Ginspired: Join ArtsQuest for the Ultimate Ginvitational Cocktail Celebration!

Don’t miss out on an afternoon of crafty cocktail tastings and hands-on mixology with Jay Nee of Juniper and Grain, plus other experienced mixologists on Sunday, June 8

Bethlehem, Lehigh Valley, PA., April 16, 2025 – ArtsQuest is thrilled to announce the fourth annual Ginvitational: A Celebration of Cocktails, on Sunday, June 8 in the Musikfest Café at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks. This spirited event celebrates cocktails from all over the world, featuring bourbon, vodka, gin and much more, and food from local restaurants. Attendees will taste spirits from local, national and international distillers, including Ginvitational Premium Access Lounge Sponsor Edrington, who will be featuring their Wyoming Whiskey!

Some of the Lehigh Valley’s best restaurants will be serving food to accompany your tasting journey, including Meli, Colonial Pizza, Stoke, La Maya and more to be announced. Food vendors are generously sponsored by the Ginvitational Food Sponsor, YMI Insurance. While you enjoy delicious food and drink, NiteLiters LLC will be spinning classic vinyl tunes all afternoon!

The Ginvitational is an especially unique event, allowing its participants to taste and learn how to make fancy cocktails in educational seminars, sponsored by the Campari Group, who will also host an Aperol Spritz table and a Negroni Bar. Level up your next house party with tips from Jay Nee of Juniper and Grain, as he presents seminars to take your cocktail knowledge to the next level! Jay Nee brings more than twenty years of beverage hospitality experience to the table, having launched a recurring wine education night in the Lehigh Valley and presented more than 400 wine, beer and spirits events, making him a true cocktail expert.

Additional educational seminars include:

• “Cool Beans”: The ultimate espresso martini and other caffeinated cocktails
• “Are You Mocking Me?”: A look at mocktail choices for those seeking an alternative to full proof cocktails
• “The Walking Dead in a Hawaiian Shirt”: Zombies and other Tiki classics
• “Jump in the Line (Shake, Señora)”: Ramos Gin Fizz shaker workout

The Ginvitational Seminar Educators are some of the Lehigh Valley’s best mixologists: Hillary Carrigan, Tyler Chambers, Lucas Heckenberger, Neil Heimsoth, Melissa Lozada, Maximilian Ur and Aindrea Williams.

NEW for this year’s Ginvitational: A very special, extremely limited-edition gin produced in collaboration with County Seat Spirits and the producers of The Ginvitational. This limited-edition gin, produced with summer cocktails in mind, is citrus forward with an assortment of aromatics. The true highlights are the unique additions of Buddha’s Hand, an Asian fruit of exquisite form and aroma along with Centennial hops. The hops are a nod to the Lehigh Valley’s deep brewing history. Ticketholders (both GA and VIP) will have the option to add a NEW Ginvitational bottle to their purchase when buying tickets to the event. All bottles sold online before the event will be signed and numbered for pickup at the event.

Tickets can be purchased at steelstacks.org. This is a 21+ event. Pricing starts at $39 for General Admission and $79 for VIP Access. ArtsQuest Member pricing starts at $34 for General Admission and $69 for VIP Access. Ticketholders can purchase a voucher that can be redeemed at the County Seat Spirits table for one take home limited-edition 375ml bottle of gin. For exclusive ticket access and advance purchase opportunities, become an ArtsQuest Member today. Act fast! Ticket prices will increase on June 2.  

General admission includes access to the educational seminars (listed above) and spirit sampling throughout the event.

VIP Admission includes:

• Exclusive access to a VIP-only Seminar at 11 a.m., conducted by Area Manager of Edrington – Ryan Umholtz— “Twist on Tiki Classics” brought to you by Brugal Rum, featuring several interpretations of classic Tiki cocktails to taste along with insight into the history of Tiki cocktail culture.
• Exclusive early access to The Ginvitational from 12-1 p.m.
• Exclusive access to the Edrington Wyoming Whiskey Lounge
• One complimentary Brugal + Ginvitational branded Cocktail Glass Tiki
• VIP-exclusive spirits

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 ArtsQuest Creative Factory powered by PPL; 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, of which nearly 40 percent are free to attend, have a combined economic impact of more than $136 million annually in the region.