Australian Bartenders Guild National Flair Bartending Championship

Competition Rules & Regulations

1. Competition Overview

The Australian Bartenders Guild National Flair Bartending Championship celebrates creativity, technical skill, entertainment and excellence in flair bartending.

This online national competition provides Australia's flair bartending community with the opportunity to become the Australian Bartenders Guild National Flair Champion and represent Australia in Macau, China, from 18–24 October 2026, competing in both the Australasian Bartending Championship and the IBA World Bartending Championship.

Participation is open exclusively to registered members of the Australian Bartenders Guild (ABG). Membership is free and can be completed via the Membership Registration page before entering the competition.

The Australian Bartenders Guild is searching for Australia's most complete flair bartender—someone who combines technical ability, creativity, showmanship and professionalism while performing under international competition standards.

2. Eligibility

Competitors must:

  • Be 18 years of age or older.

  • Reside in Australia.

  • Be a registered member of the Australian Bartenders Guild (membership is free).

  • Complete the official online competition registration.

  • Pay the competition entry fee.

  • Submit all required materials before the published closing date.

  • Be eligible to travel internationally if selected.

  • Be available to travel to Macau from 18–24 October 2026.

  • Hold, or be capable of obtaining, a valid passport.

  • Meet all visa or international travel requirements.

  • Ensure they are able to obtain leave from their employer if selected to represent Australia.

3. Competition Requirements

Competitors must perform one original flair bartending routine.

The routine must:

  • Be a maximum of 3 minutes.

  • Be filmed in one continuous, unedited take.

  • Produce one original cocktail.

  • Include a minimum of 30 mL Solomon Spirits Vodka.

  • Clearly feature the official competition sponsor throughout the routine.

As the Founding Spirit Partner, Solomon Spirits Vodka should receive prominent visibility throughout the performance.

Competitors may use the official Solomon Spirits bottle for both working flair and exhibition flair.

No competing spirit brand logos or bottles may be visible during the routine, unmarked clear bottles are ok to use.

4. Routine Requirements

Competitors must:

  • Produce one finished cocktail.

  • Perform a minimum of 30 seconds of working flair.

  • Demonstrate both working flair and exhibition flair where possible.

  • Clearly present the finished cocktail.

  • Include the complete recipe within the video description.

  • Wear the official Flair Demons Competition T-Shirt throughout the routine.

  • Use any glassware of their choice.

Competitors are encouraged to include their largest and most technically impressive trick, as international competitions include dedicated flair performance categories.

5. Creativity & Performance

Creativity is one of the highest scoring aspects of the competition.

Competitors are encouraged to showcase:

  • Original sequences

  • Creative transitions

  • Innovative drink preparation

  • Showmanship

  • Entertainment

  • Stage presence

  • Personality

  • Professionalism

Judges will reward originality while recognising routines that demonstrate control, confidence and technical excellence.

6. Video Submission

Competitors must submit:

  • One continuous, unedited video.

  • Maximum 3 minutes.

  • Portrait or landscape format.

  • Uploaded via Instagram or TikTok.

  • Video must have recipe in description

  • Include the official competition hashtag:

#ABG2026

Competitors are responsible for ensuring they have the appropriate rights to any music used within their submission.

7. Recipe Submission

The recipe must be included within the video description and include:

  • Cocktail Name

  • Ingredients

  • Measurements

  • Preparation Method

  • Glassware

  • Garnish

8. Brand Presentation

The official competition sponsor is central to this championship.

Competitors should ensure:

  • Solomon Spirits Vodka is clearly visible throughout the routine.

  • The official Solomon Spirits bottle is naturally incorporated into the performance.

  • Product labels remain visible wherever practical.

  • Brand presentation is clean, professional and authentic.

Judges will assess how effectively competitors integrate and showcase the official competition partner.

9. Judging Criteria

The Australian Bartenders Guild National Flair Bartending Championship is primarily a flair bartending competition.

While competitors are required to produce an original cocktail, judging will focus predominantly on technical flair ability, creativity and overall performance.

Judges will assess competitors in the following order of importance:

1. Creativity

The highest scoring category.

