Showcases, Contests, and the Pursuit of Excellence in Modern Mixology
Empire Mixology is proud to announce the launch of the Empire Mixology Annual Awards, a year-long celebration of creativity, discipline, and professional excellence across the global mixology community.
Designed to recognize both emerging and established talent, the Annual Awards bring together open nominations, themed showcases, and skill-based contests that reflect the evolving standards of modern mixology.
A Year-Round Awards Program Built on Merit
The Empire Mixology Annual Awards are designed to operate in contrast to traditional, closed-door recognition programs. Nominations remain open throughout most of the year, providing professionals the flexibility to submit work when it best reflects their standards, development, and creative intent.
Each annual nomination cycle concludes on October 1st, ensuring ample time for thoughtful submission rather than rushed entries.
By remaining open nearly year-round, the program recognizes excellence as an ongoing practice, not a single moment. This approach allows the awards to reflect sustained quality, intentional execution, and meaningful contributions to the craft of mixology.
What Are the Empire Mixology Showcases?
At the heart of the Annual Awards are a rotating series of Showcases and Contests, each focused on a specific theme, technique, or creative philosophy.
Showcases are designed to:
Encourage intentional cocktail design
Highlight technical understanding, not trends alone
Create a professional platform for creativity grounded in theory
Give participants a clear, focused brief rather than vague criteria
Each showcase runs independently while feeding into the broader Annual Awards ecosystem.
Current Showcase: The Mixologist’s Mark
The current active showcase, The Mixologist’s Mark, challenges participants to answer a fundamental question:
What makes your work unmistakably yours? This showcase is not about imitation or nostalgia. It is about:
Defining personal style
Demonstrating technical restraint and intention
Expressing identity through structure, balance, and concept
Creating a cocktail that carries a recognizable signature
Participants are encouraged to submit cocktails that reflect clarity of vision, technical discipline, and authentic creative voice.
The Mixologist’s Mark is open now and serves as a cornerstone showcase within this year’s awards cycle.
Key Dates at a Glance
Annual nominations: Open until October 1.
Current showcase: The Mixologist’s Mark
Additional showcases: Announced throughout the year
Looking Ahead
The Empire Mixology Annual Awards represent more than recognition. They are a statement about where the craft is headed and what it values.
As new showcases are introduced and submissions grow, this program will continue to evolve alongside the professionals it serves.
Nominations are open.
The showcase is live.
And the mark you leave is entirely your own.
