Get ready, Australia, Espolòn Tequila is bringing the ultimate bartending showdown to our shores!
Espolòn Tequila Cocktail Fights isn’t just another competition; it’s built for every bartender, barback, glassy, manager, and owner. The high-energy, bartender royale features fight camps, regionals, and a national final to crown the Australian champion who will fight for their flight to Guadalajara to defend Australia’s global title. With an atmosphere like the WWE had a baby with Ninja Warrior, Cocktail Fights is a dynamic bartending competition where we take 200 hopeful bartenders across four regional finals. During those nights of chaos, we whittle them down to ONE bartender to represent and defend Australia’s title as the global champ! It’s fast-paced, theatrical, and showcases creativity and technical prowess in real time.
The concept burst onto the scene in 2013, in New York City, breaking away from the calm, structured nature of traditional cocktail contests. Gone were the quiet judging panels, three-piece suits, and tweezers delicately placing micro herbs. In their place came roaring crowds, live commentary, and an energy that felt more like a sporting event than a bartending competition. Espolòn’s Cocktail Fights didn’t just crown winners; it created people’s champs, redefining what competitive bartending could be.
Born from the ideals of Espolòn’s legendary Maestro Tequilero, Cirilo Oropeza, who believed that quality 100% Agave Tequila was for the people, not just celebrities and the elite, brought a range of hospitality workers to the events and saw a true competition for the people.
So why does Espolòn Tequila want to bring cocktail fights down under?
Cocktail Fights are coming to our shores because much like Cirilo, we want to recruit bar workers of all skill levels to showcase the fun and excitement that comes with this industry. It elevates bartending from craft to spectacle, blending technical mastery with entertainment. Unlike traditional competitions, which often focus solely on precision and presentation, Cocktail Fights demands adaptability, speed, and creativity in conditions that are fun and bring the best out in bartenders of all levels.
In October 2025, Cocktail Fights returned with a global showdown in Guadalajara and Campari Academy Australia stepped into the ring with our very own contender. Representing Melbourne’s Moondrop, Jackson Holbrook earned his spot after being randomly selected from participants in the Espolòn Tequila’s 2025 Afterlife program. Facing off against powerhouse nations like Italy, the US, and Indonesia, Jackson delivered a decisive one-two punch and claimed the ultimate prize: the coveted global belt. Australia didn’t just compete, we conquered.
Cocktail Fights might be rambunctious and chaotic, a competition for the people, but at its core, Campari Academy remains committed to the growth and empowerment of hospitality professionals across Australia. Every challenge we design is rooted in real-world skills that bartenders use every day.
Before the regionals kick off, our team will hit the road throughout March and April, visiting major cities nationwide to deliver hands-on workshops that will sharpen your craft.
From mastering flavour mapping and building flawless rounds to twisting classics and creating cocktails on the fly (without six months to prepare) we’re bringing the insider knowledge straight to you. For Australian bartenders, this is a game-changer. A chance to develop your skills on a national level, fight with and for the people, and gain the opportunity to compete on a global stage in Guadalajara, Mexico.
Beyond technique, Cocktail Fights fosters community. It brings bartenders together, creating networking opportunities and strengthening professional bonds. Not sure you want to compete? Well for spectators, it transforms quiet watching while waiting for the applause sign into an immersive experience, this is something you’re not going to want to miss.
“If you’re not first, you’re last”.
Book your ticket, this is how you get there!
Step 1: Scan the QR Code to register your interest in our fight camps. These will give you the combination to land the knock-out punch!
Step 2: Check your inbox and remember to RSVP. Secure your spot, you’ll be walking out with some Rick Flair drip.
Step 3: Get yourself to one of the regional finals and sign yourself up for cocktail fights.
Step 4: WIN.
Step 5: (cue Rocky theme) – Train, get flown to Sydney Bar Week to obliterate the competition, and become Australia’s defending champ.
To be first in the know
Scan the QR code to be first in the know with all Cock(tail) Fights updates in your area. For further questions or enquiries please contact your local brand ambassador.
NSW: Alex Zanarini, alex.zanarini@campari.com, @aperitivodivo
VIC: Henry Hammersla, henry.hammersla@campari.com, @henryhammersla_
QLD: Jay Lambert, jay.lambert@campari.com, @jaylambert
National: Zach Mynott, zach.mynott@campari.com, @zmynott