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2027 AHA & Don Julio WA’s Best Cocktail Competition

The search for WA’s best cocktail

WA’s cocktail scene is full of creativity, local talent and bartenders who know how to turn a few carefully chosen ingredients into something worth talking about.

In 2027, the AHA & Don Julio WA’s Best Cocktail Competition returns for the 5th year to find the cocktail that can rise above the rest.

 

Venues from across Western Australia will put their signature creations in the running, while the public gets the chance to discover new favourites, visit local venues and have a say in the competition.

 

The search will culminate in a live mix-off at the 2027 AHA Hospitality Expo at Crown Perth on 4 May 2027.

Important dates

The 2027 competition dates**  have been brought forward. 
Venues, take note. Nominations open earlier this year and close on 20 January 2027. 

 

Nominations open: 7 December 2026

Nominations close: 20 January 2027

Public voting opens: 1 February 2027

Public voting closes: 15 March 2027

Finalists announced: 31 March 2027

Live mix-off: 4 May 2027

 

** AHA(WA) reserves the right to amend competition dates and timelines as required

Think you've mixed WA's best cocktail?

What would you create if you were challenged to make WA’s best cocktail?

 

The competition gives bartenders and venues the chance to dream up something special and put their creativity in the glass. The cocktail can be inspired by a place, a person, a memory, a local ingredient or something that captures the character of Western Australia.

 

The story matters. Finalists will be judged not only on what’s in the glass, but on the thinking and inspiration behind their creation. Showcasing Western Australian ingredients, producers or flavours is encouraged, giving venues the chance to put a distinctly local stamp on their cocktail.

 

Create something memorable. Tell us the story behind it. Then put it to the test against the best cocktail talent from across WA.

 

When nominations open we’ll include a “Nominate now” button here.

Cocktail lovers, this one is for you

You don’t need to work behind the bar to be part of the competition. When public voting opens, you’ll have the chance to get out and sample the cocktails entered by venues across WA.

 

This is your chance to try something new, find a local favourite and discover the people and creativity behind the drink. Then have your say.

 

Public voting opens 1February 2027 and closes 15 March 2027. We’ll add a “vote here” button when it opens.

How the competition works

1. Venues nominate

Venues nominate their cocktail during the nomination window which closes on 20 January 2027. The cocktail must meet the competition requirements and remain consistent throughout the competition.

2. The public gets tasting

From 1 February 2027 until 15 March 2027, cocktail lovers can visit participating venues to try the nominated cocktails and vote for their favourite. It’s a chance to discover what WA’s bartenders are creating and support the local venues taking part. Customers will be required to provide proof of purchase when submitting their vote.

3. Finalists are selected

Finalists will be determined through the competition’s public voting and mystery judging process.

4. The finalists mix-off

Each finalist will mix their cocktail in front of an audience and expert judging panel at the 2027 AHA Hospitality Expo. They will be “miked up” so they can explain the step by step process and tell the story of their creation.

What can you enter?

The competition is open to cocktails featuring:

a single spirit
a combination of spirits
a non-alcoholic spirit equivalent

 

Each cocktail can contain a maximum of two standard drinks per serve

How the cocktails are judged

A great cocktail needs to deliver on taste, presentation and the experience that comes with it. Finalists will be judged across five areas:

Judging Criteria Points
Taste
30
Aesthetic
20
Authenticity and Creativity
20
Narrative – the story behind the cocktail
15
Promotion and Price
15

Total Score

100
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