Flair Bartending Competition Rules BSD2025

Flair Bartending Competition Rules

The Flair Bartending Contest will test a Bartender’s skills in showmanship, cocktail creation, bartending skills, cleanliness & much more.

All Competitors must register for their Free FBA Membership before they compete to be eligible to compete. You can register by clicking the link… https://barflair.org/register-2/

All Flair competitors must submit a 30 sec Spill-Stop #285-50 metal pour spouts & Finest Call commercial before midnight on Sept 27th to avoid the 50 point deduction.

Bartenders can rearrange the bottles in the speed well & glassware any way they want.

Overall Rules:
• The only Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Whiskey & Brandy allowed in the competition are the Sponsors brands.

• The only syrups allowed in the competition are Reàl Syrups.

• No competing mixers of Finest Call allowed in the competition.

• The competitors will each have six minutes on stage to impress the judges with their original cocktail and Spanish Strong Island Iced Tea that can be made in any order.

Cocktail #1: Spanish Strong Island Iced Tea with Working Flair
(You are making 1 of these)
• 1/2oz Vodka (half full)
• 1/2oz Gin (half full)
• 1/2oz Rum (half full)
• 1/2oz Tequila (half full)
• 1/2oz Whiskey (half full)
• Splash of Brandy (set to 1oz)
• 2oz Finest Call Single Pressed Lemon (set to any amount over 2oz)
• Shake with ice
• Top with Hive₂O (Any Flavor)
• Glass: Tall: LAV HORECA Archie Long Drink arh439 13 1/8oz glass
• Garnish: Lemon wedge
• Tall Straw

Cocktail #2 Specialty Cocktail
(You are making 4 of these)
At least 2 Spirit Sponsors (totaling a minimum of 1 1/2oz per cocktail)
Reàl Syrups (any expression & at least 1/2oz per cocktail)
Ingredients: Competitors Choice
Garnish: Competitor Provided
Glassware: Choice of…

• Competitors must utilize one of the glassware listed below in their recipe and on stage for their Specialty Cocktail that we will supply…
LAV HORECA Archie Long Drink arh439 13 1/8oz glass
LAV HORECA Archie Whiskey Cocktail Glass arh437 12 1/2oz glass
LAV HORECA Archie Martini arh724 8 1/2oz glass
LAV HORECA Archie Champagne arh725 8 1/2oz glass
LAV HORECA Sardinia Champagne Glass srd623 7 3/4oz glass
LAV HORECA Sardinia Martini Glass srd627 9 1/8oz glass
LAV HORECA Colmar Champagne Flute clm622 7 1/2oz glass
LAV HORECA Olleria Beer olr350 16 7/8oz glass

• On stage there will be a back bar with various expressions of Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Whiskey set half full & Brandy set to 1oz,Hive₂O and Reàl Syrups, Accuracy bottle of water set half full along with an additional set in your speed rail, Finest Call Single Pressed set at any amount over 2oz the competitor can utilize in their original Spanish Strong Island Iced Tea & Specialty Cocktail.

• Competitors may utilize any additional store bought ingredients, non-competing spirits or mixers, ice, garnishes, etc… in their Specialty Cocktail they wish as long as they supply it themselves, it is in their recipes and it adheres to the rules and may be set to minimum 1/2oz.

• Additional sponsored spirit bottles for your Specialty Cocktail in your recipe can be supplied by the competitor and must be in its original bottle and packaging and can be set minimum of 1/2oz. For example: You could have 1 Working Flair bottle of Vodka we supply on stage for your Spanish Strong Island Iced Tea and you can provide additional bottles of Vodka set to any amount 1/2oz or over for your Specialty Cocktail for Exhibition Flair that the competitor supplies.

• Non-competing spirits in your recipe will be supplied by the competitor and must be in its original bottle and packaging and can be set to any level 1/2oz or over.

• No other Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Whiskey, Brandy, syrup, competitive mixer, seltzer will be allowed.

• Homemade ingredients ARE ALLOWED as long as the full recipe and procedure is in the competitor’s recipe.

• Competitors may utilize any non-alcoholic homemade ingredients, juices, egg whites and aqua faba 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 tape, not tinted glass, no stickers, no distinguishing marks, branding or elements, … “clear unlabeled bottles” only.

• Competitor choice bottles and other additional spirits bottles the competitor supplies in your recipes other than Working Flair Spirit Sponsors bottles may be set to any level.

• Competitor choice bottles may not contain any alcoholic ingredients. All spirit bottles must be in its original bottle with a good label and no tape.

• There is no limit on ingredients or garnish.

• The only thing allowed in the ice bin is an ice scoop or clean tin. If you put your used tins, garnishes, juices, etc… in the ice bin during your round there will be a “wrong procedure” deduction for each occurrence.

• Competitors must clear their station within two (2) minutes after their routine.

• The bar will be cleaned and reset after each contestant. The bartender will have four (4) minutes to arrange their tins, specialty bottles, specialty store-n-pours, and props in their station. You may use the back bar for more room.

• Competitors that have a high degree of difficulty or Guest involvement in their routines must discuss their routine and be pre-approved by Rob Husted prior to the start of your round.

• 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.

• If the competitor would like music for their routine they must submit their clearly labeled USB thumb drive to the DJ during the preliminary meeting. NO MUSIC FROM CELL PHONES OR YOUTUBE PLAYLISTS, ETC….

• No excessive explicit lyrics or obscene acts in the competition will be allowed or will incur a 50 point deduction.

• No fire other than a small torch for garnishes will be permitted on stage.

• The only Spirit Sponsor bottles we provide on stage are the half full ones and Brandy set to 1oz on the bar schematic. You may pre-ice your glassware and pre-garnish your cocktails.

