Cleveland USBG invites you to participate

Fall Cocktail Competition 

Sponsored by Bacardi

November 2025

Featured Spirit

Bacardi Superior

Cocktail Category

LONG DRINK

Cash Prizes

Cash prizes will be awarded to the first, second, and third place winners and the People’s Choice winner at the end of the night.

Compensation

 All competitors will be paid $25 in cash at the competition as compensation for their ingredient costs.

Theme

Summer Long Drinks 

Competitors 

A total of Nine (9) competitors

When/Where

August 3ed  2025

Set up for competitors begins at 2 pm

The competition will be from 4 to 8 pm

Location TBD

Sign up to compete HERE

Description

This competition will be based on competition rules from the International Bartenders Association (IBA).

The USBG will host two international competitions over the next several years. The USBG has also arranged payment plans for travel with the USBG National Cocktail team. The Cleveland chapter has developed this competition to introduce our competitors to the rules of the IBA.

The focus on this competition will be your creative use of the sponsor spirit.

Bacardi Superior

As we move our competition closer to the International Bartenders Association standards, all competitors will be creating cocktails with the same spirit and the same cocktail category. This provides a balance between all the competitors and a clean platform for the judges.

The category of cocktail is Long Drink. This is an official IBA cocktail category A Long Drink is defined as the following.

The Long Drink is served in a tall glass. It may be refreshing, sweet, sour, or tropical

Each competitor will create a cocktail onsite for the judges to taste and evaluate. On stage, the competitor will pour four identical cocktails – one will be used for display and photos, and the other three will be taken to the judges for a blind tasting. Each Judge will taste and score every cocktail.

We will have bottles of Bacardi Superior available for you onsite. 

Overview 

Competitors will need to provide their own glassware for the FOUR cocktail submissions. Competitors are encouraged to be creative in selecting their glassware, overall appearance will count in the judging. Your glassware must fit the category. Long Drinks are served in Tall Large large-volume glasses.

******we are working to have a glass sponsor****** you will be informed by July 15th

During the event, competitors will offer 1-2 oz tastings to our guests, final format to be determined. We will have bottles of Bacardi Superior available for this.  – Each competitor will be given $25 in cash on the day of the event to offset their expenses in creating these samples. – USBG will provide 5oz cups and ice.

 Summer Competition Rules

INTRODUCTION

This cocktail competition is organized by the Cleveland Chapter of the United States Bartenders’ Guild, sponsored by Bacardi Superior, the category of cocktail is the Long Drink, and should reflect aspects of Summer. USBG Cleveland members, and non-member bartenders from throughout Northeast Ohio are invited to compete for the selection of the best cocktails.

The competition will be held in a single round where the skills in the preparation of cocktails and the taste qualities of the prepared drinks are evaluated, taking the evaluation systems of the International Bartenders Association (IBA) regulations as judgment parameters. This is not an open competition. Competitors must make cocktails that fit the IBA definition of a Long Drink.

Submissions for the competition

You must use the sponsored spirits to present your recipe using 1.5 oz / 4.5 cl per cocktail. You have the following option: Bacardi Superior

MODIFYING DRINK - you may use no more than 1/2 oz / 1.5 cl of a non-sponsored spirit as a modifier. This modifying spirit may not be another Rum.

To be within the maximum limit of alcoholic beverages in an IBA competition, your cocktail must correspond to no more than 2 oz / 6 cl of spirit.

1. PRESENTATION OF RECIPES

• 1.1. Each recipe must be an original creation.

• 1.2. Recipes must be submitted by July 24th, 2025

• 1.3. Recipes must be submitted on the official Cocktail Entry Form.

• 1.4. It is the responsibility of the sponsor’s representative to ensure that the recipe complies with these rules.

• 1.5. All submitted recipes remain the property of USBG Cleveland and Sponsors. Recipes and Photos may be used and published by the sponsors of this contest without compensation.

2. BASIC RULES FOR THE PREPARATION OF COCKTAILS

• 2.1. The base spirit in the recipe must be the sponsored product: Bacardi Superior, 750 mL bottles will be provided to the participants.

• 2.2. Any modifying spirits used for the competition will not be provided by Bacardi or USBG.

