The Virginia Cocktail Games brings together the commonwealth’s top bartenders to compete for bragging rights, prizes and the title of Virginia Cocktail Games Champion.
Using Virginia-made spirits, competitors create original cocktails that showcase creativity, craftsmanship and the incredible quality of spirits made across Virginia.
Winner of the 2026 Virginia Cocktail Games, MacKenzie Carter impressed judges with “The Virtus,” an original cocktail featuring Three Birds Agave Spirit from Old House Distillery. Her winning creation stood out for its inventive flavors, thoughtful storytelling and polished presentation, offering a memorable interpretation of the theme “From the Backroads to Victory Lane.”
Meet the talented finalists who joined the champion in the final round of the Virginia Cocktail Games. Each bartender brought their own interpretation of “From the Backroads to Victory Lane,” transforming Virginia’s spirits and racing history into an original cocktail through creative flavors, storytelling and presentation.
