Models dressed as flight attendants welcomed attendees to the 2008 Drinks Show—entitled "Come Fly With Us"—at the Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place Friday and Saturday nights. The luxury travel theme of this year's two-day event looked back to the glamourous vibe of airlines in the 1960s and '70s, and Michelle Hunt and Laura Panter of the Martini Club—the company that founded the show five years ago—concocted cocktails to match the jet-setting premise.
Fulcrum Events took advantage of this year's larger venue (the show took place at the Distillery District in 2007) by decorating it with themed items like a model plane borrowed from the Toronto Aerospace Museum, vintage luggage, and retro flight attendant uniforms sourced from thrift and film prop houses. Even the bathroom stalls got the in-flight treatment with emergency evacuation charts posted on the doors. Zoom Airlines also held a contest for a flight to Paris.More than 100 booths—featuring products like Navan, Pravda Vodka, and Hennessy—served small samples to the close to 10,000 people expected to attend the show. Visitors could pick up recipe cards at each booth and had the opportunity to buy cocktail ingredients at the on-site L.C.B.O. store. The L.C.B.O. also launched the ImaGINe concept at this year's show, featuring high-end gins from around the world in a luxury lounge setting. "Gin is expected to be the next big thing," said Hunt, highlighting England's new Bulldog Gin, which recently launched in Ontario. Whiskey also had a prominent place at the show, with Canadian Spirits holding seminars and tastings to promote premium Canadian brands.
Fulcrum Events took advantage of this year's larger venue (the show took place at the Distillery District in 2007) by decorating it with themed items like a model plane borrowed from the Toronto Aerospace Museum, vintage luggage, and retro flight attendant uniforms sourced from thrift and film prop houses. Even the bathroom stalls got the in-flight treatment with emergency evacuation charts posted on the doors. Zoom Airlines also held a contest for a flight to Paris.More than 100 booths—featuring products like Navan, Pravda Vodka, and Hennessy—served small samples to the close to 10,000 people expected to attend the show. Visitors could pick up recipe cards at each booth and had the opportunity to buy cocktail ingredients at the on-site L.C.B.O. store. The L.C.B.O. also launched the ImaGINe concept at this year's show, featuring high-end gins from around the world in a luxury lounge setting. "Gin is expected to be the next big thing," said Hunt, highlighting England's new Bulldog Gin, which recently launched in Ontario. Whiskey also had a prominent place at the show, with Canadian Spirits holding seminars and tastings to promote premium Canadian brands.
The entrance to the Drinks Show
Photo: BizBash
Attendees stopped by a security X-ray scanner sponsored by Grant's Blended Scotch Whisky for a chance to win prizes at the event.
Photo: BizBash
Eighteen booths set up inside the L.C.B.O.'s imaGINe lounge offered samples of gin-based cocktails.
Photo: BizBash
Models dressed in vintage flight attendant costumes greeted guests at the entrance and handed out Dove chocolates.
Photo: BizBash
An ice sculpture featuring two airplanes, courtesy of Iceculture, showcased the theme of the event.
Photo: BizBash
The L.C.B.O. set up a mini store on site, offering each of the brands used in the cocktails featured at the show.
Photo: BizBash
The L.C.B.O. dressed its ImaGINe lounge in white leather furniture and palm trees.
Photo: BizBash
Ice scupltures of flight attendants surrounded a DJ booth in the centre of the space.
Photo: BizBash
Vintage luggage decorated the venue.
Photo: BizBash
The logo for the Drinks Show decorated banners at the entrance to the Queen Elizabeth Building at Exhibition Place.
Photo: BizBash
