Medellín Cocktail Week — International Bartenders Fest

Medellín Cocktail Week is running in Medellín from Sunday, June 1, through Friday, June 5, bringing together 76 bartenders from 47 bars in 29 cities for its second edition. El Tiempo reported on June 2 that the event is centered at Mamba Negra, a bar on the 22nd floor of a building in El Poblado, and that the week combines guest shifts, seminars, masterclasses and professional gatherings across the city. Juan David Zapata, founder of Mamba Negra and beverage brand Juniper Drinks, is behind the festival, according to The Spirits Business. El Tiempo said the event also includes 13 Colombian bars and is framed by organizers as both an industry showcase and a social-impact project tied to job opportunities for vulnerable young people. (eltiempo.com) ### Why is Mamba Negra at the center of the week? Mamba Negra is the festival’s main venue, El Tiempo reported, describing it as a cocktail bar and restaurant with views over Medellín from El Poblado. The publication said the bar currently holds the No. 81 spot on The World’s 50 Best Bars list, making it one of the best-known venues in the region. (eltiempo.com) The Spirits Business said Mamba Negra is also home to Mamba Lab, a research space focused on tasting experiences built with Colombian ingredients. Bar Magazine separately reported that the venue serves as the event’s primary base while seminars were scheduled at the Marriott Hotel Medellín on June 1 and June 2. ### Which bartenders and bars are involved? (eltiempo.com) Lorenzo Antinori of Bar Leone in Hong Kong is among the confirmed guests, according to El Tiempo and The Spirits Business. The same reports named Erik van Beek of Handshake Speakeasy in Mexico City, Giorgio Bargiani of The Connaught in London, Lorenzo Querci of Moebius in Milan, Gabriela León and Alonso Palomino of Lady Bee in Lima, and Inés de los Santos of CoChinChina in Buenos Aires. (thespiritsbusiness.com) Eighteen host bars in Medellín are taking part, The Spirits Business and Bar Magazine reported. Bar Magazine listed venues including Mamba Negra, Belisario, Test, Krudo Viches y Vinilos, Mala Audio Bar, Carmen, Quema Que Quema, Casa de Nadie, Zombra, Calante, Náufrago, Penumbra and Susurro Susurro. ### What actually happens during the festival week? (eltiempo.com) Guest shifts are a central part of the program, with visiting bartenders taking over local bars for service, according to El Tiempo. The publication said the five-day agenda also includes specialized seminars, masterclasses and professional networking events designed to strengthen knowledge and connections in the sector. (thespiritsbusiness.com) The Spirits Business reported that entry to guest shifts is free, with customers paying only for drinks, while seminars were held at the Marriott Hotel Medellín at the start of the week. That structure splits the event between trade-style education sessions and public-facing bar takeovers around the city. ### How big is the event compared with last year? (eltiempo.com) The 2025 edition involved 67 bartenders and produced 7,000 cocktails, according to The Spirits Business. The outlet said 300 people worked across 27 events in 18 bars, while 250 people attended seminars. This year’s 76 bartenders from 29 cities mark a larger international field, El Tiempo and Bar Magazine reported. (thespiritsbusiness.com) El Tiempo described the 2026 agenda as more ambitious than the debut edition, with greater international participation and a broader local bar network. ### What is the social program attached to the festival? Brindando Sueños, or Toasting Dreams, is the education program linked to the festival for at-risk youth, according to The Spirits Business. The outlet said more than 200 people applied in 2025, 35 graduated from the course in September, and those graduates then entered a job-placement program. (eltiempo.com) One condition for host bars is a commitment to mentor a young person during training or bring that person onto the team, The Spirits Business reported. Zapata said the social component is intended to keep the local industry united while opening employment paths for young people. ### What happens next before the week ends? (thespiritsbusiness.com) Friday, June 5, is the final day of Medellín Cocktail Week, according to El Tiempo and The Spirits Business. El Tiempo said the remaining programming is spread across bars in different parts of the city, while its coverage points readers to the full program and event details. (eltiempo.com) (thespiritsbusiness.com)