Judges will reward:

  • Original ideas

  • Innovative sequences

  • Creative performance concepts

  • Unique use of flair techniques

  • Innovation

2. Originality

Judges are looking for routines that showcase your own personality and style.

Competitors are encouraged to create routines that are uniquely their own rather than reproducing existing performances.

3. Flair Technique

Judges will assess:

  • Working Flair

  • Exhibition Flair

  • Difficulty

  • Variety

  • Technical execution

  • Control

  • Flow

  • Rhythm

  • Style

  • Speed

A minimum of 30 seconds of working flair is required.

Competitors are encouraged to incorporate their biggest and most technically impressive trick where appropriate.

4. Overall Performance

Judges will assess:

  • Confidence

  • Personality

  • Camera presence

  • Entertainment value

  • Professionalism

  • Energy

  • Audience engagement

5. Cocktail Presentation

As this is an online competition, the cocktail will not be judged on taste, aroma or balance.

Instead, judges will assess:

  • Presentation

  • Garnish

  • Creativity of the recipe

  • Practicality for service

  • Professional presentation

  • Completeness of the written recipe

6. Brand Integration

Judges will assess:

  • Visibility of Solomon Spirits Vodka

  • Professional presentation of the sponsor

  • Natural product integration

  • Overall support of the competition partner

Penalties

Points may be deducted for:

  • Bottle drops

  • Tin drops

  • Glass breakages

  • Excessive spillage

  • Leakage

  • Unsafe practices

  • Failure to complete the routine

  • Failure to produce a finished cocktail

  • Failure to clearly feature the official competition sponsor

The judges' decisions are final.

10. International Representation

The winner of the Australian Bartenders Guild National Flair Bartending Championship will represent Australia in Macau from 18–24 October 2026.

Australia's representative will compete in:

  • Australasian Bartending Championship

  • IBA World Bartending Championship

Throughout the week, competitors will also participate in workshops, networking opportunities and international hospitality experiences alongside bartenders from around the world.

11. International Competition Preparation

International flair competitions test far more than technical tricks.

Competitors may be assessed through:

  • Working Flair

  • Exhibition Flair

  • Originality

  • Adaptability

  • Cocktail creation

  • Technical knowledge

  • Presentation

  • Communication

  • Additional competition rounds determined by the event organisers

The Australian Bartenders Guild is therefore looking for a well-rounded flair bartender capable of performing under international competition standards.

Following the winner announcement, the Australian Bartenders Guild will work directly with Australia's representative to prepare for Macau.

The winner agrees to:

  • Submit any required revised recipe within five (5) days of being announced National Champion.

  • Meet all international submission deadlines.

  • Participate in coaching, media and sponsor commitments where reasonably requested.

12. Originality

All routines, cocktails, recipes, videos, photographs and supporting materials submitted must be the competitor's own original work.

Entries must not infringe the intellectual property rights of any individual or organisation.

The Australian Bartenders Guild reserves the right to disqualify any submission found to contain copied or plagiarised material.

13. Code of Conduct

Competitors are expected to conduct themselves professionally throughout the competition.

The Australian National Champion represents:

  • Australia

  • The Australian Bartenders Guild

  • Competition sponsors

  • The Australian hospitality industry

Behaviour that is offensive, dishonest, unsafe or likely to bring the Australian Bartenders Guild, its sponsors or the competition into disrepute may result in immediate disqualification.

14. Media & Promotional Rights

By entering the competition, competitors grant the Australian Bartenders Guild permission to use submitted videos, photographs, recipes, names, venue information and competition content for promotional, educational, website, social media, public relations and marketing purposes.

Competitors retain ownership of their original routines and recipes while granting the Australian Bartenders Guild a perpetual, royalty-free, non-exclusive licence to publish and promote submitted material in connection with the competition.

15. Winner Requirements

Should the National Champion be unable or unwilling to travel, fail to meet international competition requirements or withdraw from the competition, the Australian Bartenders Guild reserves the right to offer the opportunity to the next highest-ranked eligible competitor.

16. Contact

For any questions regarding the Australian Bartenders Guild National Flair Bartending Championship, please contact the Australian Bartenders Guild via the Contact page on this website.