Bar & Restaurant Expo

Bartenders Unite (and Compete)!

Bar & Restaurant Expo is the official location for the United States Bartenders' Guild (USBG) National Cocktail Competition.

Get ready to witness the cocktail event of the year – the electrifying USBG Shake It Up Competition that will have you on the edge of your seats! 

Watch this thrilling competition located on the Spotlight Stage as the most talented bartenders go head-to-head in a battle of creativity, speed, and skill. Witness mind-blowing cocktail concoctions that push the boundaries of what you thought a drink could be.

Support the bartender community and cheer on the National Finalists in both the Classic and Flair Division! 

  • Shake It Up National Final – Classic  – Tuesday, March 25, 1:30pm - 4:30pm
  • Shake It Up National Final – Flair  – Wednesday, March 26, 1:30pm - 3:30pm

Access to watch the Shake It Up Competition is included in all registration passes.

USBG Shake It Up Competition Submission Details.

Classic Division

Applications are currently being accepted for the USBG 2025 Shake It Up – Classic Competition. The deadline to enter is Friday, November 1, 2024. Submit your application today.

Flair Division
Learn more about the 2025 Flair Qualifier.

The Top 5 Finalists will advance to the Shake It Up National Final on Wednesday, March 26.

Flair National Finals: 

  • Each competitor will be assigned a sponsored spirit and demo their cocktail LIVE on the Spotlight Stage at Bar & Restaurant Expo.
  • Drinks may be stirred, shaken, built, or thrown!
  • The highest-scoring competitor will be named the 2025 USBG National Champion and will represent the USBG at the IBA World Cocktail Championship in Fall 2025.
  • The second highest-scoring competitor will be named the Runner-Up and will represent the USBG at the Pan-American Cocktail Championship, Fall 2025
     
Bar & Restaurant Expo