Presented by BARTENDER® Magazine
Art of Hospitality
A cocktail competition for the bartenders who make every guest feel at home, in the glass and behind the bar. Sponsored by Diplomático Rum.
San Diego · Los Angeles · San Francisco · Miami · Orlando
Open to bartenders in these five markets. Must be 21+.
How to enter
Three ways to show us your craft
Every application has three parts. Complete all three in one sitting. It takes about 20 minutes.
Cocktail 1
The classic, reimagined
Riff on a classic rum cocktail using Diplomático. Show us you respect the original and where you’d take it.
Cocktail 2
Your original
Create an original cocktail built around Diplomático. Bring your point of view, your market and your guests.
Submission 3
Your approach to hospitality
Tell us what hospitality means behind your bar: the rituals, details and moments that make a guest feel known.
Where it's happening
Five markets. One standard of hospitality.
San DiegoLos AngelesSan FranciscoMiamiOrlando
Open to bartenders working in these markets only. Proof of employment may be requested. Up to five finalists in each market are judged in their own bar. One winner per market advances to the Miami Final.
Timeline
- Applications openNovember 6
- Applications closeDecember 20
- Regional finalists announcedJanuary 5
- Regional in-bar judgingJanuary 15 to February 1
- Miami finalists announcedFebruary 5
- Miami FinalMarch (date to be announced)
How we judge
- 20%Cocktail 1, the classic reimagined
- 20%Cocktail 2, your original cocktail
- 60%Your approach to hospitality
In-bar judging follows the same 60/40 hospitality-to-cocktails split.
The rum
Every entry starts with Diplomático
Build both cocktails around Diplomático Rum. Use Reserva Exclusiva in one cocktail. The other can use Reserva, Mantuano or Planas. Each cocktail must use at least 1.5 oz of Diplomático.
The prize
Recognition worth raising a glass to
The Miami Final winner receives a $3,000 prize. Finalists traveling from outside Miami receive travel and lodging, and every finalist is invited to the finalist events and dinners. The winner will also be featured across BARTENDER’s digital and social channels.
Apply
Art of Hospitality application
Three parts, one submission. You can’t save and return, so have your recipes and photos ready.
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open to legal U.S. residents age 21 or older who work as bartenders in San Diego, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Miami or Orlando. Void where prohibited. Official Rules coming soon.
Please Drink Responsibly.
Diplomático is a registered trademark. ©2026 Diplomático Branding, Unipessoal LDA. All rights reserved.
Questions? Email [email protected]