• Competitors can rearrange items on the front bar schematic prior to the start of their round however they like. Competitors may not rearrange anything on the back bar schematic but may add items to it.

• The Free Pour is mandatory and will be drawn right before your round as the emcee is introducing you. The random pour will be one pour of either 1 1/2oz, 2oz or 1/2oz. If you nail the free pour you will get a 5 point bonus for pouring it accurately, if you miss it it will be a 5 point deduction.

• Each competitor is responsible for producing a 30 second commercial submitted by September 27th at midnight showcasing Spill-Stop #285-50 metal pour spouts and Finest Call. If deadline is missed it will be a 50 point deduction and not available to win “Best 30 Second Competitor Commercial”.

• Competitors must supply all other ingredients for their Specialty cocktails other than standard ice, Working Flair bottles of Vodka, Gin, Rum, Tequila, Whiskey, Brandy, Hive₂O, Lemon wedges, Finest Call Single Pressed Lime, Lemon & Pineapple and Reàl Syrups.

• Competitors will have an opportunity to a “One Touch” after their round ends either behind the bar or at the Mixology judges table to be able to add or do ONE SAME THING to all four of their specialty cocktail or Spanish Strong Island Iced Tea. Examples would be to pour 1 missing same ingredient into their poured cocktails, use a small torch to torch a garnish, add a missing same garnish to their cocktails, add a foam to their cocktails, pour water on dry ice outside of the cocktail, etc…

Scoring:
The contest shall be based on a point system, with a total of two hundred fifty five (255) points available to each competitor. Points may be accumulated during one round of competition with a fixed maximum number of points per round: 125 points for Flair and 125 points for Mixology and possible 5 point bonus for the Free Pour. For the finals, the points get reset from qualifying and everyone starts from 0.

Flair Points:
Showmanship: 50 points.
Sponsor Promotion: 25 points.
Originality: 25 points.
Difficulty: 25 points.

Mixology Points:
Bartending Technique: 25 points.
Presentation: 25 points.
Taste & Aroma: 50 points.
Originality: 25 points.
Free Pour Points: 5 Bonus points if you are accurate. 5 Point deduction if you are not accurate.
Must be poured during your round and you will roll a die randomly to determine your 1 1/2oz, 2oz or 1/2oz pour right before your round starts. 1-2= 1/2oz, 3-4= 1 1/2oz, 5-6= 2oz.

Deductions:
Spills: up to 2 points (If both deduction judges see it, 2 point deduction, if only one deduction judge sees it, 1 point deduction).
Drops: up to 2 points (If both deduction judges see it, 2 point deduction, if only one deduction judge sees it, 1 point deduction).
Wrong/Missing Ingredient/Wrong Procedure: 5 points
Breaks: 10 points
Missing the Free Pour: 5 points
Not attempting a Finest Call Stall: 50 points
Not submitting a 30 sec Spill-Stop #285-50 metal pour spouts & Finest Call commercial: 50 points
Not registering for your free FBA Membership : Disqualification
Unsportsmanlike Conduct: Disqualification

Flair Category Definitions:

Showmanship (50 points)
Showmanship: The bartender will receive points for how engaging and entertaining they are with the crowd and judges. Does your personality shine on stage and are you captivating or are you stone faced with little emotion?

Sponsor Promotion (25 points)
The bartender will receive points for how well they promote the sponsors during their routine. Are they just showing the bottles label out before pouring or are they incorporating fun ways to promote the brands that support the competition through Flairing the sponsored bottles more, props, use of music, signs and other creative ways to say THANK YOU.

Originality (25 points)
Originality: The bartender will receive points for an original move that is new or hasn’t really been seen yet. Let your own style shine through.

Difficulty (25 points)
Difficulty: The bartender will receive points for making drinks with some style of Flair. The more degree of difficulty the more points will be awarded.

Mixology Category Definitions:
Bartending Technique (25 points)
Technique- The bartender will be judged on their overall bartending technique and bartending skills during the cocktail building experience. Are you a master of your tools behind the bar or do show you are still learning proper clean efficient
techniques?

Presentation (25 points)
Presentation- The judges will be looking at the overall appearance of the cocktail, is it appealing to the eye? Does it stand out from other cocktails? Does the overall appearance make sense? Does the bartender interact with the judges and tell the story of the cocktail and why they are using the ingredients they are or just eyes down and working through it during their 1 minute Mixology.

Taste & Aroma (50 points)
Taste- The judges will be looking for the overall taste of the cocktail. Does the cocktail distinguish itself from other cocktails and is the taste appealing to the palate? Is the taste experience pleasurable and entice the senses as it is enjoyed by the tongue? Is the cocktail well balanced?

Aroma- The judges will be looking for the overall aroma of the cocktail. Is the odor appealing and help stimulate it’s consumption or is the odor unappealing and lack characteristics that don’t make sense with the recipe?

Originality (25 points)
Originality- How original is the Specialty Cocktail? Is it a replica of their cocktail on their menu already, a variation on one or something completely original and out of the box?

If you would like specialty garnishes, ice or salts to delivered to the event, Please reach out to one of our event sponsors at

https://pocamadregarnish.com/

Good Luck!

All rules are subject to change without notice and it is the competitor’s responsibility register for their free FBA Membership by CLICKING HERE and to check the Bartenders Shakedown & Mixology Matters Q&A FBA Group daily for updates as well as attend the Competitor Meet & Greet on Sunday September 28th at 9pm for any updates.

All competition questions will be answered from REGISTERED COMPETITORS by emailing “fba@barflair.org” with the subject “BSD Question” and then the question and answer will be posted in the Bartenders Shakedown & Mixology Matters Q&A FBA Group to keep it fair for all competitors.

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.