Cocktail competition

Nominate yourself or your staff for the AHG Expo Diageo Cocktail Competition and watch them battle it out on the live stage as we crown the overall winner with a $1,000 cash prize!

It doesn’t matter if you are a pub, club, bar, restaurant or nightclub, if you have a cocktail enthusiast who thrives on a little healthy competition, this is their time to shine!

We’re calling for mixologists and cocktail enthusiasts to enter the AHG Expo Diageo Cocktail Competition. With 2026 predicted to be the Year of the Spritz, we want to see your interpretation of this classic summer cocktail. Create your own original Spritz, or make a twist to a classic Spritz, and send through your entry!

There are great prizes up for grabs with the overall winner receiving a $1,000 cash prize, a perpetual trophy, a Diageo prize pack to take home AND tickets to the Diageo table at the CQ Awards for Excellence, to be held on the night of the competition. The runner-up will win $500 cash, whilst third place will pocket $250 cash, as well as Diageo prize packs for both.

When is it drawn:

Twelve finalists will be selected from the paper submissions, who will all be invited to compete in the heats, which will be held at the AHG Expo on Thursday 26th March, from 11am. There will be 3 heats in total. The winner of each heat will progress to the Grand Final, to be held later the same day.

Attendance is required in-person, where drinks will be made, then tasted by an expert panel of judges.

The winner will be announced on the day.

What to bring with you if you’re a finalist:

You will be notified on Monday 9th March if you have been successful in advancing to the heats.
Diageo will supply the key ingredients of Ketel One Vodka, Tanqueray Gin, Casamigos Tequila, plus the standard cocktail-making tools of a shaker, strainer, muddler etc. Ice is also supplied.

You are required to bring ALL other ingredients and garnishes with you on the day PLUS your own glassware. If you have you own lucky shaker, feel free to bring this along too. Remember if you progress to the final you will need to make your Spritz again, so be sure to bring enough ingredients with you for at least two drinks.

The decision of the judging panel is final.