2020 BARTENDER OF THE YEAR RULES AND REGULATIONS
Sponsored by Liquor.com and Heaven Hill
OVERVIEW
This is a search for the 2020 Bartender of the Year. This person will display total breadth and aptitude in their abilities as a professional bartender. Over the course of the three stages of the competition and across multiple varying challenges, these bartenders will display (for example):
CHALLENGE
There are three stages of the Bartender of the Year competition.
PRIZING
Regional Semifinals Prizes:
Liquor.com, Heaven Hill Brands and our three national judges will select six qualifying bartenders from the online submissions to be invited to compete at each of the eight regional competitions.
Second-Place Prize:
FINALS PRIZES
The winners from each of the eight regional competitions will move forward to compete at the finals. There, one bartender will be chosen as the overall winner of the 2020 Bartender of the Year Competition. The winner will receive:
TIMELINE
GENERAL RULES
PUBLICITY
SELECTION PROCESS
Phase 1—Online Entries:
For the purposes of determining the regional finalists, entries will be assigned to the closest applicable market, as determined by the sponsor. All complete entries submitted to bartenderoftheyear.liquor.com within the entry time frame will be judged against the below criteria based on the perceived qualities of the written recipes and essay entry.
Judges will not take into consideration current employer, time spent bartending or any other personal information in the selection of regional finalists.
Entry Criteria:
Sponsor brands include:
Cocktail Descriptions:
Classic:
Innovative (What Inspires You):
Additional Requirements:
Scoring:
Classic Cocktail (50 points):
Innovative Cocktail (What Inspires You) (50 points):
Judges’ scores will not be available to contestants at any stage of the competition. Participants will be contacted via email regarding whether they will be moving on or not at least two weeks prior to the first regional event.
Phase 2—Regional/Semifinal:
For the purposes of selecting semifinalists, regional events will be judged by local panels, as determined by the sponsor, with the assistance of Liquor.com. The regional competition rules and judging criteria will be created by Liquor.com and will be shared with all regional participants prior to the regional competitions.
Regional competitions will be held in January through April of 2020 in eight markets:
Bartenders chosen to participate at a regional semifinal competition are responsible for their travel expenses to the regional events (if applicable).
Bartenders will be chosen by a blind panel based on their recipe submissions. Qualifying bartenders will be invited to compete at one of the eight regional competitions. At each regional:
Phase 3—Final:
A total of eight finalists will be selected from the regional event winners and will compete at the finale event June 15–18 at Half-Mile Farm in Highlands, N.C. For the purposes of selecting the winner of 2020 Bartender of the Year, a panel of well-respected industry experts selected by Heaven Hill Brands, Liquor.com and Bon Vivants will judge the competition. Rules and judging criteria will be created by Heaven Hill Brands, Liquor.com and Bon Vivants and shared with all finalists a minimum of two weeks prior to the final competition.
Any entries attempted through the use of agencies or robotic, repetitive, automatic, programmed or similar methods will be void. Any attempt by a person to use multiple email accounts or identities to gain more entries than permitted by these official rules shall result in disqualification at the sole discretion of the sponsor. In the event of a dispute regarding the identity of the person submitting an entry, the entry will be deemed to be submitted by the "authorized account holder" associated with the email address at the time of entry, which must comply with these official rules. The authorized account holder is defined as the natural person who’s assigned an email address by the service provider or other organization that’s responsible for assigning email addresses. Potential winners may be required to provide evidence (to the sponsor's satisfaction) that they’re the authorized account holder of the email address associated with a winning entry. In the event a dispute regarding the identity of the person who actually submitted an entry cannot be resolved to the sponsor's satisfaction, the affected entry will be deemed ineligible. Entries and other submitted material become the property of sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. Refer to the additional requirements below for more details regarding the rules for your entry.
POST-FINALS—WINNER REQUIREMENTS
The 2020 Bartender of the Year must be available the day after the finals for internal interviews and with reasonable accommodations make time to be available in the following week for media interviews. Travel accommodations will be made for all finalists to accommodate this requirement.
The Winner of the 2020 Bartender of the Year competition will participate in at least three Heaven Hill Brands promotions and/or events as the 2020 Heaven Hill Brands Bartender of the Year.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS FOR ENTRY
Entries must be in English. Entries must not allude to the overconsumption or irresponsible consumption of beverage alcohol. Entries that do not include all required information and do not adhere to the foregoing and following requirements will be considered void and not be considered in the judging of this contest. Entries that are deemed by the sponsor in its sole discretion to be illegal, obscene, profane or not in keeping with the sponsor's image will be disqualified.
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
By submitting an entry, you warrant that:
ELIGIBILITY
Employees of Heaven Hill Brands, Liquor.com, their affiliates, liquor wholesale licensees, advertising/promotion agencies and their immediate family members and household members of each, and retail license holders are not eligible. This promotion is void wherever prohibited, taxed or restricted by law. In the event that the contest is challenged by any legal or regulatory authority, the sponsor or administrator reserves the right to discontinue or modify the contest or disqualify participants residing in the affected geographic areas. In such event, the sponsor and administrator shall have no liability to any entrants who are disqualified due to such an action. You must be a resident of the United States or Puerto Rico and at least 21 years of age to be eligible. Contest void wherever prohibited or restricted by law.
