BARTENDER TALENT ACADEMY BY RÉMY MARTIN COMPETITION RULES

COMPETITION START & END DATES

The contest (the “Contest”) period opens on March 1st, 2025, at 12:00:01 am/EST and will close on April 11th 2025, at 11:59:59 pm/EST (the “Contest Period”).

The Contest is co- sponsored by Rémy Cointreau USA, Inc., and BARTENDER® Magazine, herein after designated as ” The organizer”, with an address of 3 Times Sq 20th Floor, New York, NY 10046 (hereinafter referred to as the “Sponsors”).

Before entering the Final Competition in Cognac, contestants should qualify through online submission followed by regional competition organized in their respective market and national finals competition.

The Contest is open to professional bartenders who are legal and current residents of the selected 6 markets (New York City, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco) who are twenty-one (21) years of age or older as of March 1, 2025. The Contest is subject to all applicable federal, state and local laws, rules and regulations, and is void outside the United States, D.C. and where prohibited by law.

Employees, officers and directors of the Sponsors, the organizer, their parent companies, divisions, subsidiaries, affiliates, and advertising and promotion agencies of each of the foregoing, distributors and retailers, and any other entity that develops, produces, or distributes materials for or related to this Contest, and the immediate family members or households (whether related or not) of any of the above are not eligible to participate or win.

The contest rules are as follows:

  • The competition is open to professional bartenders aged 21-years-old or over, currently residing in the selected 6 markets (New York City, Miami, Chicago, Dallas, Los Angeles, San Francisco
  • Contestants may not work for a competing alcoholic spirit brand in any capacity – full or part time.
  • Eligibility is subject to the organizer’s discretion throughout the competition.
  • Maintain professional conduct at all times.
  • Respect the brands, colleagues, peers and guests.
  • Always set a professional example.
  • Promote the craft of bartending, our chosen profession, in a professional and inspirational man

Contestants should create an original cocktail by choosing a classic Cognac cocktail and reimagining it into your own modern creation with Remy Martin VSOP. Tell a story that connects your modern variation to the original and through the lens of the Remy Martin brand and values.

Please follow the guidelines listed below when submitting your recipe into the contest:

  • The recipe should be an original and personal creation.
  • One entry per person.
  • Entries must be in the form of a full sized cocktail. No Shots/Shooters
  • The recipe should include at least 1.5oz of Remy Martin VSOP
  • You are not restricted to the Rémy Cointreau portfolio; however, it is compulsory to use Rémy Cointreau products if Rémy Cointreau has a presence in that spirit category.
  • The use of another brand of Cognac is strictly prohibited.
  • Full recipe and method of preparation must be clearly specified.
  • Homemade ingredients are permitted.
  • Other ingredients, such as garnishes, type of ice, etc. should be clearly specified.
  • The choice of glassware is yours.
  • The entire recipe should be expressed in fluid ounce, milliliter or number of drops used.
  • Cocktail and ingredient preparation techniques must be clearly indicated.
  • Your cocktail recipe should tell a story. Explanation and inspiration for the choice of classic cocktail, ingredients and recipe should be detailed.
  • Photo of cocktail submission is mandatory. Make sure to provide a qualitative picture showcasing the cocktail.

All cocktails submitted online will be judged and evaluated by a panel of esteemed industry professionals with the same criteria:

  • Challenge: Has the bartender met all the challenge requirements to create a classic cocktail with Remy Martin VSOP and told the story of both the original and the variation?
  • Craft: How well are the ingredients of the cocktail recipe compiled? Has the bartender demonstrated precise technique?
  • Flavor: How flavorful and balanced is the submitted cocktail?
  • Knowledge: How clearly has the cocktail been inspired by the Remy Martin brand & has the bartender demonstrated their knowledge of the brand and the era their cocktail represents?
  • Use of Remy Martin: Does the bartender use Remy Martin in a way the celebrates & highlights it?
  • A judging panel will select the top 6-8 finalists in each of 6 regions* to move on to the Regional Qualifying round.
  • Regional Qualifying round will includes a live presentation of contestants’ cocktails and inspiration behind it. Local judging panel will schedule time with each contestant to visit their place of employment to judge their cocktail submission live during the week of April 21 2025.
  • Contestants must live in or be within a reasonable travel range from selected market.
  • Regional Competitions held in: NYC, Miami, Dallas, Chicago, Los Angeles, San Francisco

Regional Competition Finalist-

  • 6 regional finalists will be chosen from the live judging rounds to receive an all expenses paid trip to Los Angeles for the National Finals Competition in Mid May 2025

National Competition Finalist –

  • 1 National Finalist will receive an all expenses paid trip to France to compete in the Global Final Competition.
  • Hotel accommodations for 4 days and 3 nights in Cognac & Paris for finalist (no guest)

Global Competition Winners-

  • 3 winners will be selected:
    • 1st winner will receive 3,000€
    • 2nd winner will receive 2,000€
    • 3rd winner will receive 1,000€

All participants must have a US bank account. Prizes will be awarded at the Club RÉMY MARTIN during an Award Dinner.

