Bushmills (High)ball Final v2

Submit your entry from February 19 – April 30, 2025

REQUIREMENTS: The cocktail should include minimum 1 ounce (oz.) of at least one [1] of Bushmills’ whiskeys listed below: Bushmills Original Blended Whiskey Bushmills Black Bush Blended Whiskey Bushmills 10 Year Single Malt Bushmills 12 Year Single Malt Bushmills 16 Year Single Malt At least one [1] of your ingredients should be a carbonated beverage. The cocktail should be served in a highball glass. Whiskeys outside of Proximo’s whiskey portfolio are prohibited from use in your cocktail. You can view the full portfolio here. Non-whiskey spirits, liqueurs, etc. from brand portfolios outside of Proximo are allowed. For the avoidance of doubt, this applies only for the purpose of this Contest and does not affect the purchasing decisions or other business or operational decisions of any alcohol beverage retail licensee.

JUDGING CRITERIA: Creative Brief — 20 Points: Does the cocktail fit the creative brief? Use of Bushmills — 20 Points: Does the entrant use Bushmills in a way that celebrates or highlights it? Craft — 15 points: Has the entrant demonstrated precise and accurate technique? KNOWLEDGE — 15 Points: How clearly has the cocktail been inspired by Bushmills? Has the entrant demonstrated their knowledge of the brand? APPEARANCE — 10 Points: How appealing does this cocktail look? *Flavor — 20 Points: How flavorful and balanced is the prepared cocktail? Also, consider the taste, texture, and aroma of the cocktail. *Flavor criteria only applies during the Semi-Final Competition and Finale Competition as judges will not be tasting cocktails prior to the live competitions.

Bushmills is the world’s oldest licensed whiskey distillery and Ireland’s most awarded single malt. Bushmills’ whiskeys are renowned for their complexity and approachability, as well as their flexibility as the base in various delicious cocktails. While there are very few recipes that are entirely new to Bushmills in its 417 year history — we want to see you surprise us with your own take on the Whiskey Highball.

THE BRAND

The refreshing nature of a highball cocktail and its lack of burdensome rules opens the doors to explore new contemporary territories of flavor and creativity. Bushmills is asking competitors to showcase a piece of themselves in the form of a highball cocktail. Craft a highball cocktail that reflects who you are: whether it’s your background, your personality, your inspirations, your likes and interests — the possibilities are nearly endless.

THE BRIEF

THE GRAND PRIZE

Read the official rules and requirements linked here and below. Craft a Bushmills highball cocktail that is evocative of your personality, ideas, and inspirations that showcases your skills and qualities as a bartender. The recipe must include at least 1 ounce of 1 of Bushmills’ whiskeys (products listed above). Write a few sentences explaining your thought process and methods behind your cocktail, how it relates to you and/or how it relates to the creative brief. Snap a picture of your cocktail — you’ll need it to enter! Fill out the form below with your information and your submission. That’s it! You will be contacted no later than May 13, 2025 if you have been selected to move forward.

HOW TO ENTER

Online Submissions: 5 competitors from each of the 5 specific markets (25 total competitors) will be selected to move forward to the Semi-Finals round. Please note: travel to the Semi-Finals in each of the 5 specified markets is at the expense of the competitor. Semi-Finals: 1 finalist from each of the 5 specified markets (5 total finalists) will be selected to move forward to the Finale. Please note: VinePair will organize and fund travel to New Orleans for finalists. Finale: 1 winner of the Finale competition will win a cash prize of $3,500 USD and a trip to Ireland to visit the Bushmills Distillery. All flights and hotel accommodations are paid for by VinePair (3 days, 2 nights). Additional activities to be organized by the Bushmills team.

PRIZING DETAILS

CLICK TO READ ALL COMPETITION RULES & REQUIREMENTS

FIll out the form below to enter the Bushmills (High)Ball Cocktail Competition.

ABOUT BUSHMILLS

$3,500 Plus A Trip to Ireland to Visit the Bushmills Distillery!

THE PROCESS

Online Submissions [Virtual] February 19 – April 30, 2025 Semi-Finals Across 5 Markets [Live Competitions] May 1 – July 15, 2025 (1 Day Per Market) Five live events in Chicago, IL, Houston, TX, New York City, NY, San Diego, CA and Tampa, FL. Finale [Live Competition] July 21, 2025 Live event during Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans, Louisiana, with all travel expenses paid.

READ MORE ABOUT TALES OF THE COCKTAIL HERE