Cocktail Art Challenge 2025

In honor of the fourth NATIONAL FLAIR BARTENDER’S DAY on June 10, 2025 we welcome you back to the Cocktail Art Challenge June 8-10, 2025, where we challenge you to create your best cocktail art while entertaining us on stage with the art of Flair for the crowd and the judges. What will you create?

WATCH LIVE JUNE 9th at 5pm EST with COCKTAIL NETWORK LIVE by CLICKING HERE!

OFFICIAL UPDATED CONTEST RULES CLICK HERE

Prizes

Pro Division 1st Place: $1,500 + Trophy:

2nd Place: $1,000 + Trophy:

3rd Place: $500 + Trophy:

4th Place: $250 + Trophy:

5th Place: $125 + Trophy:

Advanced Division

1st Place: $500 + Trophy:

2nd Place: $250 + Trophy:

3rd Place: $100 + Trophy:

Amateur Division

1st Place: $250 + Trophy:

2nd Place: $125 + Trophy:

3rd Place: $100 + Trophy:

FINEST CALL STALL: $100 + Trophy:

MOST ACCURATE BARTENDER: $100 + Trophy (Open to anybody on site that wants to compete):
PEOPLE’S CHOICE: $100 + Trophy:

BarProducts.com BAM (Big Ass Move):

SPILL-STOP CHALLENGE WINNER: $250 + TROPHY

BEST 30 SECOND SPILL-STOP #285-50 & FINEST CALL COMPETITOR COMMERCIAL 1st Place: $500 + Trophy

FLAIR YARD DAY CONTESTS (Tuesday June 10th Open to everybody)

FLAIRCO LONGEST 3 BOTTLE JUGGLE: $100 + Trophy:

FLAIRCO MOST CONSECUTIVE BUMPS: $100 + Trophy:

FINEST CALL STALL: $100 + Trophy:

Competition Date: June 8-10, 2025

Competition Location:

Biergarten Boca Raton

309 Via de Palmas

Unit 90

Boca Raton, Fl 33432

Yard Day Location:

Tuesday June 10, 2024.

Lake Worth Beach

10 S Ocean Blvd

Lake Worth Beach, Florida 33460

Competition Outline:

Competitors will be challenged on Working Flair, Exhibition Flair, Accuracy and original Cocktail Creations with the best Flair performance on stage as judging points will be based on 50% Mixology & 50% Flair with a possible 10 point accuracy bonus.

This event is proud to be part of the Flair Bartenders’ Association Tour 2025. More info can be found using the link… https://barflair.org/fba-tour

  Competitors

Emcee:

DJ: Kid Karter

Cocktail Network Live Anchor:

Photography:

Videography: VM Cesarphotograph

Itinerary Itinerary Sunday June 8^th, 2025:

• 8pm: Competitor Meet & Greet and Official Competitor Meeting with Sponsor Education Biergarten Boca Raton 309 Via de Palmas Unit 90 Boca Raton, Fl 33432
  First ones there that completely fill out their paperwork gets to choose what order they would like to compete in.
• So SHOW UP ON TIME & FILL YOUR PAPERWORK OUT FIRST!

Itinerary Monday June 9^th, 2025:

• 3pm: Competitor Meeting
• 5pm-Midnight: Competition
• Midnight-2am: After party at Biergarten Boca Raton

Itinerary Tuesday June 10^th, 2025:

• 3pm: Flair Yard Day on Lake Worth Beach 10 S Ocean Blvd Lake Worth, FL 33460 On the grass between the pavilions.

Registration $100/$75/$50: Please email events@barwars.info with either Pro, Advanced or Amateur division along with first name, last name, phone number, where you live, T-Shirt size, instagram handle & 3 good quality pictures of you Flairing for your flyer after you make online payment.

First competitors in the Pro Division, Advanced Division  and in the Amateur Division to sign up first, secure their spot before registration closes. Registration is non-refundable and on a first come, first serve basis.

