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The first week of May in Yerevan promises to be hot — and not only according to the forecast. From May 5 to 11, the Armenian capital once again will turn into the bar epicenter of the region: Yerevan Cocktail Week 2025 starts. Big names, signature cocktails with an Armenian soul, educational seminars, and a cultural program at the level of world festivals have already become the hallmark of this festival — and this year the bar is only being raised.

As the organizer and inspirer of Yerevan Cocktail Week, Gegham Ghazaryan, a legendary figure in the bar industry, who has Venice, Florence, Barcelona under his belt, noted, the Armenian cocktail festival is not just about drinks. "This is the only cultural cocktail festival in the world. We have not just cocktails, we have Armenian music, art, roots. This year the theme is ‘Music and Dances of Armenia.’ From Komitas to folk, from classics to modern interpretations — we turn all this into a cocktail language."

For each festival, the participating bars — and there will be 18 of them this year — prepare special cocktails inspired by the theme of the year. And in 2025, we can expect real bar revelations. For example, "Ghapama" — a cocktail that recreates the taste of a favorite Armenian dish, and "Saber Dance" — a bold, bright mix worthy of its name.

In parallel, more than 18 educational seminars will be held with the participation of experts from all over the world — from Italy, France, the US, Japan, Mexico, and the UAE. Bartenders, mixologists, cocktail historians, and international industry stars will talk about trends, ingredients, technique, and philosophy. The seminars will be held not only in bars, but also in unexpected locations — from the Opera House to museums. And on May 8, the participants will go to Garni, where, according to tradition, a collective Negroni — a cocktail that combines ingredients and the energy of guests from various countries — will be mixed. “Last year, our Negroni flew to Japan, America, Spain. It is an energy cocktail. We meditate under it, bless it, and it goes into the world,” notes Gegham.

Among the guests are real legends: Mauro Mahjoub — the king of Negroni, Julio Bermejo — the creator of Tommy’s Margarita, George Harris — a star from the US with Armenian roots, who is flying to the homeland of his ancestors for the first time, and dozens of other top experts. In addition to tastings, evenings with guest bartenders and author's presentations, there will be a traditional cocktail ritual — mixing a global Negroni in Garni, where each guest will bring their own version of the drink.

The partners of Yerevan Cocktail Week 2025 include local and international brands, including Armenian Vogis gin and Oski gin, Match Tonic, Russian Belaya Beryozka, and Gegham's signature projects. And with them — the world media. Journalists from El País, Forbes Italia, and top publications from Germany and France will come to Yerevan.

The event has the support of the professional community, also. President of the Armenian Bartenders Association, Tigran Avetisyan, assures that such events give a powerful boost to the industry. "Gastronomic tourism is becoming Armenia's calling card. And the level of Armenian bars is one of the best in the region. We participate in competitions around the world and win first places. We have trained more than 1,500 bartenders, and this profession is growing rapidly," Tigran said.

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