{"id":58998,"date":"2025-05-18T18:18:04","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T22:18:04","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/?p=58998"},"modified":"2026-03-06T10:05:58","modified_gmt":"2026-03-06T15:05:58","slug":"the-montreal-cocktail-fest-2025","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/gentologie.com\/en\/fine-dining\/the-montreal-cocktail-fest-2025\/","title":{"rendered":"The Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest 2025: Interview with Kevin Demers"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

Dear gentlemen connoisseurs of cocktails, we have some exciting news for you. As we know that many of you are on Gentologie and that you are passionate about cocktails, we are thrilled to inform you that the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest is back for a second edition from May 18 to 21.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The concept for the event emerged from the mind of Kevin Demers, creator of the Northern Hospitality Group, which operates Le Coldroom, El Peque\u00f1o, and Bar Bello. Additionally, he serves as the General Manager and driving force behind the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest. He was also featured in Gentologie magazine Issue 2<\/a>. He teamed up with Gregory J. Buda, Director of Education for the same group and formerly of Dead Rabbit in New York. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest 2025<\/h2>\n\n\n
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\"Kevin
Kevin Demers, general manager of the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest
Photo : Courtesy<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

I met with Mr. Demers at Bar Bello, located on Saint-Laurent Boulevard north of Saint-Zotique, to discuss the 2025 edition of the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail fest. Here\u2019s a summary of our interview.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest: The Genesis<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"A
A cocktail prepared by the team of Toronto’s Library Bar during the 2024 edition.
Photo: Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest Facebook page<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Normand Boulanger (NB):<\/strong> First, where did the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest project come from? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Kevin Demers (KD):<\/strong> The first edition took place in 2024 under the impetus of several players (bar owners, restaurateurs, etc.) in the industry. We wanted to organize an event to bring together the cocktail community from all over the world. Our objective is not only to establish Montr\u00e9al on the cocktail map, but also to do the same for Canada.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another thing is that Montr\u00e9al has always been seen as a gastronomic destination (see our article on the Michelin Guide here), but less so as a cocktail destination, and that\u2019s what we want to put forward with the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest. When you look at the cocktail side of things, they\u2019re everywhere; in bars, restaurants, hotels, airplanes, non-alcoholic events, non-alcoholic cocktail boutiques too, and even in the SAQ with its ready-to-drink cocktails. So there are all these options in terms of cocktails, and then what we want with the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest is to raise the bar and put the spotlight on the cocktail side of things in Montr\u00e9al. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NB:<\/strong> Who is your target clientele? General public, cocktail industry?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KD:<\/strong> We want to include everyone. A mix of everything, we really want to celebrate the cocktail side, then show Mr. and Mrs. Everyone how you can make cocktails and show them the behind-the-scenes of the cocktail industry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

We want to show them the career opportunities in cocktails and encourage them to explore them. There are a lot of people who work in our industry because they had curiosity, and they discovered it through our companies. That\u2019s why we want to cultivate that curiosity so that people know that our industry is accessible to everyone. We want people to understand that it\u2019s an open environment, unlike in the \u201980s and \u201990s, when it was frowned upon to work in it. Those days are over: it\u2019s been more than 20 years, and we\u2019ve evolved. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NB:<\/strong> So, people can come and see you without any problem. There\u2019s no fear of walking into a bar. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KD:<\/strong> Bars are safe spaces for all communities, and it\u2019s really important for us to integrate everyone. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NB:<\/strong> But it\u2019s refreshing to see this openness when, from the outside, sometimes you might think it\u2019s a bit of a closed environment. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KD:<\/strong> Yes, everyone is welcome. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest: The program<\/h3>\n\n\n
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\"A
A cocktail prepared by the Hon\u014d Izakaya team from Qu\u00e9bec City for the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest 2024 edition.
Photo: Jeanne Provost | Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest Facebook page<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

With the second edition of the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest taking place from May 18 to 21, 2025, I took the opportunity to ask Mr. Demers if there were any events not to be missed. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NB:<\/strong> Getting back to the essence of the week, are there any events, in your opinion, that are not to be missed?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KD:<\/strong> Yes! Honestly, just the exhibition, it\u2019s going to be really incredible! We\u2019ll have over twenty different spirits, it\u2019ll be really high-end; it\u2019s a far cry from the Grande D\u00e9gustation de Montr\u00e9al booth. It\u2019s something you can find at the Athens Bar Show (https:\/\/www.athensbarshow.gr\/), it\u2019s their voice, it\u2019s their presentation. We\u2019ll discover the spirit behind their spirits.   <\/span>There will also be tastings and seminars. All this will take place at the PHI. And the price is $50 for the bracelet, which includes the spirits tastings (a small supplement for food will be charged). <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

On the other side, at Galerie Ma\u00ebl, we\u2019re offering free coffee and cocktails at Caf\u00e9 Bello with the Campari team. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

There are also themed dinners (A Taste of Normandy with 30\/40, Barbados Tasting Dinner, A Curious Dinner with Hendrick\u2019s etc.).  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Then there are 18 events taking place at any given time in bars across Montr\u00e9al. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NB:<\/strong> Speaking of spirits, has the ban on American spirits complicated your work? Whether in terms of sponsorship or otherwise? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

A little bit in terms of offering American spirits, but apart from that no. For sponsorship, there are many other products in the portfolios of the agencies that expressed interest this year. For example, Tourism Barbados is bringing their products, including the famous Barbadian rums. But also a chef and a mixologist to highlight their culture. It\u2019s precisely this aspect of cocktail culture that needs to be highlighted at the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NB:<\/strong> It\u2019s important to import culture from elsewhere to help people discover it. It\u2019s not just the local person who introduces you to a spirit from elsewhere, it\u2019s really the whole experience. <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Also, what is your biggest challenge as the entrepreneur behind the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

KD:<\/strong> The biggest challenge for me is to produce an event with all these different experiences: the exhibition, the dinners, the seminars, the tastings, the pop-ups and so on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

NB:<\/strong> Not to mention looking after your bars and opening the terraces, etc.? <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

KD:<\/strong> Yes, it\u2019s a lot, but it\u2019s also fun because I know what\u2019s going to come with it. We want Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest to be THE cocktail festival in Canada.  <\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

NB:<\/strong> Thanks Kevin, and we look forward to seeing you at Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Discover the different events of the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest<\/h3>\n\n\n
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New York’s Dante team with their cocktail at the 2024 edition of the Montr\u00e9al Cocktail Fest<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n

There are also maps and music lists of the various bars and events during the week.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Calendar <\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n