Competitions

The Vero Bartender Competition Enter the Amaro Montenegro cocktail contest and try for a trip to New Orleans, and a chance to represent the US at the International Competition in Italy! Deadline is June 16, 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

House of Lustau’s 2019 Solera Standout To enter the Solera Standout, you need to create a cocktail that includes two products from the House of Lustau. The top four bartenders will win a trip to Spain to visit the Bodega. Of those four finalists, one will be chosen to win the grand prize of $1,000. The competition is open to bartenders in the United States and Spain who are 21 years and older. Deadline is June 30, 2019

Gin Mare Med Inspirations Cocktail Competition Gin Mare has launched its US heat of the global Med Inspirations cocktail competition, which will send the winner on a trip to Ibiza to compete in the global final. Med Inspirations is reimagining the global cocktail competition by bringing people together over well-crafted cocktails inspired by the Mediterranean lifestyle. Competitors will share an experience with a group of professionals passionate about innovative gastromixology. Deadline is July 1, 2019

PAU Maui Vodka Road To Maui Competition Lush Life has teamed up with PAU Maui Vodka to bring you the Road to Maui Competition! Six finalists will be selected to compete from September 22nd – September 24th in Maui, HI. Your challenge is to build an exquisite and replicable PAU Maui Vodka cocktail. Deadline is July 25, 2019

Patrón Perfectionists Cocktail Competition This year, with an expected 5,000 bartender entries, contestants will hail from thirty countries and Cruise Liners across six continents to compete to create a cocktail worthy of a perfectionist. The global competition has seen contestants from a wide variety of countries, including last year’s winner, Yeray Monforte, hailing from Dr. Stravinsky in Barcelona, Spain. Inspired by the perfectionists who craft each bottle of Patrón, the competition calls for bartenders across the globe, to come to the table with their most creative, perfectly crafted cocktail in hopes of being named champion at the Global Final at Hacienda Patrón in Jalisco Mexico in January 2020. Deadline is July 31, 2019

Balcones Bartender Challenge (Texas, Florida & California Only) Simply create a cocktail using Baby Blue, Texas Rye or the new Pot Still Bourbon. Enter the recipe and a photo of the cocktail online. We will choose six finalists (two from TX, two from FL and two from CA) to present their cocktail at the Balcones distillery in Waco. The winner will receive $5,000 and the runners-up will receive $500. All entries are due by August 1, 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

2019 USBG Tequila Sustainability Tour Sponsored by Casa Noble Up to 60 bartenders will be selected to participate in this experience that emphasizes tequila production with integrity and the highest standard of sustainable practices at LaCofradia Distillery. Sustainability is at the forefront of the hospitality industry, and Casa Noble is working tirelessly to continually provide the highest standards of sustainable practices within the Tequila industry. This educational program will offer an inside look at Casa Noble’s sustainability practices which emphasizes Tequila production with integrity, and will provide valuable takeaways that encourage participants to become more mindful of sustainability issues as a whole within the hospitality industry. Tours run from August – November 2019