium, with nine incredible voices and three provocative topics. Taking place on Tuesday, March 28th at Music Market in Collingwood, Melbourne, and in its 3rd year, the trade-focused Symposium will tackle pressing concerns, issues, and stories to celebrate within the bar and hospitality industry. Speakers include bar royalty Rob Libecans, Kate Rowlands, Charlie Lehmann and Cara Devine as well as distillery owners Matt Jones and Will Edwards plus off-license representation from Rachael Niall. Chairing the debate is journalist Sam Bygrave, while the day will be hosted by MCF’s own Jane Ryan.These industry leaders will sink their teeth in topics such as the tricky transition and sobering realities of ownership, concepting, team building and tackling GPs, the uphill battle our local spirit brands face as they're taxed to the hilt and unable to price down for speed rails and finally, the main event, a classic format debate on the timely question of whether there is a future for non-alc spirits.A day for knowledge sharing, great conversation and shifting perspectives, there’ll also be drinks (alc and non-alc), opportunities to network, a lavish lunch and the chance for the audience to have their say and questions answered. If you’re serious about your career in hospitality, then attending the 2023 MCF Symposium is a sure fire way to level up your knowledge. The opportunity to hear from some of Australia’s finest talent, all in the one room, renders this year’s Symposium a not-to-be-missed event.

Agenda

10:30 - New Year, New Me! 

In conversation with Jane Ryan of Worksmith

11:30  - Why We Need More Australian Spirits In The Rail

The Great Debate along with Sam Bygrave as the moderator.

1:00 - There Is A Future For Non-Alcoholic Spirits

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