2025 Bartender of the Year

Come join us for an exciting night as we host the Bama’s Best Bartender Competition! 🍹 The event is open to the public, so you can watch the action, taste the competing cocktails, and vote for your favorite in the People’s Choice Award. Zeke’s will be serving lite bites and drink specials all evening to celebrate Industry Night — don’t miss it!

Want to compete? We are looking for bama’s best bartender!

The Alabama Restaurant & Hospitality Association (ARHA) and Old Forester are looking for the state’s best bartenders to compete in our annual cocktail showdown!!! Contestants will submit an original cocktail that showcases their skill as a bartender and highlights one of the Whiskey Row expressions (1870, 1897, 1910, 1920), 86 or 100. The cocktail needs to represent the unique flavors of the state of Alabama or the city in which you are competing. If selected to compete, this cocktail will need to be batched and sampled to guests during the cocktail hour of the competition for a chance to win the People’s Choice award.

Regional winners will compete at the state competition on November 3 at the Renaissance Montgomery Hotel & Spa at the Convention Center. The state winner will be crowned Alabama’s “2025 Bartender of the Year” and take home the $1,500 grand prize and trophy! Go online to arhaonline.com for this year’s rules and contest format. Deadline to apply is August 31.

Also check out other Contests in Orange Beach.