Bartender of the Year 2026
proudly sponsored by Spirits Academy
BRING YOUR BEST
Prizes
Winner
- $5,000 cash (via $4,999 voucher + gold coin)
- 1 bottle Highland Park 25 Year Old
- 1 bottle Cointreau 700ml
- Total value: ~$6,500
2nd & 3rd Place (each)
- $250 cash voucher
- 1 bottle Highland Park 18 Year Old
- 1 bottle Cointreau 700ml
- Total value: ~$600 each
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.
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.
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.
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:
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one featuring Cointreau (minimum 30ml)
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one featuring 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.