THE COMPLETE LIST OF COCKTAIL COMPETITIONS
… OR AT LEAST, EVERYTHING WE COULD FIND!
Winning cocktail competitions is one of the fastest ways to become well known as a skilled bartender / mixologist. It can open the door to tons of career and consulting opportunities – from private consulting gigs to jobs as prestigious as brand ambassadorships.
We’ve put together a directory of upcoming cocktail competitions as well as a guide to help you win them – so you can take your career to the next level and win great prizes!
Competitions Accepting Entries:
The deadline for entries: May 31st, 2024
Competition Name: Hennessy MyWay Cocktail Competition
Who’s hosting it: Hennessy
URL: https://myway.hennessy.com/
Description of the competition:
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Cognac enthusiasts, it’s your time to shine! The Hennessy MyWay Cocktail Competition is calling all hospitality professionals to showcase the elegance of Hennessy V.S or V.S.O.P in an original cocktail creation. Your mission: Mix a creative, sustainable drink featuring Hennessy. Enter by the deadline and share your #HennessyMyWay cocktail on social media to boost your chances. The top 50 mixologists will win 1,000 €, a bottle of Hennessy X.O, and the opportunity to vie for the top 10 finalist spots. If you do make it to the top 10, pack your bags for Paris and Cognac, France this October for the live global final! The final 3 will walk away with a bottle of rare Cognac blend and a trophy.
To enter, you must be of legal drinking age in your country and actively working in the hospitality industry. Ready to pour your heart into this? Go submit your cocktail now… We can’t wait to see what you create!
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The deadline for entries: May 6th, 2024
Competition Name: National Prosecco Week Cocktail Competition
Who’s hosting it: USBG and Consorzio Tutela Prosecco DOC
URL: https://www.stauningdrinkskollektive.com/
Description of the competition:
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Ready to mix it up with Prosecco? The United States Bartenders’ Guild and Prosecco DOC are launching the National Prosecco Week Cocktail Competition. Show off your mixology skills by creating an original cocktail that features at least 3 oz of Prosecco DOC. The top winner will have the chance to showcase their skills during a guest bartending gig in either Los Angeles, New York, or Chicago during National Prosecco Week; additionally both the overall winner and people’s choice winner (decided by votes online) will receive a $1000 gift card for bar tools. To enter, just submit your unique Prosecco DOC cocktail recipe and complete the online quiz; you’ll be judged on flavor and creativity, so show us your best pour… and good luck!
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The deadline for entries: May 5th, 2024
Competition Name: Tanteo Standoff 2024
Who’s hosting it: https://www.tanteotequila.com
URL: https://www.tanteotequila.com
Description of the competition:
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Get ready for the Tanteo Standoff 2024, where pro and amateur bartenders from across the U.S. can flex their mixology muscles with bold Tanteo tequila concoctions! Enter your unique, tequila-based cocktail for a chance to advance to the live finals in Guadalajara, Mexico on August 14. Impress with your creativity, presentation, and flavor. Remember to submit a one-minute video of your cocktail creation and a photo of the finished drink– Plus, score an extra 10 points by sharing your cocktail photo on Instagram with @tanteotequila and #tanteostandoff24! (Note: You must be a U.S. resident and must be 21+ to enter.)
Eight finalists will enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to compete for the grand prize of $10,000– plus $10,000 for the charity of your choosing– and the coveted Tanteo Championship belt. Don’t miss this thrilling opportunity to showcase your skills and creativity… Good luck, and happy mixing!
