2026 AHA & Don Julio WA’s Best Cocktail Competition
Calling all bartenders to get their shakers out and step into the spotlight.
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WA’s Best Cocktail Competition is a high-energy, state-wide contest that encourages vvenues to create and enter a signature cocktail showcasing their flair, flavour and creativity. Finalists are chosen through public voting and mystery judge visits, so great drinks and smart promotion both count.
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The top four will then go head-to-head in a live mix-off at the Hospitality Expo, judged by an expert panel on taste, presentation, creativity, story and promotion.
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This is your chance to showcase your talent, energise your team, boost your venue’s profile and attract new customers. Ready to stir things up? Then nominate your venue now!
About the competition
Each venue is invited to submit one cocktail that meet a specific criteria around ingredients, consistency, and responsible service. Cocktails can include any single spirit, combinations of spirits, or non-alcoholic spirit equivalents, with a maximum of two standard drinks per serve.
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Cocktails are judged on:
Taste (30 points)
Aesthetic (20 points)
Authenticity and Creativity (20 points)
Narrative – the story behind the cocktail (15 points)
Promotion and Price (15 points)
Total score: 100 points
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Key Dates
Nominations close – 17 March 2026
Voting opens – 24 March 2026
Voting closes – 27 April 2026
Finalists notified – 31 May 2026