The Classic Cocktail Competition 2024

The Classic Cocktail Competition is a one-day cocktail extravaganza, hosted by Pub & Bar and Dine Out magazines.

The event encourages pub, bar, hotel and restaurant bartenders to spend more time thinking about how to serve spectacular classic cocktails to UK customers, celebrating classic cocktail creativity.

At the live final, 15 elite bartenders are required to make six different classic cocktails each, all served in their own signature style. Cocktails are scored on: balance of flavours, overall taste/enjoyment, presentation, knowledge and skill.

Cocktails made during the competition are mostly based on specific spirits. In 2023, they were:

·        Spirit and Mixer of the Year

·        Gin: Negroni of the Year

·        Bourbon: Whiskey Sour of the Year

·        Whisky: Old Fashioned of the Year

·        Vodka: Martini of the Year

·        Tequila: Margarita of the Year

After the strictly-timed heats, winners are presented at a private reception held immediately after the competition.

If you would like to find out more about how you can be involved and sponsor the Classic Cocktail Competition 2024, then please get in touch.

What happened at the inaugural event?

Ed Garner, area training manager for bar group Nightcap, was crowned a UK cocktail champion after dominating the 2023 Classic Cocktail Competition on 16 October.

Garner, who was representing Nightcap’s Barrio Bars on the day, was one of 15 bartenders to present six classic cocktails to a selection of industry judges.

While a number of drink-specific awards were up for grabs, Garner took home the Bartender of the Year title and the £1,000 prize that came with it after delivering consistently high scores in each round.

The 15 finalists had to make three of the same cocktail for each category and had 45 minutes to do so. That’s 18 cocktails in 45 minutes!

After Garner triumphed in the Vodka Martini and Spirit and Mixer rounds, it soon became clear he was going to take home the top prize.

“I was on a huge, euphoric high,” said Garner of the night. “My heart was beating – I think I needed five minutes to relax. With my vodka martini, it’s a drink that I’ve been thinking about for a really long time. I put a lot of thought and effort into it.”

Drinks of the year

With the other rounds, awards went to The Coconut Tree, who took home the Negroni of the Year title. It was made with Whitley Neill Distiller’s Cut, Suez, vermouth, lemon peel and a sour lollipop garnish.

Gabriel Fashion from Be At One, who finished third overall, produced the Whiskey Sour of the Year, featuring Oggs, bourbon, rosemary syrup, fresh lemon juice and mulled wine syrup.

The New World Trading Company was represented by Megan Jenson from The Smugglers Cove, who scooped the Old Fashioned of the Year award with her recipe of Jameson Black Barrell, chamomile syrup, Ms Better Bitters Orange Tree bitters and smoked salt saline solution. Jenson took second place overall.

Jackson Green from All Bar One prevailed in his very first competition by winning the Margarita of the Year accolade with a recipe featuring coffee tequila, Cointreau, lime juice, agave syrup, Ms Better Bitters Chocolate bitters and Maldon Salt’s Chilli Sea Salt with Aleppo & Bird's Eye Chillies.

Garner’s Spirit and Mixer was made up of Sanpellegrino Ginger Beer, rum, lime juice, caramel syrup, aromatic bitters and Ms Better Bitters Cafe Maderas bitters. His Martini of the Year included Les vergers Boiron’s Raspberry Purée, truffle butter fat-washed vodka, Noilly Prat, olive brine, Chambord and Champagne.