By accepting a prize, any winner (a) releases Heaven Hill Brands, Liquor.com and their affiliated companies and licensed alcohol wholesalers and retailers from any and all liability claims, action or proceedings arising out of or for injuries or damages sustained while involved in any promotion activity or connection with the use of the prizes and (b) consents to the use by Heaven Hill Brands and Liquor.com for promotional purposes in connection with this promotion of their name and/or likeness and/or voice without further compensation where permitted.
The sponsor and participating promotional companies are not in any way liable for damages, loss or injury resulting from computer malfunctions, misdirected or incomplete entries or acceptance and use of the prize. Heaven Hill Brands and Liquor.com reserve the right in its sole discretion to cancel or suspend this contest should viruses, bugs or other causes beyond the control of the sponsor corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the contest. The sponsor reserves the right at its sole discretion to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process and to cancel terminate or suspend the contest. The sponsor assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communication line failure, theft, destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries. CAUTION: Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the game is a violation of criminal and civil laws, and should such an attempt be made, the sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such attempt.
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Meet the 2019 Bartender of the Year, Justin Ware. The biggest news from the Heaven Hill 2019 Bartender of the Year finals is that Houston’s Justin Ware earned the prestigious title and $15,000 grand prize. But that was just one of many special moments that made the finals an unforgettable experience for all eight finalists.
During a few days at scenic and tranquil Half-Mile Farm in Highlands, N.C., the finalists presented a variety of cocktails to the judges and demonstrated the many aspects of a world-class bartender. That still left them with plenty of time to go canoeing and play bocce ball, discuss spirits with a couple of master distillers and forge all sorts of industry connections and lifelong friendships.
“The beauty of this competition is the way it helps people connect,” says Harrison Ginsberg, the 2018 Bartender of the Year and a judge of this year’s competition. “Heaven Hill has done a great job at bringing mentors and bartenders together.”
Even if only one person could be named the 2019 Bartender of the Year, all eight finalists were welcomed into the Heaven Hill family.
Kevin King (left) and Vay Su look for cocktail ingredients at a truck stop. The group started bonding during the ride from the airport to Half-Mile Farm. The bus pulled into a truck stop where the finalists were split into teams of two and given $10 to gather ingredients for an impromptu cocktail challenge. The bartenders were soon racing from aisle to aisle, bouncing ideas off one another about which of the packaged food and drinks would work best in an original cocktail.
Keifer Gilbert (left) and Katie Renshaw celebrate winning the truck stop challenge.
After arriving at Half-Mile Farm, the finalists used the items they picked up to create an original cocktail served in a Solo cup. The challenge wasn’t an official part of the competition, but the teams all managed to showcase the truck stop staples—Corn Nuts, ice cream, SPAM, candy and more—in quirky, delicious ways. Keifer Gilbert and Katie Renshaw were named the winners. It was a fun way for the whole group to get to know one another and show off their creativity.
A cocktail hour and poolside dinner were also waiting for the finalists when they arrived at Half-Mile Farm. It was set up outside so the bartenders could fully take in the private and beautiful location.
“At first I was wondering why the finals were being hosted at such a remote place. But as soon as we pulled up to the farm, I got it,” says Ware. “The focus was really on celebrating us as bartenders.”
Judges Jeffrey Morgenthaler (left) and Joaquín Simó enjoy one of the cocktails from the
truck stop challenge. One of the reasons Heaven Hill Bartender of the Year is such a prestigious competition is the quality of judges. In addition to reigning Bartender of the Year Harrison Ginsberg, the judges included Jeffrey Morgenthaler (bar manager of Clyde Common and Pépé Le Moko), Joaquín Simó (partner at Alchemy Consulting and owner/bartender at Pouring Ribbons) and Lynn House (national brand educator for Heaven Hill Brands). These cocktail luminaries were happy to get to know all the finalists on the first night of the trip.
“This competition isn’t just about tasty drinks. It’s about creating a bond and an experience that will last a lifetime,” says House. “It goes back to the theme of family.”
“Heaven Hill is a real genuine family,” says San Francisco’s Alison Kwan. “Their team is an incredible group of wonderful and hard-working people. I’m honored to now be part of that family.”
Alison Kwan scans the pantry for the right ingredients to elevate her third cocktail.
The finalists developed a three-drink menu before they arrived in North Carolina. The third recipe, however, needed to feature one ingredient developed on site, so the finalists dug through the seasonal produce to find the right items to elevate their signature cocktail. Creating one-of-a-kind ingredients—house-made syrups, tinctures, shrubs and more—is an important quality of a world-class bartender. Requiring that skill, along with the ability to make a full and cohesive menu, is what makes Bartender of the Year such a comprehensive competition.
