Discover
France hexagonal final
The French national final of our competition was held on June 1 in Bordeaux, the historic birthplace of Maison Marie Brizard and an iconic symbol of French craftsmanship.
This year’s edition, themed “A Journey Through Spices,” celebrated the creativity, technical skill, and bold use of flavors by the bartenders.
The grand winner of this 11th edition is Benoît Bouillard, from the establishment Monsieur Moutarde.
Having already won the title in 2023, he once again impressed the jury – chaired by Matthias Giroud – with the precision of his technique, the coherence of his vision, and the creativity of his creations.
COMPETITION STEPS
French edition
From February 23 to April 20, 2026
Registration
Entries for 2026 are now closed.
From April 21 to 30, 2026
Selections
The 10 French finalists were announced on our social media channels.
JUNE 2026
FRENCH FINAL
The French national final took place in Bordeaux on June 1.
The overall winner of this 11th edition is Benoît Bouillard, from the restaurant Monsieur Moutarde.
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 11th edition
JOURNEY AROUND SPICES
Create a cocktail experience inspired by flavours from all over the world.
“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.
Registration for the regional masterclasses will be available REGISTRATION NOW
PREVIOUS WINNER
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2026
Benoît Bouillard
Monsieur Moutarde, Dijon – Head Bartender
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2025
Benoît Guérin
Santeuil Cafe, Nantes – Head Bartender
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2024
Yoann Peffer
Café des bains, Saint-Raphaël – Head Bartender
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2023
Benoît Bouillard
Monsieur Moutarde, Dijon – Head Bartender
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2022
Simon Quentin
Hôtel Daria-I Nor, Alpe d’Huez – Assistant Head Barman
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2021
Joris Legouez
Butler – Saint Barthélémy
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2020
Luc Degroux
Little Havana, Lille – Head Bartender
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2019
Cesar Debus
Hôtel ClapClap, Strasbourg – F&B Manager
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2018
Thomas Fernandez
Entrepreneur in the food sector
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2017
Mathieu Gouret
Santeuil Café, Nantes – Barman and Manager Event bartender Les Tontons Shakers President of the association Madame S
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2016
Régis Celabe
Hôtel Jules & Jim, Paris – Head Bartender
GALLERY
