Third Annual Manhattan Cocktail Classic Prepares to Host Thousands of Festival Goers for Five Days of Cocktails, Culture & Pure Fun

NEW YORK, Feb. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- The Manhattan Cocktail Classic, New York City's annual five-day celebration of cocktails and culture, is gearing up to ignite the city once again for the third annual festival, taking place May 11 to 15, 2012. Anticipating over 10,000 attendees and attracting top-tier mixologists from around the globe, this decadent, booze-fueled flurry of nearly 100 parties, pairings, tastings, and educational events is not to be missed.  Tickets go on sale Thursday, March 15 at noon ET. 

The soon-to-be-revealed festival calendar includes some ambitious additions on deck for 2012, in addition to the flagship events and activities that have defined the Classic to date.  The now-legendary opening night Gala will once again take over The New York Public Library, filling its storied halls with over 3,500 well-heeled guests, over 40,000 hand-crafted cocktails, and more merriment, mischief, and mayhem than ever before. Tickets will remain at the same $150 price point as last year.

And, just as in years past, the days will be filled with a plethora of more intimate educational events: seminars, tastings, cocktail demos, culinary pairings – all taking place in some of New York City's greatest bars and restaurants, mainly in Manhattan, but also in Brooklyn, Queens, and even Staten Island.  Tickets to these events will range in price from $25 to $125.

But for festival-goers looking for something on a par with the opening night Gala to fill their Saturday night dance card, the latest addition to the Classic calendar is perhaps the most titillating. On Saturday, May 12 from 9pm to 1am, The Classic Night Out will take over the Meatpacking District in lower Manhattan, bringing six city blocks to life with dozens upon dozens of events: pop-up cocktail bars in fashion retail meccas; spontaneous speakeasies in spas and salons; rollicking live music in the cobblestone streets – all as part of one night, one ticket, and one truly unforgettable experience.  "Cocktail culture has deep roots in the fashion world, and it's going to be terrific fun to bring that theme to life through the Classic Night Out," says Lesley Townsend, the festival's founder and director. "Beyond that, it's just been so amazing to witness an entire neighborhood come together around one of our events.  With this much positive energy and community support, it's bound to be a truly incredible evening."  Indeed, with the city's most glamorous neighborhood as its backdrop (and at only $100 per ticket), the Classic Night Out is poised to be the most glittering "blocktail" party New York City has ever seen. 

Other marquee events are slated for Sunday and Monday nights, including an aperitivo cocktail competition sponsored by Campari and the USBG, and a most notable (and rather "spirited") performance of Sleep No More sponsored by Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky.

The final new addition to the 2012 festival is an enormous expansion of the industry-oriented programming.  While the Classic has been a destination event for hospitality industry professionals from the get-go, this year the festival is establishing a proper five-day "Industry Invitational" running parallel to the public events. Hosted at the Andaz 5th Avenue Hotel directly across from The New York Public Library, the Invitational will be open to hospitality industry professionals and media, and will comprise a diverse calendar of events and activities: lectures, panel discussions, technology demos, networking opportunities, exclusive tastings, cocktail competitions, and a preview of the Classic Bar Show. Requests for trade credentials are now being accepted; please visit the www.manhattancocktailclassic.com for more information.

The sponsor line-up for 2012 is equally impressive. Confirmed media partners for 2012 include AskMen, Beverage Media Group, Edible Manhattan, Brooklyn, & East End, Esquire, Flavorpill, Grubwithus, Imbibe, Marie Claire, RentTheRunway.com, TastingTable.com, THRILLIST, and UrbanDaddy (with several others pending the time of this release).  Confirmed spirits and drinks brand sponsors include: 10 Cane Rum, A. de Fussigny Cognac, Absolut, Angostura Bitters, Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum, Barritt's Ginger Beer, Berentzen Liqueur, BlackBeard Spiced Rum, Bowmore Single Malt Scotch Whisky, Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Cacao Prieto, Caliche Rum, Campari, Castle Brands, Celtic Honey Liqueur, Chartreuse, Cointreau, Dancing Pines Distillery, Death's Door Spirits, Denizen Rum, Diageo, Diplimatico, DonQ Rum, Dutch's Spirits, El Dorardo Rum, EuroWineGate, FAIR. Spirits, Fee Brothers, Finger Lakes Distilling, Flip Flop, G'Vine Gin, Glace Luxury Ice, Gosling's Rum, Hendrick's Gin, Jack From Brooklyn, Jefferson's Bourbon, Kanon Vodka, Laird's Applejack, Lillet, Maker's Mark, Mandarin Napoleon, Martini, Mercy, Molinari, Nolet's Silver Dry Gin, Oxley Gin, Pallini Limoncello, Patron, Perrier, Pierre Ferrand, Pisco Chile, Pisco Porton, Plymouth Gin, Ramazzotti Amaro, Sailor Jerry, St-Germain, Tanqueray, Tanteo Spirits, The Bitter End, The Perfect Puree of Napa Valley, Tito's Handmade Vodka, Truvia, Van Gogh Vodka, Vitamix, White Pike Whiskey, Wild Hibiscus Flower Company, and William Grant & Sons (with many others pending at the time of this release).  Limited sponsorship opportunities are still available. Please email [email protected] to request sponsorship information and pricing.

The full calendar of festival events, including both public events and trade programming, will be posted to the festival website on March 15.  For more information about the Manhattan Cocktail Classic, or to register for press credentials please visit www.manhattancocktailclassic.com.

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Media Contact:
Diana Bianchini
Di Moda Public Relations
[email protected] 
310-288-0077

SOURCE Manhattan Cocktail Classic