In the event of a disagreement concerning the validity, interpretation, and / or performance of the present rules and/or the contest and in the absence of an amicable solution, the Court of France will have Sole Jurisdiction.

All federal, state, and local taxes, fees, and surcharges on any prize are the sole responsibility of winner of the prize. Winners of prizes with a value of $600 or more will be issued an IRS Form 1099-MISC early in the year following the year in which prize was awarded for filing with his/her federal and state tax returns. Sponsor complies with all tax reporting requirements. The amount of any tax liability will vary depending on winner’s tax bracket.

By entering this competition, you are giving Remy Cointreau USA, Inc., and its affiliates explicit rights to use your photo, video, image, name and photo video image of your drink, drink recipe name, and your drink recipe for publicity for any purposes, including but not limited within 5 years to: commercial use and promotional activation, paid and non-paid media.

Participants of the competition engages to assign the exploitation rights of their recipes, photographs, video clips and cocktail names to the organizer of the competition, namely RÉMY MARTIN and its affiliated or related companies. You accept and agree that the present authorization and assignment are given for free and that you will not claim any kind of compensation.

SOCIAL:

  • Do not post or engage with inappropriate content (copy & photo)- for example: violence, racism/sexism/intolerance, illegal substances, illegal behavior, adult content, substance abuse, cyber bullying, weapons, etc.
  • Do not comment on competitors’ posts in a negative way.
  • Do not tag irrelevant content with Brand handle or hashtags – Misrepresent the company, the brand or its partners.
  • Please use the following social tags:
    • @Collectif1806
    • @RemyMartinUS
    • @RemyMartin.BTA

LIABILITY:

  1. While every reasonable effort will be made, the organizer cannot guarantee the safe return of glassware, equipment or any product supplied by a competitor. Therefore, competitors are advised to house their tools and products in bags/boxes, which enable them to efficiently, gather and hold their equipment and ingredients immediately after competing.
  2. A)ALL ENTRANTS AGREE THAT THE Sponsors, THEIR PARENT COMPANIES, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, AND AGENCIES AND/OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTEST SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR CLAIMS, LOSSES, LIABILITIES, EXPENSES OR INJURIES OF ANY KIND RESULTING IN ANY WAY FROM ENTRANTS PARTICIPATION IN THE CONTEST, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO, THE DRAWING, THE USE OF THE PRIZE, ANY DELAYED, LOST, MISDIRECTED, OR DAMAGED ENTRIES, OR ANY COMPUTER, ONLINE SERVICE, COMMUNICATIONS OR OTHER TECHNICAL MALFUNCTIONS THAT MAY OCCUR.
  3. B)ALL ENTRANTS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT THE Sponsors, THEIR PARENT COMPANIES, AFFILIATES, SUBSIDIARIES, AND AGENCIES AND/OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY ASSOCIATED WITH THE CONTEST MAKE NO WARRANTY OF ANY NATURE, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED REGARDING THE PRIZES, WHETHER WITH RESPECT TO FITNESS FOR PURPOSE, SATISFACTORY QUALITY, DESCRIPTION OR NATURE OF THE PRIZE OR OTHERWISE. ALL ENTRANTS, BY ENTERING THE CONTEST, AGREE TO BE BOUND BY THE ABOVE RULES.

RESPONSIBILITY:

  1. The Organizer makes a commitment to promote his products in a responsible way. Excessive drinking is dangerous for the health; alcoholic beverages should be consumed with moderation. Competitors considered by the organizers to be practicing or promoting any form of irresponsible drinking, including “shots” will be disqualified and may be asked to leave the venue. Any participants must comply with the local regulation in respect to alcoholic beverage, during and after the competition.
  2. Competitors must conduct themselves in a safe manner and any action considered by the organizers to endanger fellow competitors, judges or spectators will result in instant disqualification and possible ejection from the competition.

General Rules of participation.

