The Tokyo International Bar Show brings some of the world’s best mixologists and bartenders together under one roof.
After its inaugural event in 2012, the (to give it its full title) Tokyo International Bar Show + Whisky Live has booths spread over two floors of its spacious Shibuya venue: one dedicated to cocktails and bar tending, and the other reserved for booze related products and paraphernalia. Whether you want to learn more about mixing cocktails or just enjoy watching some of the world’s mixing champions, TIBS has something for every taste.
This year’s special guests include Takao Mori (the legendary owner/bartender at Bar Mori in Ginza), Peter Dorelli (former Bar Manager of the prestigious American Bar in London’s world-famous Savoy Hotel), Fumiyasu Mimitsuka (Chief Bartender at Ginza’s Bar Little Smith and recent winner of the “Best After-Dinner Cocktail” at the International Bartenders’ Association World Championships) and Jim Meehan (owner/bartender of Bar Please Don’t Tell in New York, and former holder of the American Bartender of the Year title).
In addition to sampling some top quality cocktails, guests can also attend a series of mini-seminars throughout the weekend, some chaired by Whisky Magazine Japan Editor-in-Chief and world-renowned drinks writer Dave Broom. Entrance to these mini-seminars is free, although numbers are limited to 50 people each.
Tokyo International Bar Show + Whisky Live (TIBS) (English website)
When: April 20-21, 11:30-18:00
Where: Belle Salle Shibuya Garden (see map)
How much: ¥5,000 (one day) / ¥9,000 (weekend), available for purchase here and at participating bars.