Pro Division: $100

Advanced Division: $75

Amateur Division: $50

TICKETS: VIP $50 TABLE SEATING /FREE GENERAL ADMISSION TO WATCH
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/cocktail-art-challenge-2025-tickets-1234794687149

JUDGES

Any questions can be emailed to contact@bartendbetternow.com and the question and answer will be posted below and is the competitors job to check this page daily to stay updated…

COMPETITOR QUESTIONS & ANSWERS WILL BE POSTED BELOW… 

Q: “When will the full list of Sponsors be published?

A: As soon as its ready. More will be posted by May 9th if not sooner

UPDATE: Rules posted. Sponsors list & Bar Layout coming next.

Q: “Hi, just read the rules, a little confuse, so what’s the sponsor spirits?
And if we coming from another state? We need to provide everything, except of ice? (Glasses, bottles, shakers, garnishes)”?

 A: Sponsor will be listed soon once finalized.

It should make more sense once the bar layout (if this id your first Cocktail Art Challenge) is posted but the working flair vodka, gin, rum, tequila, brandy, Finest Call products that will be on the bar layout and all of the Reàl syrups listed on the bar layout, cola, lemons and tall glass are provided.

Anything else you include in your specialty cocktail Yes you would provide.

Q: “1. **Long Island Iced Tea Construction:** Should a Long Island Iced Tea be constructed in a separate mixing tin and then poured into the serving glass, or is it acceptable to build it directly in the glass with a quick stir or shake? Could you please provide guidance on the preferred method and any associated regulations?

A: 1. YES (because it does not say Shake & Strain) you can build in designated Tall glass, SHAKE and use the same glass with ice and top with cola or use another tin and SHAKE & strain into the designated tall glass. Stir would be the wrong procedure as the recipe states SHAKE.

2. Yes, all garnishes can be done in advance included foams, airs, etc… any required sponsors must be poured during your round but you can incorporate additional sponsors if desired. For your Specialty Cocktail recipe:
At least 2 Spirit Sponsors (totaling a minimum of 1 1/2oz) per cocktail
Reàl Syrups (any expression & minimum of 1/2oz) per cocktail must be poured during your round to count towards these.

3. Answered in #2.

4. Per the rules “Any drinks, props, assistance or equipment that is not already at the bar other then standard bar equipment must be pre-approved by Rob Husted.” There is no one answer to this questions is why it will be discussed on a case by case basis.

5. Yes, after your round you have your additional “1 Touch” which you may discuss your cocktail to the judges within that one minute if desired.

UPDATE: Every competitor will have the option for an additional “1 Touch” to perform in front of the Mixology judges on stage within a minute. If there is a special garnish you would like to add, or add that one missing ingredient you might have missed you will have the same “1 Touch” or same 1 interaction to utilize if you choose at the judges table.

Q: “Question spill stop pour can be executed before round starts or it have to be done in between the 6 minutes 

A: COPY & PASTED FROM THE RULES: “Spill-Stop Free Pour Points: (Mandatory Pour with designated Spill-Stop Pour
Test bottle with a Spill-Stop #285-50 Pour Spout)
5 Bonus points if you are accurate or 5 Point deduction if you are not accurate.
Must be poured during your round and you will pull randomly 1 1/2oz, 2oz or
1/2oz pour right before your round starts.”

Q: “Will we able to pre ice or pre pre-garnish? And what size is the Spanish Long Island cup ? When will the bar layout be out ? May we request a sound check for music ?  Sorry for all the questions !

A: COPY & PASTED FROM THE RULES: “You may pre-ice & pre-garnish your glassware on the bartop”

The size of the Spanish Long Island Iced Tea is 14oz and here is the exact link to the glass to order from BarProducts.com… https://barproducts.com/products/barconic-tall-glass-alpine-14-oz-box-of-12?_pos=2&_sid=269563c26&_ss=r

Hoping to have the bar layout posted by Sunday night. Need to the sponsors to finalize and sign off to complete this.

