NEW ORLEANS, LA (February 19, 2026) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) is pleased to announce a partnership with Monkey Shoulder to present the Ultimate Bartender Championship (UBC), a comprehensive skills-based bartending competition designed to showcase the essential talents and expertise that define world-class bartending at each of the Tales on Tour series stops, starting in Chicago on February 24, 2026.
The Ultimate Bartender Championship challenges bartenders across five critical disciplines: general spirits knowledge, professional service, speed, precision, and sensory expertise. Designed to celebrate the craft of bartending in its entirety, the program invites bartenders to demonstrate their mastery through a series of skill-based challenges that test both foundational techniques and refined expertise.
Competition Structure and Challenges
Bartenders will compete across six distinct challenges:
- General Knowledge Quiz – Testing comprehensive spirits knowledge and industry expertise
- Accuracy of Pouring – Showcasing precision and consistency in free-pouring techniques
- Blind Nosing of Spirits – Identifying spirits through sensory evaluation and expertise
- Tray Service – Demonstrating professional service standards and precision in delivering drinks to a table
- The Perfect Serve – Creating cocktails under time pressure while maintaining quality and technique
- Round Building – A head-to-head contest building cocktails against the clock to find the top monkey
The competition begins with an online general knowledge quiz, which serves as the application and qualifying round. Qualified bartenders will then participate in live competition rounds during Tales on Tour events, where they will complete the remaining four challenges in 20-minute time slots at the Tales Lounge in each tour city.
A running scoreboard will track performance across all Tales on Tour markets, with the top-scoring bartender from the U.S. advancing to an international grand final.
Tales on Tour Competition Schedule
- 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
Tales on Tour: Chicago Competition Schedule
- February 16th, 2026 – Application Quiz Opens
- February 20th, 2026 at 10am CST, 2026 – Application Quiz Closes
- February 20th, 2026 – Qualified Bartenders notified
- February 24, 2026 – Live Competition Rounds onsite in Tales Lounge
How to Enter
Bartenders interested in competing can register at https://talesofthecocktail.org/get-involved/ultimatebartendercompetition-monkeyshoulder/ by completing Challenge One, the knowledge quiz.
No purchase is necessary to participate. Complimentary tickets will be provided to bartenders who have qualified with the General Knowledge Quiz, in order to access the Tales Lounge where live competition rounds will take place.
For more information about Tales of the Cocktail Foundation, please visit talesofthecocktail.org.
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About Tales Of The Cocktail Foundation
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the global hospitality industry through education, advocacy, and community support. As the world’s leading spirits education platform, the Foundation provides year-round programs and initiatives that foster professional growth and drive meaningful change. Each July, the industry gathers in New Orleans, the beating heart of cocktail culture and hospitality, for a one-of-a-kind conference that blends education, networking, and celebration like no other. Guided by its core pillars—Educate, Advance, and Support—the Foundation’s impact extends far beyond the U.S., reaching professionals and communities around the world. Tales of the Cocktail will take place in New Orleans July 19-24, 2026. #totc2026
About Monkey Shoulder
Monkey Shoulder is a unique blend of bold Speyside single malts, crafted to deliver a smooth, rich, and playful whisky that breaks the conventions of traditional Scotch. Made from a trio of single malts, each batch is matured in first-fill ex-bourbon casks, then blended in small batches and married for up to six months to achieve its signature depth and balance. The result is a vibrant array of flavors, with notes of vanilla, honey, rich spices, fruity marmalade, and a twist of orange. Smooth yet bold, this multi‑award‑winning whisky was originally created to craft the perfect Old Fashioned, and its balanced profile makes it a true bartender’s choice. Whether sipped neat or used to liven up any cocktail, Monkey Shoulder delivers a premium, crowd‑pleasing experience that stands out without overpowering—perfect in the mix, every time.
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