Hip Media Appoints Ben Davidson as Publications Drinks Curator

Hip Media has appointed leading hospitality and drinks industry ambassador and expert, Ben Davidson, as Drinks Curator across its titles, including drinks bulletin, drinks trade magazine (Australia’s highest circulating liquor industry magazine), Drinks World and explore Drinks.

As Drinks Curator, Davidson will share his boundless knowledge of drinks, bars and bartending with Hip Media’s audiences. Davidson will also be responsible for developing unique and innovative drinks and cocktail recipes that can be easily replicated by bartenders and consumers at home, for all occasions. These will form the basis of a series of consumers tastings that will be launched and run by Davidson. Each tasting will provide a fun and intimate space for guests to master their cocktail craft and gain a deeper understanding of the world of drinks (more details to be released in the coming months).

Davidson said that he couldn’t wait to come on board as Hip Media’s Drinks Curator.

“I’m excited by the opportunity to use my knowledge about drinks, cocktails, bars and bartenders to develop awesome drinks and cocktail content across the Hip Media publications,” Davidson said.

Davidson jumped into the world of bartending in Los Angeles in the 1990s and later returned to Sydney to work for the Rockpool Group. Following a number of roles with renowned venues including Orbit Bar, Posh Lounge and The Arthouse Hotel, Davidson, in 2006, became National Spirits Ambassador for Pernod Ricard Australia. Most recently, Davidson has been at the helm of his consultancy business, Bespoke Drinks, sharing his expertise as an on-premise specialist.

Today, Davidson has over 25 years of experience and is incredibly well recognised within the industry. Just in April this year, he was welcomed into the revered and exclusive Keepers of the Quaich Society, for his ongoing and significant contribution to the Scotch whisky industry.

“I still think that it’s vitally important to continue to engage with bartenders through education and training opportunities. Whether it’s in a formal masterclass setting with a Master Distiller or an informal tasting with an Ambassador, there is still benefit to be gained from sharing the facts about a brand and experiencing/analysing the taste of a spirit,” Davidson said. “With information so readily available, it’s getting more challenging to excite bartenders, apart from those still in the early part of their career, but they can still gain richness from attending these training sessions.”

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