“There was enough time for prep, R&D, relaxation and various local activities,” says C. Parker Luthman of Providence. “Having time allotted for all of it allowed us to interact with each other and really feel like we were in the finals together. Heaven Hill prides themselves on making others feel like part of their family, and they did just that in the finals this year.”
Why have the finals at such a scenic location if you can’t enjoy all it has to offer? That’s the thinking that went into spending the rest of the day participating in activities on the farm. There was a relaxed picnic lunch by the lake, and the finalists could enjoy everything from fishing, canoeing, lawn games and simply lounging by the pool.
Dr. Seth DeBolt, Lunazul’s Francisco Quijano and Heaven Hill Distillery’s Conor O’Driscoll
(from left) start a discussion with the finalists. The judges weren’t the only spirit experts the finalists got to meet. Dr. Seth DeBolt, the director of the Distillation, Wine and Brewing Undergraduate Certificate Program at the University of Kentucky, led a discussion with two master distillers: Heaven Hill Distillery’s Conor O’Driscoll and Lunazul’s Francisco Quijano. The lively talk covered a variety of topics, including sustainable distilling.
After spending so much time getting to know one another and taking in the serene surroundings, it was time for the main event. The challenge for the finalists was to create a menu of three cocktails for a new bar concept. The three recipes should all fit the theme and style of the bar and not exceed 20% of the pour cost for a $10 to $14 price range.
“We continue to hone the challenges every year to make this a more comprehensive test of a bartender’s skill,” says Morgenthaler. This format presents creative, practical and big-picture challenges for the finalists.
The finalists had to present a simple serve in the first round. It could only include three ingredients, including the garnish. For instance, Los Angeles’ Vay Su served an inspired and upscale take on a Boilermaker. Instead of a beer, Su paired a shot of Elijah Craig whiskey with a house-made mocktail.
“It's almost a deconstructed cocktail,” says Su. “It highlights how certain spirits pair with a chaser. Also, it’s a way to sell a delicious mocktail that isn’t just made on a whim.”
Alison Kwan puts the finishing touches on her round-two cocktail. The second round tasked the finalists with creating a cocktail that could be easily replicated. That means that the recipe couldn’t include obscure or house-made ingredients. Many of the bartenders used this as an opportunity to make subtle twists on classic recipes.
C. Parker Luthman with his round-three cocktail. This is when the bartenders unleashed their full creativity, along with custom ingredient they developed the previous day. It was also when they could really tie together their theme and bar concept.
Luthman, in particular, impressed the judges with his moving and heartfelt performance. He spoke about his experience as an adopted Korean American and how he learned about his heritage through food and drinks. His bar program was his way of sharing that with everyone else. The inspiring story, coupled with delicious drinks, made him the runner-up in the competition.
“Parker has such a strong sense of who he is as a person, student in our industry, teacher and leader,” says Ginsberg.
“I entered this competition in hopes of winning,” says Luthman. “But I have left with such a sense of identity, pride and determination for the future, so I feel like a winner regardless.”
Kevin King performs at the finals. Another essential quality of a great bartender is the ability to improvise. So shouldn’t that be an element of the Bartender of the Year finals? That’s why the judges added an unexpected fourth round in which they asked bartenders to create a specific classic cocktail.
Every finalist was assigned a different recipe, and they all rose to the challenge. It just solidified the judges’ high opinion of the group. “Quite frankly, the entire field stood out,” says House.
Morgenthaler agrees with her opinion. “This was the most talented group we've had in the four years we've been doing this.”
As strong as the group was, no one could really argue with Ware being named the winner. All three of his cocktails—four, if you include the delicious Sidecar he made in the surprise round—were perfect in both taste and concept.
“I built the cocktails around themes, about what I want my community to see from me,” says Ware. The first theme was diversity. “Houston is one of the most diverse cities in the country. There’s so much diversity in flavor and culture and food and drink.” He brought in diverse flavors by pairing a house-made soda from Houston with Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur.
The second cocktail was all about education. “It’s something I’m really passionate about. Not just showing employees how to make drinks but teaching guests about their palates and introducing them to new spirit categories.” His cocktail, What Do I Desire, demonstrates how well Sacred Bond brandy and PAMA pomegranate liqueur go together.
The third drink was tied to the idea of community, particularly the Latinx presence in Houston. He made a clarified milk syrup, with a flavor profile similar to horchata, and mixed it with Lunazul reposado tequila and mole bitters.
“Justin’s love for his hometown of Houston really shines,” says Ginsberg. “Each cocktail represents a different aspect of his city and our industry.” More good news for Houston locals: Ware will be serving these drinks for a limited time at Johnny’s Gold Brick.
Justin Ware accepts his prize. Ware certainly earned the $15,000 grand prize, but he doesn’t view that as the most valuable takeaway: “Winning is a happy byproduct of the competition. But what really matters is developing relationships and gaining exposure. More people should get involved to enjoy the people you meet and the exchange of information between people on the East Coast and West Coast and everywhere in between.”
Who’s Going to the