YES, the emcee will do a sound check of the first few seconds of everyone’s music before their round starts to ensure it is the correct track.

Q: “Are we allowed to infused purchased cordials for our Signature recipes? For example an Infused Cointreau or any other modifier; if so it has to be on the original bottles or the competitor clear choice bottle?“

A: No, the only home made ingredients you can make are non-alcoholic.

COPY & PASTED FROM THE RULES:
Homemade non-alcoholic ingredients ARE ALLOWED.
• Competitors may utilize any non-competing non-alcoholic homemade
ingredients, juices, egg whites, aqua faba, teas, etc… in Competitor Choice
bottles. Competitor choice bottles are clear unlabeled bottles for ingredients
listed above and only if it’s in your recipe for your specialty cocktail. No
electrical tape, not tinted glass, no stickers, no distinguishing marks or
elements, … “clear unlabeled bottles” only.

If you wanted to use an alcoholic cordial in your specialty cocktail like Cointreau, it would have to be in the original bottle and not altered.

UPDATE: Sponsor bottles and Bar Layout posted.

UPDATE: Competitor “One Touch” added to rules and more defined for those that haven’t competed in this comp the last two years.

Q: “Hi, is it allowed to use a liquid nitrogen/flavour blaster?

A: No to the liquid nitrogen and YES to the Flavor Blaster.

Q: “Hello! I was looking over the spanish long island and looking at the bar layout. I don’t see the don fulano anywhere on the bar layout. 

Cocktail #1: Spanish Long Island Iced Tea with Working Flair

A: Correct the “Don Fulano Blanco” is a typo and it is supposed to read as Ilegal Mezcal Joven. In your Specialty Cocktail recipe you can use at least 2 Spirit Sponsors (totaling a minimum of 1 1/2oz) per cocktail
, Reàl Syrups (any expression & minimum of 1/2oz) per cocktail THANK YOU for catching that typo and updating now.

Q: “Hey there so exited the sponsor liquor list is finally out I just have one question 

A: Yes, the spirit bottles supplied on the bar layout will be 750ml sizes. Additional spirit bottles for your specialty cocktail you can supply in either 750ml or 1 liters of the exact bottle and good label with no electrical tape if you choose.

Q: “Hey Rob I’m about to do this act on my 5 minutes routine . Is it possible to have a dummy cocktail that I can use on my sequence? Knowing that the cocktails I will make will go to the judges”

 

A: Dummy Cocktails for a stack that doesn’t go to the judges? Yes, you can use dummy cocktails as a prop for your round made ahead of time as long as they don’t go to the judges.

Q: “I’m about to do a stacking of cocktails using the Galliano bottle as my highlights in my 5 minutes routine. Is it possible to have a dummy cocktail that I can use on my sequence? I know  that the cocktails I will make will go to the judges. The plan is, to do the stacking before the 5 minutes over.“

A: To clarify this again in a different context, Yes you can use a Galliano bottle as a prop for a stack. Yes you can prep a dummy cocktail ahead of time to use as a prop (as long as it doesn’t go to the Mixology judges). If you wanted to stack your 4 specialty cocktails as well in the stack, YES you can do that if they were made during your round than Yes those 4 specialty cocktails made during your round can go to the Mixology judges.

Q: “Hi, do we need to do a 1ozfloat of fundador after shaking and pouring the cocktail in the glass ? Or should we shake the LIT with the fundador inside the shaker? Thanks“

A: Make it before you shake as per the recipe or it will be a 5 point wrong procedure deduction which we updated to the rules as well now. Thank you for catching that.

