We came. We drank. (We drank some more). And we conquered. The first ever Drink Miami HOSTEL was a massive success, taking over the Freehand Hotel on June 4. The sold-out event brought 400 people to the hotel to try more than 20 different spirits in 17 different rooms.
Upon entering the hostel guests received a special passport with their photo included showcasing every drink available during the event and were encouraged to get it stamped upon trying each beverage while “cocktail hopping” from room to room. That way they could keep track of their drinking adventure and also have the recipe for reference of their favorite libation.
Once guests picked up their passport and posed for their picture, they were greeted with a Bacardi Ice Coffee Cocktail to give them a much needed caffeine boost in order to conquer the event. Then it was time to decide which direction to head on the two-floor experience.
The afternoon event was reminiscent of a college dorm party – in the best way possible – with each room featuring a different spirit(s), different theme and different vibe, but none lacking on fun and beverages. The various brands went all out, with themed rooms ranging from “house party” to “western” and everything in between.
Peroni created Shandy cocktails in the pool area, while Diplomatico Rum built a massive gorgeous wooden bar in its room to serve libations from. Chamuco Tequila had cocktails on tap for easy sipping while Dillon’s Gin offered up an impressive selection of gin and bitters to make a drink from. Jägermeister, in true fashion, hosted a “house party” room and High West went the country-western route complete with a barn door and hay barrels.
Some rooms were complete with drinks and a show, including Avion and Absolut Elyx who partnered up in one room and had their with brand ambassadors signing and spinning tracks for the crowd. Channeling the tropics was also a popular route for many of the brands including Atlantico Rum who greeted guests to bright tiki lights that gave off a fun, nighttime vibe while Afrohead Rum had huge afro logo lights that welcomed guests into the room with cocktails inside.
Tullamore D.E.W. had Irish whiskey “bibles” complete with flasks inside, while everyone was loving Greek spirit FOS and Casa Noble tequila cocktails. And don’t worry, there was also plenty of water by VOSS to keep people hydrated throughout the journey.
And no matter your taste or preference in spirit, there was something for everyone with Absolut Elyx, Afrohead, Ancho Reyes, Atlantico, Avion, Bacardi, Casa Noble, Dillon’s Distillers, Disaronno, Dos Maderas, Fernet Branca, FOS, Herradura, High West, Jägermeister, Jameson Black Barrel, Jameson Caskmates, Milagros, Montelobos, Old Forester, Peroni, Richland Rum, Reyka, Rum Diplomatico, Tequila Chamucos, The Irishman, Toki, Tullamore D.E.W., Williams Humbert, and Zucca all on hand in sippable and shootable form.
Outside of the hostel, the party certainly didn’t stop with Mixology Ice serving three punches and schooling people on the proper ice for cocktails, and the Broken Shaker serving up its signature drinks.
We hope you didn’t miss out on the fun for the inaugural event, but if you did – there’s always next year! Stay tuned for information about the 2017 drinking event, and until then take a look at some of the drinks and debauchery below.
