🇧🇪 UNION OF BELGIUM’S BARTENDERS
NATIONAL COCKTAIL COMPETITION 2026
OFFICIAL RULES
– FLAIR CATEGORY
1. ORGANIZATION
The Belgian Cocktail Championship – Flair Category is organized by the Union of
Belgium’s Bartenders (UBB).
The winner will represent Belgium at the World Cocktail Championships (WCC).
2. VENUE
The competition will take place at:
📍 Horeca Forma Be Pro
3. ELIGIBILITY
Participants must:
• Be at least 18 years old
• Meet at least one of the following criteria:◦ Work in Belgium
◦ Reside in Belgium
◦ Hold Belgian nationality
• Be an active UBB member with a valid membership for the current year
• Have completed their registration within the given deadline
• Fully accept and comply with these rules
👉 No pre-selection is required to participate
4. COMPETITION FORMAT
• The competition consists of a single round
• Each competitor must prepare 4 identical cocktails
Performance timing:
• 2 minutes for setup
• Maximum 5 minutes for the Flair routine
The time stops when:
• The candidate presents the cocktails
• Or leaves the workstation
5. FLAIR STYLE
• Both Working Flair and Exhibition Flair are allowed
• Free style
👉 The performance must remain professional and aligned with the bartending
profession
❌ Any inappropriate behavior or gestures are strictly prohibited
6. AUTHORIZED PRODUCTS
🔴 MAIN RULE
👉 ONLY products from the official UBB partners portfolio are allowed
👉 No external products are permitted
👉 Homemade products are strictly prohibited
👉 Each participant will receive their imposed partner after registration
👉 Competitors must use at least 0.5 cl of a product from the imposed partner
👉 The full UBB product portfolio will be sent at a later stage and must be strictly
respectedAdditional allowed products:
• Fresh lemon / lime juice
• Fruits, vegetables, herbs
• Sugar (no simple syrup allowed)
• Milk, cream, egg, aquafaba
• Bitters
⚠ Neutral products must be presented in non-branded containers
7. EQUIPMENT & LOGISTICS
Each competitor must bring:
• Full flair equipment
• Bottles
• Speed pourers
• Their own glassware
Technical rules:
• Personal bottles are allowed
• UBB stickers will be provided on competition day
• Bottles must contain liquid
• Partner bottles must be visible on the bar at the end of the routine
• Equipment must be clean, safe, and suitable for professional use
8. MUSIC
• Only one audio file is allowed
• Must be sent in advance via email to:
📩 julie.nullens@hotmail.com
• File name must include First Name + Last Name
• Format: MP3 only
• The file may be tested during the briefing
❌ No other devices (USB, phone, etc.) will be accepted on the day, unless exceptionally
approved by the organization
9. EVENT SCHEDULE
• 09:45 – Competitor check-in
• 10:30 – 11:00 – Written test
• 11:00 – 11:30:
◦ Flair briefing
◦ Infusion preparation (Classic category)• 11:30 – 12:00 – Classic briefing
• 12:00 – 13:00 – Lunch break
• 13:00 – Start of competition
• 16:30 – Awards ceremony
10. HYGIENE & SAFETY
• Strict hygiene standards must be respected
• Safe handling of equipment is mandatory
• Any dangerous performance may be stopped immediately
❌ The use of fire is strictly forbidden
11. JUDGING CRITERIA
Flair Technique
• Difficulty
• Flow
• Control
• Originality
Show & Presentation
• Stage presence
• Creativity
• Audience interaction
Cocktail Evaluation
• Appearance
• Aroma
• Taste
• Balance
Professionalism
• Organization
• Hygiene
• Workstation management
12. PENALTIES
Penalties may apply for:
• Exceeding time limits
• Use of unauthorized products
• Use of empty bottles
• Poor hygiene• Unprofessional behavior
• Equipment breakage
👉 If breakage affects service, the cocktail may not be scored
13. DRESS CODE
• Professional attire is mandatory
• Free or themed style allowed
• Clean and polished appearance required
14. JUDGING PANEL
The jury consists of:
• Flair technical judges
• Tasting judges
• UBB supervision
👉 Judges’ decisions are final and cannot be appealed
15. LIABILITY
• The organization declines responsibility for injuries or equipment loss
• Competitors are responsible for their own equipment and safety
• Competitors must respect the venue and equipment
👉 Workstations must be cleaned and reset after use
16. REGISTRATION & PREPARATION
• Registration deadline: May 9, 2026
• Recipe submission deadline: June 1, 2026
👉 Proposed Masterclass:
• IBA rules
• Discovery of partner products
📍 May 11 – Anderlecht
17. INTERNATIONAL REPRESENTATION
The winner will represent Belgium at the World Cocktail Championships (WCC) in Macau
📅 October 19–24🎁 Prize includes:
• Round-trip flight
• Accommodation
• Meals during the event
⚠ Additional expenses remain at the competitor’s charge
⚠ In case of unavailability, UBB reserves the right to appoint another candidate
18. ACCEPTANCE OF RULES
Participation in the competition implies full acceptance of these rules.
