OFFICIAL RULES & GUIDELINES
PROGRAM OVERVIEW
The Road to Jerez Cocktail Competition celebrates the historic connection between American whiskey and the sherry-making traditions of Jerez de la Frontera, Spain. Competitors are challenged to showcase Rieger Kansas City Whiskey through original cocktail creation, craftsmanship, and storytelling.
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One bartender will earn the opportunity to travel with members of the J. Rieger & Co. team to Jerez, Spain for an exclusive behind-the-scenes experience at the world-renowned Williams & Humbert Bodega.
PUBLICITY RELEASE
By entering this competition, you grant J. Rieger & Co. and its affiliates the right to use your name, likeness, submitted photos, cocktail names, and recipes for publicity and promotional purposes across press, social media, digital platforms, and branded activations.
ELIGIBILITY REQUIREMENTS
This competition is open to:
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Working bartenders (part-time or full-time)
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Legal U.S. residents
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Individuals 21 years of age or older
The following are not eligible:
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Full-time employees of liquor companies or distributors
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Individuals in jurisdictions where participation is prohibited
No purchase necessary to enter.
Only one entry per person is permitted.
Submissions will not be accepted after January 31st.
PARTICIPATING REGIONS
The submission window will close on January 31st.
Regional finalists will be announced on March 9, 2026.
Regional semifinal competitions will be held in:​
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Kansas City, MO - March 23, 2026
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Orlando, FL - March 30, 2026
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Washington, D.C. - March 30, 2026
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Los Angeles, CA - April 13, 2026
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Chicago, IL - April 6, 2026
One winner from each region will advance to the National Final at Bar Convent Brooklyn, June 8th and 9th.
All finalists will also be hosted at J. Rieger & Co. in Kansas City for a distillery immersion experience in mid-May.
PRIZES & TRAVEL COVERAGE
Regional Semi-Finals
Winners from each regional event will advance to the National Final and the distillery immersion experience.
Distillery Immersion Trip — Kansas City, MO
J. Rieger & Co. will cover:
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Round-trip airfare to Kansas City
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Hotel accommodations
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Scheduled group experiences and distillery programming
National Final — Bar Convent Brooklyn, NYC
J. Rieger & Co. will cover:
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Round-trip airfare to New York City
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Hotel accommodations
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Event admission and scheduled competition activities
Grand Prize — Jerez de la Frontera, Spain
The Grand Prize Winner will travel to Spain with:
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Ryan Maybee, Co-Founder
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Nathan Perry, Master Distiller
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Steve Olson, Educator & Sherry Expert
J. Rieger & Co. will cover:
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Round-trip international airfare
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Hotel accommodations
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Scheduled distillery and bodega experiences
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Select meals and transportation during program activities
ENTRY REQUIREMENTS
One Original Cocktail
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Must showcase Rieger Kansas City Whiskey
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Must include a minimum of 1 oz of Rieger Kansas City Whiskey
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Must contain no more than 6 total ingredients (excluding garnishes, sprays, or citrus zests)
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Recipe must be original and not previously published
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All recipes must comply with applicable laws and regulations
Photo Requirement
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A clear, well-lit image of the finished cocktail.
Questionnaire
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Entrants must complete:
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First experience with Rieger Kansas City Whiskey
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What sets this whiskey apart from other American whiskeys
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What they most look forward to experiencing in Jerez if selected
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Entry Limit
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One entry per person/email address.
SELECTION REQUIREMENTS
Phase 1: Online Judging
Entries will be reviewed based on recipe quality, storytelling, photo submission, and questionnaire responses.
Judges will NOT consider:
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Current employer
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Time spent bartending
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Personal background
In close cases, judges may recreate cocktails to evaluate taste and balance.
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Online Entry Scoring
Creative Criteria
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Recipe name + story: 20%
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Connection to the heritage of Rieger Kansas City Whiskey: 20%
Technical Criteria
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Presentation: 20%
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Taste & balance: 20%
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Ingredient intention & cohesion: 20%
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Phase Two Live Judging: Regional Semi-Final & Grand Final
The top entries from each region will be invited to compete live.
Regional and Grand Final events will be judged by:
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A live panel of expert judges, and
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One blind-tasting judge evaluating cocktails without seeing the competitor.
Competitors will be required to prepare two of the same cocktail:
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One for the expert judging panel
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One for the blind-tasting judge and photographer
Guidelines for Semifinalists​
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Minimal glassware provided: coupe, tumbler, Collins
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Standard ingredients provided, but availability varies by market
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Competitors should bring any specialty or hard-to-source ingredients
Ingredient Access
J. Rieger & Co. will confirm the availability of requested ingredients if sourcing is uncertain.
Scoring Categories (Live Rounds)
Competitors will be evaluated across six categories, divided into Creative and Technical criteria.
Creative Criteria
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Thoughtful recipe name and story: 10%
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Relationship to the Rieger story and heritage: 20%
Technical Criteria
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Presentation: 10%
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Taste and balance: 20%
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Technical skill and execution: 20%
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Thoughtful use of ingredients: 20%
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Blind Tasting Judge Scoring
The blind-tasting judge will assign a score out of 100, based solely on:
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Taste
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Presentation
This score will be combined with the panel scores, and all results will be averaged to determine rankings and winners.
SUBMISSION WARRANTY & RIGHTS
By submitting an entry, you affirm that:
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You are the sole creator of the cocktail
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The entry does not infringe any intellectual property, privacy, or publicity rights
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The entry does not defame any individual
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The recipe has not been previously published
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The entry complies with all applicable laws
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Sponsor’s determination regarding eligibility or rule violations is final
ENTRY PORTAL
All entries must be submitted at:
www.JRiegerCo.com/roadtojerez
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Late, incomplete, or duplicate submissions will not be accepted.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
J. Rieger & Co. reserves the right to amend or cancel any component of the competition at its discretion. Participation constitutes acceptance of all rules, judging decisions, and publicity terms.
