The Academy
The Bartender Talent Academy (BTA) is Rémy Martin’s international cocktail competition highlighting the talents of bartenders. Each year, a new competition challenges bartenders to be creative and develop new, exciting beverages. The competition begins with national selections, with a global final in France: Cognac & Paris. Begins with national selections, followed by the global final in France: Cognac & Paris, where the national will be competiting for the title.
The BTA is for rising stars of the bar scene that are ready to take on new challenges & will be pushed to their limit in terms of creativity, storytelling, cocktail creation & more.
If you have what it takes, you will experiene a week of a lifetime amoung like-minded future industry legends.
LEGAL AGE
MANDATORY
To enter this contest, ensure you are of legal drinking age in your country. Laws vary globally, so check your local regulations before participating.
This year pre-batched cocktails are in the spotlight for the national competition.
2026
THE CONTEST
This year pre-batched cocktails are in the spotlight for the national competition. They are key to ensure consistency, precision, speed and repeatability in an Elite bar. Good pre-batch preparation ensures constant freshness & balance in the taste. It gives bartender more time to focus on the client and to deliver a best-in-class service ritual.
Surprise the jury with your creativity & tasty cocktails and get ready to outdo yourself with more challenges at the Global final in France!
Bartender Talent Academy: 11th Edition
Finalist Selection Criteria
STORYTELLING
This is where the show begins. Bartenders will be challenged on their ability to tell a story through their two cocktails, while also cross promoting the history and values of Rémy Martin.
Bartenders are challenged on their technical skills and the presentation of their cocktail. From the get-go to the serving, the bartender’s authenticity, style, precision and technique will make it all.
TASTE
Each cocktail will be judged on presentation & orveral appeal. Only the twisted version (your very own creation) will be judged on its aromatic balance & taste.
The Jury
Each finalist will be evaluated by a jury of industry professionals during the Global Final in France. The jury for the BTA 11th Edition Contest will be announced soon.
JURY EXPLANATIONS
NATIONAL SELECTIONS
Each market will be selecting a panel of industry experts to judge the national selections.
GLOBAL FINAL
East & West bar industry experts (former BTA winners / award-wining bartenders / Media-Influencers) & Rémy Cointreau On-trade representative.
WINNER’S COCKTAIL
Rémy REVERIE by Octavio Dogliotti
Ingredients
– Rémy Martin VSOP
– Dry vermouth / Oloroso sherry with tonka bean
– Plum & pear oleo saccharum
– Acid-adjusted Ugni blanc verjus / milky oolong soda
– Garnish: apple blossom
The inspiration behind the “Rémy Rêverie” is the iconic centaur of the House of Rémy Martin. For Octavio, the cocktail represents the duality this mythological creature and humans live in by “dreaming with your eyes open”. The aim of the recipe was also to enhance the notes of Rémy Martin
VSOP
BARTENDER TALENT ACADEMY
PREVIOUS WINNERS
LUCAS GACITUA-PETIT – France
Winner, Gold
Aedean Place
LUCA ZANI – United Kingdom
Winner, Silver
Dakota Leeds
OSVALDS RINKIS – Netherlands
Winner, Bronze
Bar The Tailor
DAVID LEBEER – Gent, Belgium
Winner, Gold
The Cobbler Bar
PAOLO SCIALPI – London, United Kingdom
Winner, Silver
Connaught Bar
ELIAS FAYAD – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Winner, Bronze
Rosalia’s Menagerie Bar
TERRY SOWAH – Accra, Ghana
Winner, Gold
Front Back Bar
DEVIN KENNEDY – New York, NY, United States
Winner, Silver
Pouring Ribbons Bar
FABIANA CANELLA – Milano, Italy
Winner, Bronze
Pesa Pubblica Bar
JOSEPHINE SONDLO – Stockholm, Sweden
Winner, Gold
Bio Rio
KASPER RIEWE – Copenhagen, Denmark
Winner, Silver
Duck & Cover bar
DEMIE KIM – Seoul, South Korea
Winner, Bronze
Alice Cheongdam bar
TORBJÖRN LILJEHAMMAR – Turku, Finland
Winner, Gold
Just bar
HIMANSHU DESAI – Mumbai, India
Winner, Silver
Kode bar
ALEX FAHRENHEIM – Johannesburg, South Africa
Winner, Bronze
Sin & Tax bar
DANILO BOSOVIC – Miami, FL, United States
Winner, Gold
Swizzle bar
VIKTOR MARYCZ – Warsaw, Poland
Winner, Silver
Bez Tytulu bar
JAKE DOLGY – Toronto, Canada
Winner, Bronze
Goldie bar
YOUNJUNG OH – Seoul, South Korea
Winner, Gold
Aloft Soeul Myeongdong bar
DAVID NII DOODO NYAMEKYE – Accra, Ghana
Winner, Silver
Front Back bar
DIMITAR VASILEV – Amsterdam, Netherlands
Winner, Bronze
Mama Kelly bar
JULIAN SHORT – Johannesburg, South Africa
Winner, Gold
Sin & Tax bar
Join an Elite Group of Bartenders
To stay up-to-date on the latest BTA contest news and future national and global events, follow the BTA on Instagram or sign up for the Rémy Martin newsletter. Stay tuned for more exciting updates and opportunities to showcase your bartending skills!
