Shake It Til You Make It…As WA’s Best Cocktail!
Elevate your cocktail game with AHA & Don Julio on the quest to find the venue that serves WA’s Best Cocktail.
Indulge your senses and ignite your passion for mixology as WA’s Best Cocktail competition returns, inviting you to unleash your creativity and flair behind the bar.
This year, we’re elevating the experience with an enhanced presentation format, spotlighting the incredible skills of our mixologists. We’re also thrilled to have industry stalwart Brendan Scott Grey as our MC, bringing his expertise and energy to the stage. It’s going to be an unforgettable event for both the audience and esteemed judges!
Win big with our exclusive prize package! The lucky winner gets a trophy, bragging rights, and 4 tickets to see comedian Trevor Noah live at RAC Arena’s corporate box. Enjoy premium beverages and food, courtesy of RAC Arena and the AHA, valued at $4,000. Don’t miss out – join the competition now for a night of laughter and luxury!
Voting is now open! Encourage your customers to vote for your cocktail concoction using the button below. Voting closes 27 May.Â
Customers will vote along with mystery visits from judges which will determine the top four cocktails to be showcased at the cocktail showdown, Tuesday, June 25, 2024, at Crown Perth. Join us as we raise the bar and celebrate the art of cocktail crafting in Western Australia
We will promote the competition via our social media channels and PR to encourage traffic to your venue. We will also provide you with materials that you can use to promote your venue and encourage your customers to vote for your venue’s cocktail. We encourage you to get your teams involved and have a bit of fun drumming up some interest.
Key dates
- Customer voting: 30 April – 27 May
- Finalists announced: 31 May
- Judging of the competition: 25 June
COMPETITION RULES
-
- One cocktail per venue can be submitted.
-
- For the purpose of the competition, a cocktail is defined as a mixed drink incorporating one of the following bases mixed with other ingredients such as juices, flavoured syrups, tonic water, shrubs, bitters, etc.
-
- The cocktail can contain:
-
- Any single spirit
-
- Any combination of spirits
-
- a Non-Alcoholic Spirit Equivalent
-
- A maximum of the equivalent of two standard drinks per serve.
-
- The cocktail can contain:
-
- The cocktail must be available and its composition remain the same throughout the competition period.
-
- Any marketing by the participating venues must not depict or encourage irresponsible service or consumption of alcohol or contravene any WA liquor laws or guidelines. This includes ensuring the naming conventions of any cocktail remain appropriate.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
-
- Eligible venues self-nominated their cocktail for free online
-
- Nominated cocktails will be promoted via each venue (social media platforms, in-venue), while the competition will be publicly promoted by the AHA and Diageo.
-
- Cocktail finalists will be determined using a combination of public votes and mystery judge visits, which will determine five finalists from across WA.
-
- Finalists will then be invited to compete in a live mix-off at the 2024 AHA Hospitality Expo on Tuesday, 25 June 2024, recreating their cocktail on stage and explaining the story behind each.
JUDGING CRITERIA
The five finalists will be judged using the following criteria:
-
- Taste (30 points) – Taste, appeal, balance of flavour and aroma, harmony between the ingredients, mouthfeel, and finish.
-
- Aesthetic (20 points) – How the cocktail presents visually.
-
- Authenticity/Creativity (20 points) – Considering the ingredients, garnish, ice or glassware.
-
- Narrative (15 points) – The story behind the cocktail or a connection to the venue or to the state.
-
- Promotion/Price (15Â points) – How the cocktail was promoted and price point.
Total = 100 Points