The United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) has selected five finalists that will compete in the nation’s annual cocktail competition, Shake It Up, hosted this year at the 2024 Bar & Restaurant Expo.
USBG Shake It Up Competition 2024 Finalists:
- Connor Perry – The Last Word (Ann Arbor, MI)
- Felipe Castro C – Beverage Consultant (Park City, UT)
- Jonathan Stanyard – The Bitter Gringo Co. (Seattle, WA)
- Mariano Gil, Jr. – The Laboratory/Shot Republic/Global Bar Solutions (Brownsville, TX)
- Yolanda Gregg – Ritz Carlton Charlotte (Charlotte, NC)
The competition will take place on the expo’s NxT Stage on Wednesday, March 20, from 1pm - 5pm, where contestants will demonstrate creativity, speed, and skill. Each competitor will craft a cocktail live in front of expo attendees and a panel of expert judges. Bartenders will be awarded points based on several elements including taste, aroma, presentation, creativity and more. The top two scoring contestants will advance to the final round, where the winner will be named the 2024 USBG National Champion and will represent the USBG at the 2024 IBA World Cocktail Championship in Portugal. The Runner-Up will represent the USBG in the 2024 Pan-American Cocktail Championship.
USBG Shake It Up Competition Sponsored By:
- EuroBar
- Hoshizaki Ice
- Reàl Infused Exotics
- Ron Zacapa Rum
Bartenders have this competition and many other activations to look forward to including the brand-new Cocktail Clubhouse, a dynamic and captivating space exclusively designed for those passionate about pushing the boundaries of beverage creation. Highlights include Profit Power Hours and meetups led by Tiffanie Barriere, The Drinking Coach, spirits educator and influencer, Erick Castro, co-owner of Raised by Wolves and Gilly’s House of Cocktails, and Josh Davis, founder of Brown & Balanced.
The expo will also feature workshops, mixology trainings and masterclasses covering important topics like designing distinct beverage programs, upcoming industry trends, storytelling through mixology, crafting a zero-proof menu, and other game-changing insights. These sessions are led by mixologists and beverage experts like Adam Teeter and Josh Malin, co-CEOs of VinePair, spirits educator and consultant, Shannon Mustipher, master mixologist, Tim Weigel, and many more.
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Plan to Attend or Participate in the 2024 Bar & Restaurant Expo, March 18-20, 2024
To learn about the latest trends, issues and hot topics, and to experience and taste the best products within the bar, restaurant and hospitality industry, plan to attend Bar & Restaurant Expo 2024 in Las Vegas. Visit BarandRestaurantExpo.com.
To book your sponsorship or exhibit space at the 2024 Bar & Restaurant Expo, contact:
Veronica Gonnello (for companies A to G) e: [email protected] p: 212-895-8244
Tim Schultz (for companies H to Q) e: [email protected] p: 917-258-8589
Fadi Alsayegh (for companies R to Z) e: [email protected] p: 917-258-5174
Also, be sure to follow Bar & Restaurant on Facebook and Instagram for all the latest industry news and trends.