2025 AHA & Don Julio WA’s Best Cocktail CompetitionÂ
The search for WA’s Best Cocktail is officially underway. From 1 May 20204, customers can vote to determine the top four cocktails based on the judging criteria.
These four venues will be invited to showcase their creations in a live mix-off on stage at Crown Perth on Tuesday 24 June 2025, in front of a live audience and judging panel. One winner will be crowned WA’s Best Cocktail!
The champion will receive four exclusive tickets to an RAC Arena corporate box experience, including premium food and beverages — a prize valued at over $7,000, thanks to RAC Arena and the AHA!
The competition is being promoted across our social media channels and via PR to help drive traffic to your venue. Please use the promotional materials we have sent to help encourage your customer votes. Get your team involved and have some fun building the buzz!
Participating venues
The venues that are participating in the competition are as follows:
Aloft Perth
Crouching Monkey, at Brass Monkey
DoubleTree by Hilton Perth Northbridge
18 Knots Rooftop Bar
Edward & Idas
Frisk Small Bar
Hillarys Beach Club
Holiday Inn West Perth
Karratha International Hotel – Luce Restaurant
Lima Cantina
Lobby Lounge – Crown Perth
QT Perth
Rays Port Hedland
Roebuck Bay Hotel
The Sandbar Scarborough BeachÂ
The Amberton Beach Bar & Kitchen
The Embassy
The Standard
Truth Perth
Vicky Browns Bar
Print Hall
Key dates
Nominations now closed
Voting opens: 1 May 2025
Voting closes: 26 May 2025
Finalists notified: 28 May 2025
Live mix-off: 24 June 2025
Competition rules
- One cocktail per venue can be submitted.Â
- 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.Â
- The cocktail can contain:Â
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- any single spiritÂ
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- any combination of spiritsÂ
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- a Non-Alcoholic Spirit EquivalentÂ
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- a maximum of the equivalent of two standard drinks per serve.Â
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- The cocktail must be available and its composition remain the same throughout the competition period.Â
- 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. Â
How does the competition work?
- Eligible venues self-nominate their cocktail for free onlineÂ
- Nominated cocktails are promoted via each venue (social media platforms, in-venue), while the competition is publicly promoted by the AHA and Diageo.Â
- Cocktail finalists are determined using a combination of public votes and mystery judge visits who determine four finalists from across WA.Â
- Finalists are then invited to compete in a live mix-off at the 2025 AHA Hospitality Expo on Tuesday, 24 June 2025, recreating their cocktail on stage and explaining the story behind them.Â
Judging criteria
The four finalists are judged using the following criteria:Â
- Taste (30 points) – Taste, appeal, balance of flavour and aroma, harmony between the ingredients, mouthfeel, and finish.Â
- Aesthetic (20 points) – How the cocktail presents visually.Â
- Authenticity/Creativity (20 points) – Considering the ingredients, garnish, ice or glassware.Â
- Narrative (15 points) – The story behind the cocktail or a connection to the venue or to the state of WA.Â
- Promotion/Price (15 points) – How the cocktail was promoted and price point.Â
Total = 100 PointsÂ