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 — Classic & Contemporary Mystery Box Challenge
The top eight finalists must each prepare one classic cocktail and one contemporary cocktail using the ingredients provided in the mystery box.

 

Cointreau, along with one selected Spirits Platform dark spirits brand, must be incorporated across the two drinks, however how they are used is entirely up to the entrant.

At the conclusion of this round, three finalists will be selected to progress through to the final.

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 the selected Spirits Platform dark spirits brand 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:

 

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.