Bartenders are invited to come out from behind the bar and into the spotlight for Giffard’s renowned 2026 West Cup cocktail competition. This year’s evocative theme, ‘Sip the Moments’, challenges entrants to demonstrate their creativity by crafting two cocktails using Giffard’s sumptuous range, with each serve capturing a distinct mood, memory or time of day.
Previous winner Steven Gleeson from The Hideout, Bath said the competition was one of the most rewarding experiences of his career and that he loves being a part of the Giffard community. Steven shared: “My winning drink was centred around a union of opposites and dualities – flavours that oppose each other, but blend together to create harmony. The national heats and the final were the perfect opportunities to meet and mingle with other mixologists, discover new bars, and feel part of the wonderful international bartending community.”
A staple behind bars worldwide, Giffard has built a reputation over more than a century for its premium liqueurs, syrups, and alcohol-free offerings. Its products remain a go-to for bartenders seeking both quality and versatility in their creations.
To inspire you to enter, 2022 Giffard West Cup winner Rhys Langley, who is now based at Door No.4 in the Cayman Islands commented, “My winning creation took its inspiration from Jamaica. I’d recommend competitors to let the liqueur be the star of the show. It’s easy to see a liqueur as a modifier to a cocktail, but there’s so much value found in focusing on the complexities and subtleties of the Giffard product. Taking the time to learn about Giffard’s rich history and production will earn some extra points too.”
UK heats will take place throughout June, culminating in an international final in France this September. The ultimate winner will receive an all-inclusive, premium journey to a coffee terroir in South America - an immersive bean-to-glass experience designed to inspire creativity and deepen flavour knowledge.
Steven guides entrants, “Focus on your storytelling. Of course, make sure your drink is balanced, but use your cocktail to captivate your audience. This year's theme is about capturing a mood or a moment of the day, a rare competition where you must create two serves to show a guest journey across a day - use this to your advantage and really take your audience on an adventure. Also, enjoy every step of the competition.
“Thinking back to 2024, representing the UK on the global stage was a monumental moment for me, something that I never dreamt would happen ... I arrived at the global finals knowing no-one, and I am blessed to say that I came back home with friends for life from across the world ... that alone, was the most valuable prize.”
Giffard is distributed in the UK by Mangrove Global who are managing the local competition. This bi-annual competition is a momentous occasion in the hospitality calendar and held at some of the best bars in the country, so all UK bartenders and mixologists are highly encouraged to enter. Use your creativity to create cocktails that captures the daily journey in a liquid form.
Rhys added: “Without my experiences at the Giffard West Cup I’m not sure I would have gained the confidence or skills to get to where I am today.”