Bartenders’ Shakedown 2025

BARTENDERS’ SHAKEDOWN September 28 – October 1, 2025

NO MATTER WHAT STYLE OF BARTENDER YOU ARE…
YOU CAN WIN IN ONE OF THE FOUR COMPETITIONS!
ENTER ONE OR ENTER MULTIPLE

REGISTRATION LINK CLICK HERE!<————

RULES AT THE BOTTOM!

Get ready for a week where craft, creativity, and community collide! The Bartenders’ Shakedown & Mixology Matters Cocktail Conference at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott is more than just an event—it’s a celebration of all things bartending.

This four-day experience brings together top talent from around the globe for a dynamic mix of flair competitions, speed competitions, accuracy com petitions, cocktail competitions, hands-on seminars, live demos, networking events, and a packed vendor showcase featuring the latest tools, trends, and spirits in the industry. From high-energy bottle-flipping showdowns to deep-dive workshops on technique, speed, branding, and hospitality—there’s something here for every bartender, from novice to pro.

Whether you’re behind the bar or in front of it, come shake things up, sharpen your skills, and connect with a passionate community that lives and breathes the craft of cocktails. Sometimes those bartenders are your co-workers, friends, competition, presenters, mentors… or even judges from other contests. In this competition we want you to be able to compete against the best to see where you stand in the world of bartending today… are you ready for the challenge?

This is a FBA: Flair Bartenders Association Level (5x) Tour Event and choose from one or multiple rounds to compete in the…

Accuracy Competition
Speed Competition
Cocktail Competition
Flair Bartending Competition

Three separate divisions for The Flair Bartending Competition with Pro, Advanced and Amateur division bartenders. This is a fun Flair competition with emphasis on Working Flair, Mixology and testing a Flair Bartender in a true working environment.

We are also bringing back 3 additional competitions this year. The Accuracy Competition which will test the bartender’s free pouring and speed accuracy.

The Speed Competition which will test the bartender’s speed and bartending skills to knock out cocktails as fast, clean and accurately as possible.

The Cocktail Competition which will test the bartender’s skills in crafting an original cocktail and sharing the story behind it.

We are also very happy to announce the return of the Mixology Matters Cocktail Conference! Whether you are a cocktail enthusiast or any style of bartender… YOU DO NOT WANT TO MISS THIS EVENT! This event will be full of fun, Flair, features, Educational Seminars, Cocktails & Conversation Dinner, Sampling Stations, Games, Networking & More!

Join us for the “Bartenders’ Shakedown 2025” & “Mixology Matters Cocktail Conference” September 28-October 1, 2025.

This event is strictly 21 years of age and over and open to the public to attend and promises to be a fun and informative series of events!

Surrounding Airports:
West Palm Beach, Fl (PBI) approx 15 mins away.
Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL) approx 55 mins away.
Miami, FL (MIA) approx 1 & 1/2 hours away.

Host Hotel:
Palm Beach Gardens Marriott
4000 RCA Blvd
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410
(561) 622-8888

Prizes

Accuracy
1st Place: $1,000 + Trophy
2nd Place: $500 + Trophy
3rd Place: $250 + Trophy

Speed
1st Place: $1,000 + Trophy
2nd Place: $500 + Trophy
3rd Place: $250 + Trophy

Mixology
1st Place: $1,000 + Trophy + USBG USA Classic Qualifier Spot for the IBA International Baijiu Cocktail Competition & Lotus Prestige Cup* + Flight, Hotel & Entrance Fee in Macau, China. *IBA International Baijiu Cocktail Competition & Lotus Prestige Cup Prize & Competition all organized and redeemed through the IBA. *Must be an active USBG Member before trip.
2nd Place: $500 + Trophy
3rd Place: $250 + Trophy

Flair Pro Division
1st Place: $2,000 + Trophy + USBG USA Flair Qualifier Spot for the IBA International Baijiu Cocktail Competition & Lotus Prestige Cup* + Flight, Hotel & Entrance Fee in Macau, China.*IBA International Baijiu Cocktail Competition & Lotus Prestige Cup Prize & Competition all organized and redeemed through the IBA. *Must be an active USBG Member before trip.
+ USBG USA Qualifier Spot #1 for the USBG National Finals Wild Card spot in Finals + Hotel & Entrance Fee*Must be an active USBG Member before trip
2nd Place: $1,000 + Trophy + USBG USA Qualifier Spot #2 for the USBG National Finals Wild Card spot in Finals + Hotel & Entrance Fee* *Must be an active USBG Member before trip + USA Qualifier Spot #1 for the Legends World Flair Finals in April + Hotel & Entrance Fee
3rd Place: $500 + Trophy + USA Qualifier Spot #2 for the Legends World Flair Finals in April + Hotel & Entrance Fee
4th Place: $250 + Trophy
5th Place: $125 + Trophy

