Discover The Grand Encounter: Behind the Bar
It’s not just about the drinks. A bar is the subtle line that slightly separates stories, made of people, experiences, memories and projects. It’s where cocktails are silent witnesses of magic unfolding, the one that occurs when ideas and backgrounds merge: encounters, the unexpected combinations that happen together with everything that comes into their creations.
The Grand Encounter: Behind the Bar is the new mini-series created by Grand Marnier, launching today and delving into the occasions, very often surprising an unexpected, that can happen in the bar industry. A series of three episodes, each depicting the encounter of two apparently different worlds that merge into one, just like the iconic combination of cognac and bitter orange does in Grand Marnier.
In each episode, world-renowned bartender and bar entrepreneur Carina Soto Velasquez will host an industry leading contributor, sharing their ideas and opinions about hospitality and their conception of bartending: The Grand Encounter: Behind the Bar will describe the creativity that sparkles from the collision of different worlds, ranging from historical notes to technical details, all while including personal stories and useful suggestions for other bartenders.
Coming from Canada and USA, the three guests will each feature their local heritage and their specific talents and interpretation of hospitality, bringing The Grand Encounter: Behind the Bar to life and tackling the most important and relevant themes for the bartending community.
Hugo Togni (bar manager and co-owner of Bar Pompette, Toronto), Takuma Watanabe (founder and owner of Martiny’s and L’Americana, New York) and Deniseea Head (founder of Chicken&Champagne and Good Trouble, New Orleans) will take you on a grand journey, thanks to their Grand Encounters.
Stay tuned for more.
More Articles
Article
Episode 3 – ELEVATED+LOCAL with Deniseea HeadThe Grand Encounter: Behind the Bar journey now comes to its end with the final episode of the season. We now travel to New Orleans, the homeland of jazz and the city where one of the biggest global events in the bar industry takes place, Tales Of The Cocktail. It’s New Orleans that enables another Grand […]
Article
Story of Spirit: AperitifsFrom the early days of fermentation to the role of Aperitivo drinks today; Chris is joined by guests Kate Hawkings author of Aperitif and Italian Icons Brand Ambassador Loris Contro to examine the history of the libations that kick-start the appetite, clean the palate and perhaps more importantly, define a moment.
Article
Story of Spirit: The Rise, Fall & Return of RumChris is joined by a very special guest, writer, researcher, and drinks historian Wayne Curtis author of; And a Bottle of Rum. Together, they examine the rise, fall and rebirth of a spirit category that played a crucial role in the story of not only the Caribbean but America as we know it today.
Article
Episode 2 – CLASSIC+MODERN with Takuma WatanabePairs to New York, one way. The second episode of The Grand Encounter, the exclusive mini-series by Grand Marnier, takes you to the Big Apple, where host Carina Soto Velasquez meets Takuma Watanabe: a movie-enthusiast and thorough researcher, Watanabe opened up his own venue in 2022, Martiny’s in Gramercy, immediately conquering New York through spotless hospitality and […]
Article
Introducing the Negroni Edits: Edition 1Campari is more than an aperitif. With such unmistakable characteristics, the iconic red liquid has long been a source of passionate inspiration. Drinks like Rosita, that Gary Regan adapted from a 1978 book (with reposado tequila instead of gin, and the addition of dry vermouth and bitters), the fortunate accident at Bar Basso in Milan […]
Article
Episode 1 – PARIS+WORLD with Hugo TogniThe journey begins. Grand Marnier’s new mini-series The Grand Encounter premieres with its first episode, and it’s already one you cannot miss. Host Carina Velasquez is joined by Hugo Togni, bar manager and co-owner of Bar Pompette in Toronto, Canada, which he opened in 2021 and quickly established as one of the most sought-after drinking […]
Discover More
Article
Food, Drinks & New Orleans with Kermit RuffinsNicknamed the “Big Easy” and home to one of the biggest trade events of the year, Tales of the Cocktail, New Orleans is also the birthplace of jazz, home to countless classic cocktails and a vibrant culinary scene. We sat down with iconic trumpeter Kermit Ruffins, a New Orleans native deeply connected to all three, […]
Training
A guide to the Cinzano range of vermouthsDiscover the history of Cinzano vermouth and how it grew to be known worldwide.
Article
Technology&Design: the future of barsHospitality is and has always been a field highly centred around human interaction; whether you provide accommodation for travellers, meals for diners or like many of us, beverages for drinkers – it’s easy to forget all the things that are necessary for this last interaction to happen. Long before you can start thinking about serving […]
Article
Travel and Discover: a Bartender's WanderlustTravel and discover: two key aspects of a bartender's life, to enhance curiosity and expand the mind. Monica Berg takes us to her favourite places through memories and pictures.
Training
Discover your bartender toolkitCustomers continue to look for new and exciting cocktails every day. Arm you and your team with the right tool to offer more variation with our guide.