• 2.3. Each competitor is required to bring all their ingredients, glassware, and/or bar equipment that they will use during the competition (excluding the sponsored product). All garnish ingredients are at the competitor's own expense. Each competitor will receive $25 to help cover the cost of their ingredients. The ingredients in a recipe may NOT be changed after submission. In emergency situations, one judge will be appointed to listen and analyze the reasons stated for changes, which they may or may not accept.

• 2.4. USBG will supply ice and sample cups.

• 2.5. Recipes cannot contain more than 6cl of alcohol in any cocktail.

• 2.6. Recipes must contain 1.5 oz / 4.5 cl of the Main Sponsor spirit and a maximum (optional) 1/2 oz / 1.5 cl of a modifying spirit.

• 2.7. Recipes must be expressed in centiliters (cl). A “dash” or “bar spoon” is not a valid measurement and will not be accepted.

• 2.8. Measuring cups, graduated cylinders, jiggers, or free pouring are allowed.

• 2.9. Cocktails must not contain more than six ingredients. Note: bitters are allowed as an ingredient and will not contribute to the allowed alcohol limit.

• 2.10. Homemade ingredients are allowed and will count as a single ingredient. A home made ingredient may not contain more then nie (9)  ingredients. Each competitor must attach the recipe used for a homemade ingredient when submitting their recipe. A homemade ingredient will count as an alcoholic beverage if any alcohol is included in its preparation. Sponsor products assigned as a base cannot be replaced, but they can be used as an additional product to produce homemade ingredients. If the homemade ingredient contains alcohol, it will be counted  as part of the 2 oz / 6 cl of the total. The homemade ingredient has to be described in a separate recipe. Its main purpose is to increase the flavor level and balance of the cocktail. 

• 2.11. Non sponsored alcohol or syrup/mash ingredients are not allowed. The 1/2 oz modifier is the only exception.

• 2.12. Artificial ingredients or colors are not permitted.

• 2.13. Use of fire/flame is prohibited.

• 2.14. Competitors  are responsible for their own fruit juices. They may purchase fruit juice or squeeze their own fresh juice.

• 2.15. Dairy products are allowed.

• 2.16. Airs, foams and spherification are allowed in all competitions. All ingredients used to make airs/foams must be prepared at your station and follow the six ingredient maximum rule. All ingredients and techniques must be explained in detail on the entry form.

• 2.17. Frozen food, plain or on ice, will not be allowed.

• 2.18. Methods for preparing cocktails are: build (straight in glass), stir (mixer cup), crush, shake, blend, throw, or any combination of these.

• 2.19. Cocktail names must be appropriate. Inappropriate names are prohibited and include but are not limited to words or phrases that are rude, sexual, racist, associated with drugs, or allude to illnesses or disabilities. 

3. DECORATIONS/GARNISHES

DEFINITION OF THE DECORATION OF A COCKTAIL:

Cocktail garnishes are intended to beautify a drink without affecting the flavor or ingredients of the cocktail. A garnish is an edible food product (fruit peel, fruit, vegetable, root, herb, edible flowers) used to complement and enhance the visual presentation of the beverage, and not to alter the taste. A garnish is placed on or in the cocktail (but is not a liquid) that is used to complement the flavor of a mixed drink. Complementing the flavor can be done visually, aromatically or by influencing the taste of the cocktail. A garnish should not be the dominant flavor of the mixed drink, but rather offer a complementary or contrasting flavor to the recipe. A cocktail garnish will be placed inside the glass/drink and/or used as aroma.

• 3.1. The garnish will not be counted as an ingredient. Garnishes are in addition to the six allowed ingredients.

• 3.2. The garnishes must be 100% natural food products except for any picks or clips. If the decoration comes into contact with the cocktail liquid, it does not incur a penalty.

• 3.3. Wooden, metal or plastic picks or clips can be used to help build the decoration. portion, but they may not be the focus of the garnish. Large or multiple manufactured items cannot dominate the image of the natural components of the garnish.

• 3.4. Decorations and garnishes can be made beforehand or can be prepared onsite before competing.

• 3.5. It is prohibited to place the garnish or decoration on the glassware before preparing the cocktail for the judge.

• 3.6. “Garnishes” used on plates or trays beside the cocktail glass are not allowed. Garnishes must be on or in the glass.

• 3.7. All garnishes and decorating ingredients must be listed on the entry form.

• 3.8. Any straw used in a drink must be biodegradable or reusable, not disposable.

• 3.9. The decorations must be firmly placed on/in the glass so that they can be safely transferred to the tasting judges.