The Tiki Master is the only competition on Earth built entirely around the art of exotic drinks. Inspired by legendary tiki spots, Don the Beachcomber, Trader Vic’s, The Kon-Tiki, and The Mai-Kai, this throwdown invites bartenders to pay homage to the original tiki icons like Mariano Licudine,
Ray Buen, and Dick Santiago.
Your mission: craft a modern tiki classic. A drink that blends old-school soul with new-school creativity. It’s all about taste, storytelling, and true craftsmanship, the real heart of tiki.
Celebrate Tiki.
Celebrate Creativity.
We’re hunting for the ultimate modern beachcomber, an adventurer behind the bar who can mix pure imagination and rum in equal measure. If you can shake up a drink that tells a story, sparks curiosity, and transports people straight to paradise, this is your time to shine.
Step into the Tiki Master Competition, where your drink can make serious waves and your performance can light up the room. Show us your passion, your style, and your love for tiki culture. Balance big, bold flavors, weave in a little magic, and bring your story to life in every single sip.
Join us in celebrating the wild, colorful world of tiki, where creativity flows like rum and every drink is an adventure. Unleash your inner beachcomber.
Let the tiki spirit guide you to victory.
“May the Tiki be with you,
and with your spirit!” [RUM]
— Mr. Exotico
Daniele Dalla Pola
“If you can't get to paradise, I'll bring it to you.”
— Donn Beach
Official event of
Feb 5 to 7, 2027-
Miami Beach Convention Center
The 8th Annual Miami Rum Congress takes over the Miami Beach Convention Center for three days of exceptional rum, incredible cocktails, and world-class education. Explore 85+ award-winning brands, sample over 200 unique rum expressions, and connect with the distillers, bartenders, and industry experts shaping the world of rum.
LAST YEAR WINNER
Ryan Jones
with The Black Pearl
Bar Lead at Morgan’s Cove and Don The Beachcomber
SUNDAY FEBRUARY 7 - 5 PM
LOCATION: TBD
Check Out The Previous Edition
COMPETITION RULES
Craft your drink with purpose, passion, and Polynesian soul
✅ Ingredients: Maximum 7 ingredients per cocktail.
✅ Execution Time: You will have 10 minutes, including setup, to present your cocktail.
Make 4 identical cocktails or a Sharing Bowl
✅ Original Recipe:
Your cocktail must be original and unpublished, no changes allowed on the day of the competition.
✅ Ingredients:
The heart of tiki is rum. Your cocktail must feature rum as the base spirit, and we strongly encourage the use of local-grown ingredients (wherever possible to honor the local heritage and flavors).
✅ Allowed Brands:Must use the official sponsor of the competition, All products from their portfolio will be available, and you must incorporate at least one in your recipe, using a minimum of 1.5 oz per serving. Homemade ingredients are welcome; while other liquors can be included, they should not exceed 0.50 oz per serving.
ON DECEMBER 6TH WE WILL PUBLISH THE OFFICIAL SPONSORS OF THE COMPETITION.
Craft With Flavor
To elevate the authenticity and creativity of your drink:
We encourage all competitors to use fresh juice whenever possible.
✔ Pure fruit flavor
✔ Clean balance
✔ Better control of sweetness
✔ More room to highlight the base spirits
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✅ Special Ingredients:
If you require a special ingredient, please mention it clearly in the notes section when submitting your recipe.
✅ Tools & Glassware:
Each participant must bring their own tools and serving glassware.
✅ Language:
The competition will be held entirely in English, as the judging panel includes international judges.
✅ Selection Process:
Recipes will be reviewed and selected by a panel of expert judges. A maximum of 8 bartenders will be chosen to compete live.
✅ Eligibility:
Participants must be professional bartenders, actively working in a bar or representing a venue and a the legal age for drinking.
Judging Criteria
Your cocktail will be evaluated by a panel of international judges based on the following:
20/100 ✔ Creativity / Name of the drink – Originality of the recipe and concept
40/100 ✔ Flavor Profile – Balance, depth, complexity, and overall taste
10/100 ✔ Execution – Mixology technique, presentation, and garnish, performance, Showmanship, confidence, and interaction on stage
10/100 ✔ Storytelling – Ability to communicate your drink’s inspiration clearly and engagingly
10/100 ✔ Tiki Theme Connection – How well the drink reflects tiki culture and spirit
10/100 ✔ Replicability – Can this drink be realistically served in a bar setting?
If you exceed the time limit, you will be penalized:
Minus 5 points for every 30 seconds beyond the 10 minute mark.
Penalty increases progressively as time extends.
"Stay sharp, stay on time, timing is part of the show"
📅 Submission Deadline
Please make sure to send your recipe by JANUARY 25, 2027.
Recipes received after this date will not be considered for the competition.
How to Apply
1️⃣ Visit the official event page and click here to fill out the form. SUBMIT HERE
2️⃣ Complete the registration form with your name, age, profession, and contact information.
3️⃣ Upload your recipe in the designated area on the form.
4️⃣ Review all details carefully to ensure everything is correct.
Confirmation of Participation
After successfully submitting your application, you will receive a confirmation email if you have been selected to participate.
Note:
The competition rules are the same for all countries, fair and equal across the board.
The only difference will be in the ingredients, which may vary depending on local availability and sponsorship partnerships in each region
SPONSORS PAGE
Coming Soon