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The deadline for entries: May 4th, 2024
Competition Name: Stauning Drinks Kollektive Cocktail Competition 2024
Who’s hosting it: Stauning Whisky
URL: https://www.stauningdrinkskollektive.com/
Description of the competition:
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Get ready to shake things up in Stauning’s first-ever global cocktail competition. The Danish whisky producer invites bartenders from Denmark, Germany, France, the UK, the US, and Australia to craft innovative cocktails that embody the spirit of the brand:
- Use up to six ingredients, including at least one Stauning whisky
- Blend creativity with sophistication
- Showcase Stauning’s three core pillars: design, sustainability, and locality
The most captivating entries from each participating country will advance to the regional finals in June and July, and one finalist from each country will then enjoy an all-expenses-paid journey to Denmark in September for the ultimate showdown at Stauning’s distillery in front of a panel of esteemed judges. The global champion will win an entire cask of their preferred Stauning whisky and the honor of joining next year’s competition as a judge. So, mix, muddle, and manifest, my friends– And best of luck to all entrants!
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The deadline for entries: April 30, 2024
Competition Name: The Original Gin Competition 2024
Who’s hosting it: Hayman’s of London Gin
URL: https://www.diffordsguide.com/competition/1212/original-gin-competition/2024
Description of the competition:
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Hayman’s Gin and Difford’s Guide are looking for new modern classic cocktails– and they’re looking to you to create them!
The challenge: Design a contemporary cocktail that professional bartenders and at-home enthusiasts alike can make, featuring store bought, accessible ingredients found worldwide.
Cocktails should include 7 or fewer ingredients (not including edible garnish).
Professional bartenders from anywhere in the world can enter for a chance to win the grand prize of £1,000 (approximately $1,265) and an all-expense paid trip to the Hayman’s distillery in London; two runners-up will win £500 (approximately $632). You’ll be judged on taste, ease of recreating the drink, the original drink name, photo/video, and broad appeal; fifteen finalists will be selected, and the winner will be announced on July 2nd.
Ready to create a new classic? We know you can do it! So click on the link in the heading above and enter for your chance to leave your cocktail legacy.
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The deadline for entries: April 30, 2024
Competition Name: Flor de Caña World’s Sustainable Champion
Who’s hosting it: Flor de Caña Rum and Tales of the Cocktail Foundation
URL: https://www.flordecanachallenge.com/en
Description of the competition:
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Hey, bartenders– It’s your time to shine, sustainably! Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, in partnership with Flor de Caña, presents the World’s Sustainable Cocktail Champion Competition. This global contest challenges you to craft a unique cocktail with a sustainable twist. The prize? A transformative trip to Nicaragua, $10,000, and the prestigious title of “Flor de Caña World’s Most Sustainable Champion.” Open to bartenders in the U.S. who are 21 and older, this contest is your opportunity to showcase your eco-friendly mixology skills. So go make something delicious while making a difference!
If you know of a competition we haven’t listed, let us know!
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2024 Giffard West Cup U.S. Competition: The Art of Balance – Entries Close April 19
The Reid Vodka Global Cocktail Competition – Entries Close Unspecified
Cointreau Margarita Challenge – Entries Close March 31
2024 TAFFER’S BROWNED BUTTER BOURBON COCKTAIL COMPETITION – Entries Close March 30
No. 3 Gin Unrivalled Classics Competition – Entries Close March 12
London Spirits Competition – Entries Close February 22
