Virginia bartenders are invited to create an original cocktail featuring a Virginia-made spirit for a chance to compete live at Virginia Distilled.
You can enter if you:
Competitors from five regions of Virginia (Central, Coastal, Northern, Southern and Western) will compete against their peers to create original cocktails featuring Virginia-made Spirits. In addition to the five finalists selected by the judges, fans will vote for a People’s Choice finalist, who will join the regional finalists at Virginia Distilled.
Submit your cocktail concept, inspiration and the Virginia-made spirit you will feature.
A closed panel will review all applications and advance 25 (five from each region) to Round 2.
Applications Open: April 27 – May 18
Twenty-five semifinalists will submit:
Four expert judges will select five finalists (one from each region) to compete in the final round.
The remaining 20 semifinalists, will compete in a public “people’s choice” round. The competitor who receives the most votes will advance to compete live at Virginia Distilled as the “People’s Choice Finalist.”
People’s Choice Voting: August 3 – 7
All finalists will compete live at Virginia Distilled in September at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond.
Live Competition: At Virginia Distilled in September
Live Competition: At Virginia Distilled in September
As we enter the celebration of America’s 250th anniversary we are reminded that time has a way of attaching itself to flavor, and Virginia’s history is full of moments worth remembering. For the first phase of the 2026 Virginia Cocktail Games, your challenge is to create an original cocktail that captures or represents the importance of time and the role it plays in the glass and in our imaginations.
Using flavor, technique and presentation, build a cocktail that deploys time as a key ingredient. Whether you draw inspiration from a defining chapter in Virginia history, a spirit or ingredient with a flavorful legacy or a memory you seek to capture in a sip, your cocktail should demonstrate to the judges that time can be tasted. Each entry must feature at least one eligible Virginia-made spirit.
No. There is no entry fee to apply or compete.
No. Cocktails must be created and presented by the individual competitor.
Yes, as long as it fits the current year’s theme and has not previously been submitted to the Virginia Cocktail Games.
Competitors retain ownership of their work, but by entering the competition they grant Virginia Spirits permission to feature submitted recipes, photos and videos in promotional materials.
Yes. Semifinalists and finalists will be promoted alongside the bar or restaurant where they work.
Minor updates may be permitted before the submission deadline. Contact the Virginia Spirits team as soon as possible.
Missing a deadline may result in disqualification, so competitors should carefully review all dates and requirements.
Yes. Prize details, recognition and additional opportunities will be announced closer to the competition.
Judges are looking for cocktails that tell a compelling story, clearly connect to the theme, showcase Virginia spirits and are both delicious and realistic to recreate.
The strongest entries combine a memorable story, a clear connection to the theme, great visual presentation and a cocktail that feels achievable for others to make.
You will need to provide your contact information, confirm that you agree to the competition rules and share the concept and inspiration behind your cocktail.
No. Exact measurements are not required during the initial application, but including more detail can help judges better evaluate flavor, balance and replicability.
Yes. All submissions must clearly reflect the competition theme, “Time in a Bottle.”
Yes. Your cocktail must feature at least one approved Virginia-made distilled spirit as the hero ingredient.
Yes. You may include multiple Virginia-made spirits in your cocktail.
Yes. Homemade syrups, infusions, tinctures and other ingredients are allowed. Just keep in mind that judges will consider how easy the cocktail is for others to recreate.
Yes. Ingredients do not have to be native to Virginia as long as the cocktail meets the overall submission requirements.
You may request an exception by contacting the Virginia Spirits team. Exceptions are reviewed on a case-by-case basis and are not guaranteed.
Using generic ingredient names keeps the focus on Virginia-made spirits and ensures fairness across all submissions.
Judges will review all submitted applications, and 25 bartenders will be selected to compete in the semifinals.
Semifinalists will submit:
No. You may ask someone to help photograph or film your content.
Yes. Semifinalists will receive resources, examples and a kickoff meeting with tips on creating strong photos and videos.
The digital round is judged equally on:
The meeting is mandatory. If you have a scheduling conflict, contact the Virginia Spirits team immediately.
After Round 2, judges will review the submitted digital assets and select five contestants to advance to the final round.
The remaining contestants will then move into the People’s Choice round. Virginia Spirits will share each contestant’s video and open public voting. The contestant with the most votes will earn the final spot in the championship round, joining the five judge-selected finalists.
Visitors may vote once per day.
Votes are verified using technology and monitored using IP addresses and other digital tracking tools.
We will also do a manual review before announcing a winner.
Yes. Competitors are encouraged to promote their cocktail and ask supporters to vote.
No. Paid advertising and offering discounts or incentives in exchange for votes are prohibited and may lead to disqualification.
Creating multiple accounts, using fake phone numbers or attempting to vote multiple times through different identities is considered vote manipulation.
The live finals will take place during Virginia Distilled at the Virginia Museum of History & Culture in Richmond which is typically hosted in September.
No. Finalists will receive a new prompt and create a new original cocktail for the live round.
The finals cocktail must feature a hero ingredient from the First Landing Cup winner’s circle.
Finalists should bring their own tools, glassware and any necessary ingredients. Ice and cleanup supplies will be provided.
The winner is determined through a combination of judges’ scores and in-person People’s Choice votes.
They can influence the final outcome, but judges’ scores carry the greatest weight.
