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The Bartenders Society

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France hexagonal final

The French hexagonal final of our competition returns in 2026 for its 11th edition – a truly special edition that will mark a new milestone in our story.

This year, we have chosen an exceptional location, still kept secret for now, a unique setting designed to inspire and unleash imagination. An ideal playground where the finalist bartenders will be able to push the boundaries of their creativity and showcase the full expressiveness of their craft.An edition that promises to be bold, surprising, and full of emotion.

Who will succeed Benoît Guérin — French winner 2025?

COMPETITION STEPS

French edition

From February 23 to April 20, 2026

Registration

Registration for 2026 will be opening soon.

Follow our updates on our social media channels!

From April 21 to 30, 2026

Selections

We will announce, during the week of May 4th on our social media channels, the 10 French finalists.

JUNE 2026

FRENCH FINAL

We will reveal the date and location soon.

OCTOBER/NOVEMBER 2026

INTERNATIONAL FINAL

We will reveal the date and location of the 2026 international final soon.

OUR BRANDS

Discover the range of authorized products you can use in your creations for your competition entry.

The theme of the 10th edition

THE ANNIVERSARY

Celebrate a special event that marked you over the past 10 years

The Bartenders Society was an intense adventure for me: a good dose of stress, a real challenge, plenty of great encounters that made for an amazing time, and a truly enriching experience.”

BENOît Guérin

Winner France 2025

QUESTIONS

Find answers to the most frequently asked questions here.

When will the 2026 edition be announced?

The theme of the 11th edition will be announced in the first half of 2026.

Which references can I use?

All authorised Saint James, Marie Brizard and Caraïbos references can be found on the
brands page.

What do I have to do to enter the competition?

Submit a cocktail creation that follows the 2026 theme: an alcoholic cocktail.

Two options are possible for the recipe:

1. An alcoholic cocktail made exclusively with Saint James rum and Marie Brizard liqueurs, with a minimum of 2 centilitres (2 cl) of each brand used.
OR
2. An alcoholic cocktail made with Saint James rum, Marie Brizard liqueurs and Caraïbos juices, with a minimum of 2 centilitres (2 cl) of each brand used. In this case, the participant will receive a bonus awarded by the selection committee.

Make sure to read the rules carefully!

Will the competition organise masterclasses?

During the registration period, and in preparation for the Mainland French final taking place in June, The Bartenders Society team will release two fully digital masterclasses on its social media channels to introduce the 2026 edition. The first will be led by Matthias Giroud, President of the Jury, while the second will feature Benoît Guérin, Mainland France Winner 2025.

In addition to these digital contents, The Bartenders Society team will also travel across France to organise regional masterclasses and meet bartenders throughout the country. The cities will be announced soon.

Registration for the regional masterclasses will be available here: link coming soon.

PREVIOUS WINNER

  • 2025

    Benoît Guérin

    Santeuil Cafe, Nantes – Head Bartender

  • 2024

    Yoann Peffer

    Café des bains, Saint-Raphaël – Head Bartender

  • 2023

    Benoît Bouillard

    Monsieur Moutarde, Dijon – Head Bartender

  • 2022

    Simon Quentin

    Hôtel Daria-I Nor, Alpe d’Huez – Assistant Head Barman

  • 2021

    Joris Legouez

    Butler – Saint Barthélémy

  • 2020

    Luc Degroux

    Little Havana, Lille – Head Bartender

  • 2019

    Cesar Debus

    Hôtel ClapClap, Strasbourg – F&B Manager

  • 2018

    Thomas Fernandez

    Entrepreneur in the food sector

  • 2017

    Mathieu Gouret

    Santeuil Café, Nantes – Barman and Manager Event bartender Les Tontons Shakers President of the association Madame S

  • 2016

    Régis Celabe

    Hôtel Jules & Jim, Paris – Head Bartender

GALLERY