Flair Advanced Division
1st Place: $250 + Trophy
2nd Place: $125 + Trophy
3rd Place: $100 + Trophy

Flair Amateur Division
1st Place: $250 + Trophy
2nd Place: $125 + Trophy
3rd Place: $100 + Trophy

FINEST CALL STALL: $100 + Trophy (Flair Round Competitors)

MOST ACCURATE BARTENDER: $100 + Trophy (Anyone in the room of the finals)

Best Cocktail (Flair or Cocktail Competition)
1st Place: $250 + Trophy

People’s Choice Award (Any Competitor)
1st Place: $100 + Trophy

Bob Husted Most Honorable Bartender (Any Competitor)
1st Place: $100 + Trophy

Best Overall Competitor (From Overall Combined Rounds)
1st Place: $100 + Trophy

Top Female Competitor (From Overall Combined Rounds)
1st Place: $300 + Trophy

BEST 30 SECOND SPONSOR & FINEST CALL COMPETITOR COMMERCIAL (Open to any competitor)
1st Place: $500 + Trophy

BEST SPONSORS PROMOTION AWARD (Open to any Flair Bartender Competitor Finalist)
1st Place: $250 + Trophy

FLAIRCO FLAIR YARD DAY CONTESTS
FLAIRCO LONGEST 3 BOTTLE JUGGLE: $100 + Trophy
FLAIRCO MOST CONSECUTIVE BUMPS: $100 + Trophy
FINEST CALL STALL: $100 + Trophy

REGISTRATION LINK CLICK HERE!<————

Confirmed Competitors List Below…

Itinerary

Itinerary Sunday September 28^th, 2025:

Noon-8pm: Bartender Bootcamp & FBA Judges Certification
9pm: Mandatory Competitor Meet & Greet and Official Competitor Meeting
Palm Beach Gardens Marriott (Banyan Hall)
4000 RCA Blvd
Palm Beach Gardens, FL 33410

Itinerary Monday September 29^th, 2025:

11am Practice Room opens.
11am: Judges Meeting
Noon-8pm: Qualifying Rounds (Banyan Hall)
Noon-8pm: Bartender Photo Shoots (Email Ryan here to reserve your spot before its filled up creativegeekout@gmail.com) Invest in yourself & DO THIS! $50/ 30 Minute Sessions.
9pm: Mixology Matters Cocktails & Conversations Dinner & FBA Awards (Banyan Room)
Midnight: After Party

Itinerary Tuesday September 30^th, 2025:

10am-5pm Mixology Matters Seminars
5pm: Competitors Finalists arrive (Banyan Hall)
5-7pm Sponsored Happy Hour Sampling Stations (Banyan Hall)
7pm-Midnight: Final Rounds (Banyan Hall)
Midnight: After party

Itinerary Wednesday October 1^st, 2025:

Lake Worth Beach
10 S Ocean Blvd
Lake Worth Beach, Florida 33460

1pm: Flairco Yard Day
3pm: After Party Meetup

HAPPY TO BE A (LEVEL x5) FBA TOUR EVENT

https://barflair.org/fba-tour

Competitors are required to sign up for a new 2025 FREE FBA members account.

More info on the Mixology Matters Cocktail Conference CLICK HERE!

Any competition questions from registered competitors can be emailed to contact@bartendbetternow.com and the question and answer will be posted in the Bartenders’ Shakedown & Mixology Matters Q&A in the members section of the new FBA website at www.barflair.org.

It is the competitor’s responsibility to check the Bartenders Shakedown & Mixology Matters Q&A FBA Group daily for any updates or information.

Play the video below for a step by step tutorial on how to access the FBA Groups once you registered for your FREE FBA account at www.barflair.org.

Special Hotel Discount to Registered Competitors, Sponsors & Staff at the Palm Beach Gardens Marriott while it is available. Please reach out to Rob Husted to secure your onsite room before the discount is gone.

Bartenders’ Shakedown Main – Accuracy Competition Rules – Speed Competition Rules -
Cocktail Competition Rules – Flair Bartending Competition Rules – Event Partners -
Mixology Matters Cocktail Conference Main – Registration/Tickets – Judges & Staff – Live Broadcast