The Ginvitational: A Celebration of Cocktails

Enjoy an afternoon of libations, educational seminars and delicious food samplings.

Bethlehem, PA, March 21, 2024 – ArtsQuest is excited to announce it is again partnering with Juniper and Grain to host the third annual Ginvitational: A Celebration of Cocktails, on Sunday, June 9 from 1 to 4 p.m. (11 a.m. for Premium access) in the Musikfest Café at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks.

This spirited event will feature local, national and international distillers and distributors sampling and selling bourbon, vodka, gin and many other spirit categories. Premium Access Lounge sponsor Edrington will be featuring their Wyoming Whiskey and leading a Premium Access seminar on whiskey-forward classic cocktails. Educational seminars led by Jay Nee of Juniper and Grain and a team of the Lehigh Valley’s best mixologists will happen throughout the event and will cover topics like recipe fundamentals, syrups and tinctures, the proper use of garnishes, and more! The Ginvitational Education sponsor is the Campari Group.

“We can’t wait to bring back The Ginvitational,” said Ryan Hill, ArtsQuest’s Sr. Director of Programming. “Jay Nee brings such a wealth of cocktail culture knowledge and has assembled an impressive team to teach you how to take your parties to the next level!”

New to The Ginvitational this year is both a Negroni station and an Aperol Spritz bar. Several of the Lehigh Valley’s best restaurants will be in attendance sampling food, sponsored by YMI Insurance. The restaurants include Mr. Lee’s Noodles, Pennsylvania Rye Company, The Wilbur Mansion, The Bayou, Nick’s BBQ and Colonial Pizza & Spaghetti. And NiteLiters LLC will be spinning soul, funk and lounge classics throughout the event!

Ticket pricing runs from Mar 20 to June 2 and can be purchased at steelstacks.org. ArtsQuest Member pricing starts at $64 to $69 (week of event) for Premium Access and $29 to $34 (week of event) for General Admission. For the general public, ticket pricing ranges from $74 to $79 (week of event) for Premium Access and $34 to $39 (week of event) for General Admission.

Premium ticket holders will enjoy exclusive access to the event that will include a Whiskey Forward Classic Cocktails Seminar with Edrington from 11 a.m. to noon where you’ll learn more about the Outryder Old Fashioned, Single Barrel Old Fashioned, Small Batch Negroni and a special Whiskey Sour. You’ll all enjoy exclusive access to the Edrington Wyoming Whiskey Lounge and receive an Edrington branded flask. Lastly, you’ll gain early access to The Ginvitational event and exclusive spirits from 12 to 1 p.m.

Jay Nee of Juniper and Grain brings more than twenty years of beverage hospitality experience to the table and has presented more than 400 wine, beer and spirits events for thousands of guests. Seminar educators include Hillary Carrigan, Tyler Chambers, Lucas Heckenberger, Neil Heimsoth, Melissa Lozada, Maximilian Ur and Aindrea Williams.

“I’m thrilled to see this year’s event unfold as we have returning favorites and newcomers that will excite attendees,” commented Nee. This partnership showcases the Lehigh Valley as a destination for spirits and food forward events.”

Confirmed distillers and distributors include:

• 375 Park
• Allegheny Distilling LLC/Maggie’s Farm
• Black River Farms & Wardog Spirits
• Botl’d
• Campari
• Christmas City Spirits
• County Seat Spirits LLC
• Deutsch Family Wine & Spirits
• Doan Distillery
• Edrington
• Hotaling & Co
• Kilimanjaro Distillery LLC
• Magical Spirits
• Oasis Wine & Spirits LLC
• Palm Bay International/Drumshambo Gunpowder Irish Gin
• Social Still Distillery
• Stray Dog Spirits LLC

Please note this is a 21+ event.

About ArtsQuest
ArtsQuest’s mission is to provide access to exceptional artistic, cultural and educational experiences using arts and culture as key elements of economic development for our urban communities. ArtsQuest™ supports this mission via the presentation of performing and visual arts, film, arts education classes and outreach, youth programming and cultural events. Through festivals such as its flagship event, Musikfest; the Banana Factory Arts Center; and the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks arts and cultural campus, ArtsQuest’s programming reaches more than 1.9 million people annually. The organization’s programs and events, over 50% of which are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.