Cocktail #1: Spanish Long Island Iced Tea with Working Flair
(You are making 1 of these)
• 1/2oz SKYY Vodka (half full)
• 1/2oz Aviation Gin (half full)
• 1/2oz Tanduay Asian Silver Rum (half full)
• 1/2oz Ilegal Mezcal Joven (half full)
• Splash of Fundador Brandy (set to 1oz)
• 2oz Finest Call Single Pressed Lemon (set to any amount over 2oz)
• Shake with ice
• Top with Cola
• Garnish: Lemon wedge
• Tall Straw

Q: “Can we use freshly squeezed lime juice instead of finest call single pressed lime juice in our signature cocktails; As long as we use 2 spirit sponsor bottles and real in our signature cocktails please?“

A: No, copy and pasted from the rules… “No competing mixers of Finest Call allowed in the competition.” Finest Call Single Pressed Lime Juice is fresh pressed lime juice. The same for Finest Call Single Pressed Lemon Juice, Finest Call Single Pressed Pineapple Juice and Finest Call Cranberry Juice Cocktail.

Q: “Can I email my music for my flairround to the dj please? If so , what’s the emailadress please“

A: We prefer you to put your music on a thumb drive labeled with your name and file named clearly labeled with your name that you hand the Dj in person for less of a chance of mistakes BUT if you need to, since I’ll have my laptop on me… you can email me your music to “contact@bartendbetternow.com” with the Subject being “MUSIC CAC: (Your Name)”.

Q: “Hi guys, I have one more question, if I want use skyy vodka but I want to fat wash it, can I use it for signature cocktail? Or only non alcoholic batch can be there?”

A: Correct. Copy & pasted from the rules. “Homemade non-alcoholic ingredients ARE ALLOWED.” NOT Homemade Alcoholic ingredients. We want to see how you make cocktails that are more replicatable using the spirits how they are available off the shelf. So NO to fat washed SKYY Vodka.

Q: “Can I fill my competitors choice bottles with 1/2 oz of tanduay rum?“

A: You can utilize the Tanduay Asian Rum Working Flair bottle for any of your drinks… Spanish Long Island Iced Tea and/or Specialty Cocktail. Copy & Pasted from the rules… “Competitors may utilize any non-competing non-alcoholic homemade ingredients, juices, egg whites, aqua faba, teas, etc… in Competitor Choice bottles. Competitor choice bottles are clear unlabeled bottles for ingredients listed above and only if it’s in your recipe for your specialty cocktail. No electrical tape, not tinted glass, no stickers, no distinguishing marks or elements, … “clear unlabeled bottles” only.

“The only Spirit Sponsor bottles supplied on stage are the half full ones on the bar schematic. Competitors MAY supply additional Spirit Sponsor bottles with good labels with no electrical tape or additional stickers set to any amount to use for the Specialty cocktail only with a minimum of 1/2oz of Liqour in each bottle. The Working Flair cocktail must be made with the supplied half full bottles and any Brandy bottle”

So NO you can not put alcohol in a “Competitor Choice” bottle. YES, you can supply your own exact additional Spirit Sponsor (Tanduay Asian Rum) bottles with correct spirit in the bottles with good labels with no electrical tape or additional stickers set to any amount to use for the Specialty cocktail only with a minimum of 1/2oz of liqour in each bottle.

The sponsors pay good money so we can have these events so their product will be showcased on stage. Please show the proper respect to the sponsors.

Q: “Are we allowed to use another liqueur on competition? Such a Aperol, Campari, Ancho Reyes (chili liqueur)?“

A: Yes as long as it doesn’t conflict with the sponsors and it is in its original bottle with a good label.

REMINDER:Reminding the Cocktail Art Challenge competitors… Don’t forget to send your 30 sec Spill-Stop & Finest Call commercial to Dean if you haven’t done it already or you will be disqualified. Your registration is not complete until you do this. deanserneels@me.com

UPDATE: Dianna Greene is sick and can’t taste or smell anything so Moe Isaza from Ilegal Mezcal and past competitor will be taking her spot for a Mixology judge tonight.

Good luck to all of the competitors!