Ultimate Bartender Championship
ULTIMATE BARTENDER CHAMPIONSHIP
Sponsored by Monkey Shoulder
The Challenges | Competition Timeline | Prize | Entry Requirements | Enter Now
| Contest Rules
Welcome to Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Ultimate Bartender Competition sponsored by Monkey Shoulder
Forget everything you know about the conventional bartending competition – join us for the Tales of the Cocktail Foundation’s Ultimate Bartender Championship sponsored by Monkey Shoulder in all 5 Tales on Tour locations.
In 2026, UBC will test the Skills that Pay the Bills as bartenders participate in challenges that prove their competency in all aspects of what it takes to be at the top of their game.
The prize? Tales of the Cocktail Foundation will send the highest scorer on a three-day global trip to compete in the worldwide Ultimate Bartending Championship against all national champions.
Challenge One is a knowledge quiz – 50 quick-fire questions in five rounds to test your industry knowledge – and is REQUIRED TO ENTER THE COMPETITION.
THE CHALLENGES
UBC consists of six rounds. The first five are all worth 10 points – highlighting that no one skill is more important than any other. A great bartender is one who can master them all.
The four contestants with the highest scores from those first five rounds go through to the final challenge to face off against one another and determine the winner of that city’s competition.
CHALLENGE 1
QUIZ
50 quick-fire questions in five rounds to test your industry knowledge and drinks know-how.
CHALLENGE 2
POURING
A measure of speed and accuracy.
CHALLENGE 3
NOSING
Testing your sense of smell and memory.
CHALLENGE 4
TRAY SERVICE
Establishing a clear standard of service.
CHALLENGE 5
THE PERFECT SERVE
Creating one perfect cocktail against the clock.
CHALLENGE 6
ROUND BUILDING
A head-to-head contest building cocktails against the clock to find the top monkey.
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Competition Timeline
February 13th, 2026 – Application Quiz Opens
February 24th, 2026 – Tales on Tour Chicago
March 24th, 2026 – Tales on Tour Dallas
April 14th, 2026 – Tales on Tour Los Angeles
September 22nd, 2026 – Tales on Tour D.C.
October 27th, 2026 – Tales on Tour Miami
December 2026 – Global Championship Trip
The Grand Prize
TOTCF will send the highest scorer from each Tales on Tour stop on a three-day global trip to compete in the worldwide Monkey Shoulder Ultimate Bartending Championship against all national champions.