Italicus Art of Aperitivo Challenge 2024 – Entries Close February 20
Bar Boss (by Colossal) – Entries Close Unspecified
Heering Cherry Christmas Cocktail Competition – Entries Close January 1, 2024
USBG Shake It Up National Cocktail Competition – Entries Close November 28, 2023
Torres Brandy Zero Challenge – Entries Close October 31, 2023
Patrón Perfectionists 2023-2024 – Entries Close September 30, 2023
Live Joyously Sparkling Cocktail Competition – Entries Close September 15, 2023
2023 Sustainable Cocktail Challenge – Entries Close August 15, 2023
Nikka Perfect Serve 2023 – Entries Close July 28, 2023
Le Grand Cortage Cocktail Competition – Entries Close October 25, 2022
USBG PERFECTIONISTS BY PATRÓN – Entries Close October 7, 2022
Cognac De Luze Cocktail Contest – Entries Closed May 31, 2022
Novo Fogo’s Bar Strength Challenge – Entries Closed May 31, 2022
Swizzle Sisters Podcast’s Cocktail Contest – Entries Closed May 10, 2022
Bombay Sapphire Gin’s Most Imaginative Bartender Competition – Entries Closed April 25, 2022
Reddit User LoganJFisher’s April 2022 Cocktail Competition – Gin And Blueberries – Entries Closed April 2022
Equiano Rum’s Intereseting Narrative Cocktail Competition – Entries Closed April 30, 2022
Tanteo’s Mexican Standoff Bartending Competition – Entries Closed April 30, 2022
The 2022 Bourbon Brawl Presented By Garrison Brothers + Texas Monthly – Entries Closed April 12, 2022
Reddit User LoganJFisher’s March 2022 Cocktail Competition – Ukrainian Vigor – Entries Closed March, 2022
Hip Sip’s Battle Of The Modern Bartender – Entries Closed March 6, 2022
Reddit User LoganJFisher’s Feb 2022 Cocktail Competition – Tea Leaves & Bénédictine – Entries Closed February, 2022
Reddit User LoganJFisher’s Jan 2022 Cocktail Competition – Chocolate / Cocoa & Rum – Entries Closed January, 2022
Reddit User LoganJFisher’s Nov 2021 Cocktail Competition – Absinthe and Amaro – Entries Closed November, 2021
Fresh Victor No ProbLlama Cocktail Competition – Entries Closed October 22, 2021
Original Cocktail Competition – October 2021 – Elderflower and Apple – Entries Closed October 1, 2021
2021 Coffee Cocktail Challenge – Entries Closed October 12, 2021
Original Cocktail Competition – September 2021 – Bourbon and Amaretto – Entries Closed September 30, 2021
The POM Wonderful Photo and Cocktail Recipe Contest – Entries Closed September 30, 2021
Cognac Connection Challenge – Entries Closed N/A
Liber & Co. Grand Summer Awards – Entries Closed July 12, 2021
Don’t Waste This Cocktail Contest – Entries Closed July 31, 2021
Bartenders & Baristas Challenge – Entries Closed June 24, 2021
Olmeca Shot Ring Competition – Entries Closed June 15, 2021
INDOGGO Challenge – Entries Closed June 12, 2021
“Power Of The Palate” National Cocktail Competition – Entries Closed June 7, 2021
Patrón Perfectionist – Entries Closed N/A
Cocktail Competition Show – Entries Closed N/A
Concours D’Spirits – Entries Closed March 12, 2021
Mix Fest Cocktail Competition – Entries Closed January 2, 2021
Peat Week Cocktail Competition – Entries Closed January 26, 2021
World AIDS Day : Celebration & Cocktail Competition – Entries Closed December 4, 2020
Art’Quarium Clarified Punch Contest – Entries Closed November 30, 2020
Vipra Halloween Cocktail Contest – Entries Closed October 31, 2020
A Toast to the Service Industry – Entries Closed April 12, April 19, April 26 and May 3, 2020
The Star of the Bar Competition – Entries Closed February 20, 2020
2020 Bartender Of The Year – Entries Closed November 5, 2019
Hardy Legends of Cognac Competition – Entries Closed October 24, 2019
Bartenders “Talk Story” With Ocean Organic Vodka – Entries Closed August 2019
Mediterranean Inspirations Cocktail Competition 2019 – Entries Closed July 2019
PAU Maui Vodka Road To Maui Competition – Entries Closed July 25, 2019
USBG Most Imaginative Bartender Competition – Entries Closed March 31, 2019
USBG Diageo World Class 2018 – Entries Closed N/A
Beefeater Mixldn 7 – Entries Closed January 2018
Bacardi Legacy Competition – Entries Closed N/A
Bols Around The World – Entries Closed October, 2017
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