Jameson Irish whiskey has announced the return of its annual Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series competition.
Now in its fourth year, the competition is open for entries from 13th January to 17th February, 2025.
Following a successful 2024 Series, which saw 355 video entries (+130% compared to 2023) across 46 countries, this year’s competition encourages Jameson’s global bartender family to once again submit a unique cocktail creation featuring Jameson Black Barrel Irish whiskey, championing their local cultures and communities through processes, ingredients and beyond.
Industry trends for 2025
The Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series offers a platform for uncovering and sharing emerging cocktail trends from across the globe, with entrants encouraged to explore the most exciting flavours
in their unique geography.
Last year’s competition saw entrants submitting cocktails featuring some of the most diverse regional ingredients, from fermented mare’s milk (Kumiss) to Smyliyan Beans, Mangosteen from Indonesia and walnut tree leaves from New Zealand.
“I expect to see bartenders looking backwards in time, using plants and herbology to make cocktails – from tree saps to herbs and roots and beyond,” says judge Claudia Cabrera of Kaito Del Valle.
“Additionally, I predict we will see cocktails that will bring ancient ritualistic beverages and their ingredients, such as Tejate (prehispanic maize and cacao ‘drink of the gods’) and Pulque (2,000+ year old Mesoamerican fermented agave drink), to the wider world, shining a light on regional culture.
Umami flavours will be dialled up, with algae and tomatoes being key players, and also using ingredients to create rare visual experiences – I expect to see concepts like bioluminescence, colour shifting and 3D printed ingredients pop up on menus soon.”
Returning judge and hospitality consultant, Danil Nevsky, says that extremes and maximalism are likely to be the major industry shift of 2025.
“‘Samey’ will be very much passé with bartenders exploring extremes. Expect to see unseen ingredient combinations in drinks pushed further, like parmesan and espresso, as well as extreme savoury ingredients, such as mushrooms, anchovies and even root vegetables, used to push classics like the dirty martini to the very edge. Drama won’t just come to cocktails in the ingredients. Dramatic garnishes and presentation will continue to get bigger and better across the year, whilst still being refined.”
The prize
Applicants for 2025 will be competing to win one of three €5000 cash prize, a trip to Cork, Ireland, to attend the Jameson HOSTS Global Summit, and access to leading industry figures for the Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series Mentorship Programme.
Uploading a video entry of their serve, cocktail submissions will use Jameson Black Barrel, an exceptional blend of expertly aged select batch whiskeys with smooth notes of toasted oak, caramel
and vanilla spice.
The top 24 entries chosen by the judging panel for the ‘Regional Winners’, announced on 10th March
2025, will win a three-day, all expenses paid trip to Midleton Distillery, Ireland to attend the ‘Jameson HOSTS Global Summit’ curated in collaboration with award-winning bartender Remy Savage.
From this extended Jameson family of 24 Regional Winners, a ‘Top 10’ will be selected to compete in
the live final at the Jameson HOSTS Global Summit, where three Global Champions will be identified through a unique blind tasting judging process.
Here, two groups – consisting of three judges and three mentors – will adjudicate in isolation with their combined scores deciding 2025’s three Global Champions.
The global final, taking place in Cork, Ireland, will then crown the top three ‘Global Champions’, with each
Global Champion earning €5000 and access to an innovative Jameson mentoring programme that
includes in-person and virtual sessions with industry giants.
Mentorship programme
The Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series mentorship programme aims to provide guidance and support to aspiring bar professionals seeking to enhance their skills and knowledge personally and professionally in the wider bar community.
Commencing at the Jameson HOSTS Summit, the mentors will include summit curator Remy Savage,
drinks industry journalist Eleni Nikoloulia and hospitality consultant Danil Nevsky.
Each mentor, selected for their unique expertise on topics ranging from creative ideation and concept design right through to global marketing and social media branding, will be at the disposal of the three Global Winners, allowing them to pick their brain and ask for their expertise, such as exploring their very own bar concept or discussing professional development questions.
For more information and updates, bartenders can visit the Jameson website.
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