INDEPENDENT STUDY DAY 2025
This year we are stepping things up further with the ISD programming to further learning opportunities not just for those who are able to attend in person but for those outside of the city. Every month we will post a recap of the event that will include key takeaways to help you grow and become better.
January 21st, 2025 – Growing & Looking Forward to the Coming Year
February 25th, 2025 – Aaron Hatchell plus Cocktail Costing
March 25th, 2025 – Ren Navarro with her talk: Breaking the Fancy Glasses – Being Different in a Sea of Similarities
April 22nd, 2025 – Dan Tavares on Versatility
May 27th, 2025 – Guest Lindsay Jones of The Ostrich Club in Halifax
June 24th, 2025 – Evelyn Chick on Non-alcoholic Drinks
July 29th, 2025 – Christina Veira on being part of a team, building a bar team and what you can do to be a better teammate.
August 26th, 2025 – Kate Boushel on working with brands
September 22nd, 2025 – Toronto industry legend Dr Andrew Toplack
October 21st, 2025 – Communication & De-escalation with Clare Rutledge
November 25th, 2025 – A celebration of another great year of Independent Study Day!
WHAT IS INDEPENDENT STUDY DAY?
Independent Study Day is a monthly event created by Bartender Atlas that takes place at Ahma in Parkdale, Toronto. This program began in 2024 and so far we have regularly hosted 22 of them. ISD takes place on the last Tuesday of the month and is open to any and every bartender. ISD is an event that includes talks with industry leaders, hands-on learning, cocktail making and ample time for talking, sharing and learning. Since the pandemic, we have noticed a real lack in mentorship. Not every bartender has an experienced person that they can go to to learn and grow from. We want Independent Study Day to become a hub for this. We believe that we can learn from everyone and we believe in centre-out education rather than just top down.
Independent Study Day is for all bartenders of all levels no matter where you work. We want owners/managers to send their bar teams. We want bartenders to bring their questions and frustrations and ideas and we want to work through them. We want bartenders bring new ingredients or cocktails or menus they are working on for feedback. In the end, we just want everyone drinking better drinks and we believe that this is a way to do that.
The typical format of ISD is: Doors open at 12pm and guests are greeted with a welcome cocktail. At 12:30pm, the formal learning aspect of the event begins. This will typically include a guest speaker and then some hands-on learning. Then from 1:30pm to 3pm, guests are encouraged to chat/share/ask questions. We have lunch for the guests as well as cocktails and spirit samplings.
There is an opportunity for spirit brands to sponsor Independent Study Day. This is a way for you to get your product on the lips of bartenders in a genuine way with a truly engaged group of bartenders. Please contact us for more information.
Independent Study Day is free for bartenders to attend – we just require each guest to bring a donation for the Parkdale Community Food Bank.
Past ISD sponsors include Campari Academy Canada, Del Maguey Mezcal, Codigo Tequila, Jameson Black Barrel, Maker’s Mark Bourbon, Deanston Whisky, Disaronno, Tia Maria, Patron, Grey Goose Vodka, Angel’s Envy, Jefferson’s Bourbon, Giffard, Stoli, Elit Vodka, Courvoisier, St-Rémy, Valley of Mother of God Gin, Fever-Tree and Milagro Tequila.
FEEDBACK & SUGGESTIONS
If you have any feedback or suggestions for Independent Study Day, anything Bartender Atlas or really anything related to the industry, we want to hear it! Please fill out the form and give us your thoughts. Receiving these messages help us to continuously improve.
RSVP FOR INDEPENDENT STUDY DAY!
Stay tuned for future announcements about ISD in 2026!