Host a Cocktail Competition at Home
A little friendly competition can turn cocktails with friends into a fun and interactive gathering.
At a mixology competition hosted at a friend’s home, four of us took on the same challenge: create our own version of an espresso martini. Each person brought their own ingredients, set up a cocktail station, and prepared enough for everyone to taste and judge. Even though we were all making an espresso martini, each person had their own interpretation, from the ingredients and flavors to the presentation.
BEHIND THE POUR
We each had our own space at the table with everything needed to make our cocktail. Once our stations were set up, we made our espresso martinis at the same time and added our own finishing touches.
Each person prepared one full-size cocktail for presentation and three smaller tasting portions for the others to sample. This allowed us to see the complete presentation while tasting all four versions side by side. Even with the same espresso martini theme, the finished cocktails looked and tasted completely different, which was part of the fun.
BEHIND THE EXPERIENCE
To create your own cocktail competition, start by choosing a classic cocktail, spirit, seasonal ingredient, or other theme. Have each person bring everything they need for their entry, including ingredients, garnishes, shakers, glassware, and any other bar tools.
The host or another person can take care of a few shared details, such as signs for identifying each cocktail and scoring sheets for judging. For our competition, we numbered and named each entry so everyone could easily keep track of the drinks while tasting. Having each person set up their own station keeps everything organized and makes hosting easier. Our host provided the space, ice, and some nibbles for everyone to enjoy between tastings.
Decide on the serving format before everyone arrives. Smaller tasting portions make it easier to sample several cocktails, while preparing one full-size drink gives each person a chance to showcase their final presentation.
For judging, keep it simple with categories such as taste, creativity, and presentation. Everyone can score each entry on their own sheet, then compare the results at the end to crown a winner.
Our group has done a few different mixology competitions, and choosing the winner is only part of the fun. Making the drinks together, tasting everyone's creations, and seeing how differently each person approaches the same theme turns cocktail night into an experience.
