Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series makes 2026 return
Entries for the fifth consecutive Jameson Black Barrel cocktail competition have opened, as the Irish whiskey brand seeks its 2026 global champion.
Entries are open from today (12 January) until 2 February, with Jameson encouraging its global bartender family to submit a unique cocktail creation that champions their personal stories, local cultures and connections through exciting ingredients and innovative twists.
To enter, applicants are tasked with uploading a video entry of their cocktail creation featuring Jameson Black Barrel – a blend of aged select batch whiskeys that boasts notes of toasted oak, caramel and vanilla spice.
The top 26 entries will be selected as ‘regional champions’ by a judging panel, and will be announced on 9 March 2026 via the @jamesonHOSTS Instagram page.
This year’s judging panel welcomes the return of Danil Nevsky of Indie Bartender, Spain, alongside new additions Bannie Kang of Side Car, Singapore, and Jean Trinh of Alquímico, Columbia.
The 26 finalists will win a three-day, all expenses paid trip to Midleton Distillery, Ireland, to attend the Jameson Hosts Global Summit, curated in collaboration with award-winning industry ‘icon’ Remy Savage.
At the Summit, winners will join more than 100 members of the global bar community, gaining access to networking opportunities, seminars and moments designed to build lasting connections.
The event is said to embody the ‘Must Be A Jameson’ spirit of community and family, celebrating togetherness and the power of bringing people from across the world into one shared experience.
From the 26 regional champions, a top 10 will be selected to compete in the live final at the Jameson Hosts Global Summit. Here, three global champions will be determined through a unique blind-tasting judging process.
Two independent panels, each comprising three judges and three mentors, will deliberate in isolation, with their combined scores ultimately deciding the three global champions for 2026.
The three winners will each take home €5,000 (US$5,815) and access to an innovative Jameson mentoring programme that includes in-person, virtual, and digital sessions with industry leaders.
Mentorship programme
The Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series mentorship programme aims to equip aspiring bar professionals with personal and professional guidance, which will enhance their skills and empower them to make their mark on the wider bartending community.
This year, Jameson is also launching a digital mentorship partnership with BarSmarts to provide winners with even greater skill development opportunities.
Returning mentors Remy Savage and Danil Nevsky will also be joined by Gina Barbachano, a highly experienced bartender best known for her work at Hanky Panky.
Each mentor has been chosen for their specialist knowledge across areas including creative ideation, concept development, global marketing, and social media branding.
They will work closely with the three global winners, offering direct access to their insights and experience to support the development of participants’ personal ideas and concepts, as well as having broader discussions around professional growth and career development.
Speaking on the return of the mentorship programme, Tony O’Brien, Jameson global advocacy manager, commented: “We are really excited to bring the Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series Competition back for yet another year, following its brilliant and continued success.
“This programme offers an incredible opportunity for participants to deepen their knowledge, build meaningful real-world connections, and receive valuable guidance that will help them establish their personal brand within the bartending community.
“Beyond the cash prize, this unique mentorship experience will support our winners’ careers as they continue to grow and develop in this industry we all love so much. We are all very excited to kick it off and soak up the creativity, passion and inspiration that our global bar community bring to this years competition.”
Nevsky added: “The quality of entries keeps exceeding our expectations each year, and I’m sure 2026 will be no different. It’s very rewarding to see the quality of video production improve year-on-year as the global bar community adapts to become highly proficient content creators, which was always one of our ambitions for this competition.
“However, what’s most impressive is the diversity in approach, the creativity and integration of differing cultures, ingredients, and techniques that really shine through, and I’m super excited to see what this year’s entries bring to the table.”
The 2025 Black Barrel Bartender Series saw 425 video entries – a 20% increase compared with 2024 – across 50 countries.
Entrants to this year’s competition must be a professional bartender or have been within the last five years.
Judging criteria on submitted video entries will be focused on the following areas: drink concept and presentation (40%), brand integration (30%), and video production (30%).
Participants must ensure their Instagram account is set to public during the judging period.
This competition is open to all entrants globally, including those who work on cruise ships, excluding the US.
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