AJABU Cocktail & Spirits Festival | Cape Town

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ABOUT

AJABU

ADJECTIVE Swahili word meaning miracle, amazing, wondrous or incredible

Example: “Tamasha la ajabu la cocktail!” meaning "Amazing cocktail festival!"

INTRO

We welcome you again to the miracle of Ajabu, a bi-annual, week-long spirits-and-cocktail festival held in Joburg and Cape Town in March and November.

Bartenders from some of the finest bars around the world are flown into South Africa and partnered with finest local bars with whom they connect and collaborate to create incredible cocktails to celebrate the magic and diversity of South African ingredients and talents.

From 9th - 16th March, you will be able to have the pleasure of trying these incredible cocktails that have been created through the collaboration of global and local bartenders working side by side in fun, exciting and totally unique pop-ups, aka AJABU MASHUPS!

Access to the mashups is complimentary, but space is limited – and we'd like everyone to be comfortable – so registration is required.

See "REGISTRATION & TICKETS" below for further info.

We look forward to sharing all the friendship, love and pleasure that is being created by the Ajabu community!

Follow along on Instagram as we unveil all!

REGISTRATION & TICKETS

Tickets are complimentary, however subject to availability.

Please make sure you register for all the days you would like to attend.

On The Day -

You will check in at our Ajabu Welcome desk, and receive an Wrist band which will give you access to all the events for that city.

This Wrist band is your ticket to the festival.

What to do:

STEP 1. Click on the "tickets"' button and register for the event.

STEP 2: You'll get an email to confirm we've received your application.

STEP 3: Once your registration has been processed, you'll get a second email inviting you to book tickets.

STEP 4: Click on the "book now" button within, and book your complimentary ticket, which will be emailed to you.

STEP 5: Present your QR code at the first bar you visit (via printed or digital ticket), and you'll receive an event wristband.

STEP 6: Use your wristband to access any of the mashups at the partner bars.

Seminars in Cape Town

Wednesday 12 March (Cape Town)

• 12.30 - 1.45pm - Gareth Howells (North American Single Malt Whisky Ambassador ) - Chaos to Clarification
• 2pm - 3.15pm - Insights into building a World class Hotel Bar Cocktail Program Hosted by Leo Robitschek (Nomad)
• 3.30pm - 4.45pm - Trends, Sustainability, and Ingredient Upcycling Hosted by Vance Henderson:US Brand Ambassador Hendricks

Thursday 13 March (Cape Town)

• 10am - 12.30pm - Community Brunch Hosted by Ajabu
• 1.15pm - 2.15pm - A Deep Dive Into Agave Hosted by Steve Olson(Co founder of Del Maguey) & Julio Bermejo(Owner of Tommy's Mexican Bar)
• 2.30pm - 3.30pm - Campari Academy Hosted by Simone Caporale, SIPS, Barcelona

The magical adventure of creating a world class cocktail bar

• 3.45pm - 4.45pm - Africa Rising Talk

Hosted Colin Asare-Appiah US, Kojo Aidoo Ghana , Kurt Schlecter SA, Christelle Reade-Jahn, Anette Mulama, Aimee May

Friday 14 March (Cape Town)

• 10am - 12.30pm - Tasting Table Hosted by Ajabu & HOPE Distillery
• 1.15pm - 3pm - Diageo Bar Academy Shaking up the Bar Industry: Women in Cocktail Competitions

Host: Cassandra Eichoff, Panel: Roxanne Read, Annette Mulama, Vance Henderson(TBC)

Join us for an inspiring conversation on empowering women in the world of competitive bartending 

• 3.15pm - 4.45pm - Freezing for Flavour Hosted by Iain Mcpherson (Panda and Sons) 

Bar Collaborations Cape Town

Celebrate Africa Day on Thursday 13 March

Kloof Street House Hosts Hero (Annette Mulama + Kelvin Thairu)

6 - 9pm

Cause|Effect Hosts Front Back/ Sol Lounge (Kojo Aidoo & Charles Appiah & Napoleon Forson)

8 - 11pm

House Of Machines Hosts Smoking Kills (Aimee May + Chris Pheiffer)

7 - 10pm

Fable Hosts Sin+Tax (Evert De Jong + Julian Short)

8.30 - 11.30pm

International Bar Night Friday 14 March

Fable Hosts Nomad (Leo Robitchek)

8 - 11pm

Talking To STrangers Hosts Tommy’s (Julio Bermejo)

6 - 9pm

Bascule Hosts Library (James Grant)

5 - 8pm

Yatai Hosts Front Back/Sol Lounge (Kojo Aidoo & Charles Appiah & Napoleon Forson)

9pm - 12am

International Bar Night Saturday 15 March

Fable Hosts Library (James Grant)

7 - 10pm

Anthm Hosts Hero (Annette Mulama and Kelvin Thairu)

6.30 - 9.30pm

Tjing Tjing Hosts Atwater (Kate Boushel)

8 - 11pm

The Drinkery Hosts Panda & Sons (Iain Mcpherson)

7.30 - 10.30pm

SPONSORS

AJABU Cocktail & Spirits Festival is proudly sponsored by Campari Group, Pernod Ricard, J Rieger Whiskey, William Grant & Sons, Bacardí Limited, Brown Forman, Reàl Ingredients, Patron Tequila, D'USSÉ Cognac, Patron, Angostura, Diageo, Diageo Bar Academy, Remy, The Macallan, Inverroche and SIPS

DIRECTIONS