Competitions

IBA World Cocktail Championship & Panamerican Cocktail Competition Applicants will be required to submit a Pre-Dinner original Baijiu recipe and a short-answer essay reflecting on José Ancona. We would like you to reflect on José’s journey and share how you hope to form your own legend story. All applications in this phase will be reviewed and scored anonymously by a panel comprised of IBA Liaison Committee members and qualified Application Evaluators. The Top three competitors in each chapter will advance to Phase Two, which will take place between May 14^th – 28^th. Chapter leaders will set up an appointment with these competitors to present their cocktails. This presentation will be filmed. Please take a few moments to familiarize yourself in the art of an IBA Style Competition. Your chapter leaders will rank their competitors and send the information to the IBA Committee. The IBA Committee will convene to review all of the applicants, prepare and taste the cocktails as well as view the presentation films. All scores will be tallied and the top-scoring competitor will represent the USBG in Chengdu China at the WCC and the second highest scoring competitor will earn the IBA Panamerican placement. The National Champions will be announced on or around June 18^th. Deadline is May 14, 2019

2019 Art of Italicus Aperitivo Challenge Everything Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto creates is inspired by great works of Italian art and architecture, from its elegant liqueur to the bottle that holds it. On April 3, it’s launching the Art of Italicus competition to invite bartenders to share their masterpiece. Submit an original aperitivo cocktail for a chance to be named 2019 Bar Artist of the Year and win an internship at one of the World’s 50 Best Bars. Deadline is June 21, 2019

USBG and Lux Row Distillers Bourbon Battle create a cocktail with Ezra Brooks Kentucky Straight Bourbon or Rebel Yell Kentucky Straight Bourbon for the opportunity to advance to the Global Final during the Kentucky Bourbon Festival.  The top scoring competitor in each city will advance to the National Final in Kentucky where they will be tasked with creating cocktails using both spirits as well as a lightning round using mystery ingredients to be named the first Bourbon Battle Champion. Varying deadlines from April 3 – May 8, 2019

Caorunn 10 Year Switch Competition 5 U.S. finalists will receive an all expenses paid trip to N.Y.C. to take part in the International final. The U.S. champion will have their creation become one of Caorunn’s signature serves and also win a unique opportunity to live the life of their U.K. counterpart during an unforgettable trip across the Atlantic.
Your trip will include airfare, five-nights accommodation, guest shifts behind one of the U.K.’s coolest bars, a trip to Caorunn’s distillery in Scotland’s breathtaking Speyside region, and a whole lot more. Deadline to enter is May 17, 2019

2019 Espolòn Cocktail Fights Teams of two will face-off to determine which duo has the biggest imagination, the sharpest skills and the deepest camaraderie. The bartending team that brings their best will take home the coveted championship belts, win an all expense paid educational trip to the distillery in Mexico, and a chance to compete in the National Championship in November @ Portland Cocktail Week. Regional deadlines run from January 28 – August 12, 2019

Bartender Spirits Awards Judged by Bartenders, Bar Managers and Off-Premise Managers for The On-Premise Industry. This event will take place in San Francisco on May 19-20, 2019 and will become the first spirits competition within the United States judged entirely by top bartenders within the industry. Using the tagline “Judged by Bartenders, Bar Managers and Off-Premise Managers for the On-Premise Industry,” the Bartender Spirits Awards will recognize, encourage, promote and celebrate excellence in the U.S. drinks industry.