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2026 Bartender of the Year Registration

Great cocktails don’t just happen — they’re crafted with skill, creativity, and a deep understanding of the craft. Behind every memorable drink is a bartender who brings personality, precision, and passion to the bar.

If you have what it takes then join us for the 2026 Bartender of the Year competition presented by Spirits Academy on Tuesday 15 September 2026.

There's a huge prize on offer thanks to Spirits Academy and you will also have the honour of being crowned the Australian Bartender Magazine Bartender of the Year.
To give you a clear idea of how it works, here’s a breakdown of each competition round:

Round 1 - The Exam
All entrants begin with a one-hour written exam designed to assess foundational knowledge across spirits, cocktails, technique, service, and broader industry understanding.

Competitors should also familiarise themselves with the Spirits Platform portfolio, which will feature throughout the competition.

To help prepare, we encourage entrants to read all 2026 issues of Australian Bartender, along with a copy of last year’s exam paper.

January/February
March
April
May
June
2025 Exam
2025 Exam Answers


Round 2 - Sensory Challenge
All entrants then progress to a sensory challenge designed to test palate, aroma recognition, tasting ability, and sensory awareness across a range of products and flavours.

Following the completion of Rounds 1 and 2, the top eight competitors will be selected to progress through to the next stage of the competition.
Round 3 — Mystery Challenge
The eight remaining competitors are each randomly assigned one Cointreau cocktail and one Highland Park cocktail from a set list and must recreate both to a high standard. Judges will assess recipe recall, technique, consistency and the ability to perform under pressure while engaging both the audience and judges.

Following this round, the field is narrowed to three finalists.

Final Round – Live at the Top 100 Most Influential Party
The final will take place live at the Top 100 Most Influential Party that evening.

Cointreau and Highland Park will be available on the back bar, however finalists must supply all other ingredients, garnishes, equipment, and glassware required for their drinks.

Finalists must prepare two cocktails of their choosing:
· one featuring Cointreau (minimum 30ml)
· one featuring a Highland Park (minimum 30ml)

Finalists will have 10 minutes to prepare both drinks, with no time extensions permitted. Any unfinished cocktail at the end of the allocated time will be presented to the judges as is.

The 2026 Bartender of the Year winner will be announced at the Australian Bar Awards on Wednesday 16 September at Doltone House Jones Bay Wharf.

All three finalists will receive a complimentary ticket to attend the awards night.


1.Your Details(Required.)
* For any questions, please email events@twodeforce.com.au

Thank you for registering your interest for this year's Bartender of the Year competition! 🍸
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