By participating, entrants agree to be bound by these Official Rules and the decisions of the Sponsors, which shall be final, and waive any right to claim ambiguity in the Contest or these Official Rules. All federal, state and local laws apply. All federal, state or other tax liabilities arising from this Contest will be the sole responsibility of the prize winners. The Sponsors, their parent companies, affiliates, subsidiaries and advertising and promotion agencies are not responsible for and shall not be liable for: (i) late, lost, delayed, misdirected, incomplete or unintelligible entries, telephone system or computer malfunctions, lost connections or transmission errors; (ii) any injuries, losses or damages of any kind caused by the acceptance, possession or use of any prize or from participating in the Contest; or (iii) any printing, typographical, administrative or technological errors in any material associated with the Contest. Sponsors reserves the right, in their sole discretion, to modify, cancel or suspend this Contest should a virus, bug, computer problem or other causes beyond the Sponsors’ control corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the Contest. The Sponsors may prohibit you from participating in the Contest or winning a prize if, in their sole discretion, the Sponsor determines that you are attempting to undermine the legitimate operation of the Contest by cheating, hacking, deception, or other unfair playing practices or intending to annoy, abuse, threaten or harass any other players or Sponsors’ representatives. CAUTION: ANY ATTEMPT BY A PARTICIPANT TO DELIBERATELY DAMAGE THE WEBSITE OR UNDERMINE THE LEGITIMATE OPERATION OF THE CONTEST MAY BE IN VIOLATION OF CRIMINAL AND CIVIL LAWS AND WILL RESULT IN DISQUALIFICATION OF SUCH PARTICIPANT AND SHOULD SUCH AN ATTEMPT BE MADE, THE SPONSORS RESERVES THE RIGHT TO SEEK REMEDIES AND DAMAGES (INCLUDING ATTORNEY’S FEES) FROM ANY SUCH PARTICIPANT TO THE FULLEST EXTENT OF THE LAW, INCLUDING CRIMINAL PROSECUTION

  • In the event of a dispute, the decision of the Sponsors shall be final and binding.
  • All entries and the information contained in such entries will become the Co-Sponsor’s property and will not be acknowledged or returned.
  • Acceptance of a prize will constitute permission for the Sponsors to use the names, cities, states, likenesses, and voices of the winners for advertising and promotional purposes, without any further compensation, unless prohibited by law.

LICENSE AND RELEASE:

Participation in the Contest and acceptance of prize constitute each winner’s and guest’s permission for Sponsor or its agents to photograph, film, and record each winner and guest and to use his/her name, address (city and state), likeness, photograph, voice, biographical information, and/or any statements made by winner and guest regarding the Contest or Sponsor for purposes of trade, publicity, or promotion without notice or additional compensation, except where prohibited by law, including, but not limited to, social media, advertising, POS, public relations, for all perpetuity worldwide. By participating and/or accepting a prize, entrants, winners, and guests acknowledge and agree that this Contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed, or administered by, or associated with, Facebook, or Twitter and agree to release and hold harmless Facebook, and Twitter, Sponsor, Sponsor’s advertising and promotional agencies, and their respective parent companies, subsidiaries, affiliates, partners, representatives, agents, successors, assigns, employees, officers, and directors (“Released Parties”) from any and all liability for loss, harm, damage, injury, cost, or expense whatsoever, including, without limitation, property damage, personal injury, and/or death that may occur in connection with, preparation for, travel to, or participation in the Contest, or possession, acceptance, and/or use or misuse of prize or participation in any Contest-related activity, including, but not limited to, any claims based on publicity rights, defamation or invasion of privacy, and merchandise delivery. Sponsor shall not be responsible for any cancellations, delays, diversions, substitutions, or omissions whatsoever by any transportation companies or any other persons providing any services to winner, including any results thereof, such as changes in services or location necessitated by same. Sponsor is not responsible if any part of a Contest prize cannot be awarded due to acts of God, acts of war, natural disasters, weather, or acts of terrorism. Sponsor shall not be liable for any loss or damage to personal belongings. Entrants who do not comply with these Official Rules or who attempt to interfere with this Contest in any way shall be disqualified. There is no purchase or sales presentation required to participate. A purchase does not increase odds of winning.

USE OF INFORMATION

The information that you provide via interactive media in connection with the Contest may be used by Sponsor, Marketing Affiliate, and Related Entities in accordance with its Privacy Policy, which is found at: PRIVACY POLICY and which may be updated from time to time without notice.

DISPUTES/ CHOICE OF LAW:

  1. Except where prohibited, each entrant agrees that this Contest shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules. Sponsors reserve the right to take such action as it deems necessary to enforce these Official Rules and ensure the fair operation of this Contest, including without limitation barring entrants who do not comply with these Official Rules. By entering, entrants consent to the jurisdiction and venue of the appropriate federal, state and local courts located in New York for any and all disputes, claims and causes of action arising out of or connected with this Contest or any prize awarded.
 

AGE VERIFICATION

You must be 21 years old to enter

NO