Pour of Couture

Tales of the Cocktail Foundation announces Pour of Couture presented by Johnnie Walker, a new global bartender competition that draws inspiration from the world of haute couture. The competition celebrates the second launch from Johnnie Walker Vault and Olivier Rousteing, The Couture Blend, a limited-edition luxury Scotch whisky crafted by Johnnie Walker Master Blender Dr. Emma Walker, who selected ten whiskies from the extensive Johnnie Walker Vault liquid library and blended them with the precision of a designer assembling a collection.

Pour of Couture extends this philosophy to US bartenders, challenging them to create cocktails that combine exceptional flavor with thoughtful design and atmosphere. Like couture fashion, where each element is chosen with purpose, the competition celebrates craftsmanship at its highest level.

Beginning immediately, bartenders are invited to submit entries in two categories:

• Johnnie Walker Vault The Couture Blend Showcase Serve: A couture-inspired serve that highlights Johnnie Walker Vault The Couture Blend and engages all the senses through multi-sensorial presentation elements.
• Johnnie Walker Blue Label Couture Cocktail: A cocktail built around Johnnie Walker Blue Label that features at least one custom element and draws inspiration from various cultural realms to create a layered journey that showcases the depth, richness, and refinement of Johnnie Walker Blue Label.

Submissions must include video, photography, and menu-ready descriptions, and are due by October 23, 2025.

Selected bartenders will present their creations during in-person judging between October 25 and November 19, 2025. Three finalists will be announced on November 24, 2025, and will advance to the live finale in Miami on December 4, 2025, where they will showcase their entries before an esteemed panel of judges.

The winner will receive an exclusive trip to Scotland in Spring 2026 to join Dr. Emma Walker at the Johnnie Walker Vault in Edinburgh, where they will craft a personal blend and take home a bespoke bottle.

Entry Requirements

Participants must be 21+ to enter, and finalists must be available to travel to Miami from December 3–5, 2025. Prohibited elements include fire, tobacco, banned substances, and objectionable references. Diageo liquids must be used when available, with non-substitutable modifiers permitted. Split-base cocktails are discouraged, and finalists must be able to faithfully recreate their serves on-site at the finale.

For complete rules and submission details, visit https://talesofthecocktail.org/get-involved/pour-of-couture/