Scapegrace Cocktail Competition 2026
Vanguard is about pushing forward.
Anthem is about making a statement.
WHAT ARE WE LOOKING FOR?
An original cocktail that truly represents the whisky you choose to work with: Scapegrace Vanguard or Scapegrace Anthem Single Malt Whisky.
YOUR INSPIRATION
This is an open-style competition, led by your interpretation of how best to express the product. Whether your inspiration comes from the name, the Scapegrace ethos, Central Otago, or the flavour profile itself, your entry should connect the dots — and bring it all together through a clear, engaging, and confident story that reflects your product and brand knowledge.
YOUR OPPORTUNITY
This is your opportunity to test yourself against the best, create an exceptional Single Malt Whisky cocktail, and
earn your place on an unforgettable trip to Central Otago, including a visit to the Scapegrace Distillery.
2024 National Champion, Cal Ross
KEY DATES
ENTRIES CLOSE: 30th April
Send us your Scapegrace Whisky Cocktail Image: Ingredients + Method : Story : Post on Social
June and July
We’ll choose our top 15, then come and judge them, in your own venue. You’ll prepare and present your creation to a team of judges.
October 2026
The top 3 from around NZ will come down to Queenstown, to compete against finalists from the Central Otago Competition for $1000 and the National Title.
THE CHALLENGE
Create an original cocktail that expresses the character, ethos, and story of your chosen whisky.
This is an open-style competition. Inspiration can come from anywhere — flavour, provenance, production, personal interpretation, or the wider Scapegrace ethos — as long the final drink is balanced, purposeful, and whisky-led.
THE DETAILS
Choose either Scapegrace Anthem, or Vanguard Single Malt Whisky.
- Use a minimum of 30mls of Scapegrace.
- A maximum of 5 ingredients can be used, excluding garnish.
- Homemade ingredients should be explained and need to be accessible to replicate.
- You’ll have 8 minutes to present your drink, if chosen for the finals.
how to enter
Enter the application form below. You will need the following information:
- Full Name
- Name of venue
- Town/city
- Name of cocktail
- Image of drink
- Ingredients
- Description
- Story behind why you have created it
- Share a snapshot of the beverage across your socials (if you're on them), and don't forget to mention @scapegrace #ScapegraceCocktailComp2026
Should you be successful, regional heats will be hosted in June or July 2026.
National final will be held in Central Otago in October 2026.
If you would like samples of the whiskies, please email
tim@scapegracedistillery.com to arrange some being dropped off to your venue.
How It works
Entry
- One entry per person.
- Entries must be in the form of a long or short drink.
- Entries should be submitted via email to Tim Giles, Tim@scapegracedistillery.com, (or via the form at the bottom of the page)
- Entries must include an image, recipe, and method in the submission.
- Competitors must be working in a hospitality business within New Zealand
Ingredients & Recipe Requirements
- There must be a minimum of 30ml of Scapegrace in each entry.
- Either Scapegrace Vanguard or Anthem Single Malt Whisky 40% may be used.
- Drinks must not contain more than five ingredients, including fruit juices, syrups, drops, or dashes.
- A maximum of two homemade ingredients are permitted, excluding garnishes. Homemade ingredients must be easily replicated.
- If a homemade ingredient is used, the procedure and ingredients must be clearly explained.
- No fire may be used in the making of the cocktail. For example, no blazers.
- Recipes must be expressed in millilitres (ml). The use of dashes or drops is limited to bitters, tinctures, or similar ingredients.
- Recipes must be the original creation of the competitor. Any competitor found to have plagiarised a known or existing cocktail will be disqualified.
SCORING SYSTEM
50 POINTS
Make sure your drink is balanced and delicious.
10 POINTS
Ensure you are up to date with Scapegrace as a brand and product and show us why each element you’re adding belongs in the glass and how it helps express the character of the whisky.
20 POINTS
Although this is an open-style competition, we are looking for a cocktail with a clear and confident story behind it. Your idea should link back to the whisky you choose — Scapegrace Vanguard or Scapegrace Anthem — whether through flavour, place, history, meaning or personal interpretation. Go deep and make sure the final narrative adds meaning to the drink.
5 POINTS
Does it look good, has the drink and overall experience been presented well.
5 POINTS
Use of the best techniques to produce both the style of drink on the bar and in elements of the Mis en Place.
5 POINTS
What makes it pop, how does it differ from your standard classic.
5 POINTS
A closed loop story or viable reasoning for why this drink has an element of sustainability.
10 POINTS
Promote your cocktail within your venue for additional points.
TERMS & CONDITIONS
ROUND #2 FINAL/PRESENTATION
- From all the entries submitted, the judges will choose the top 15 drinks throughout New Zealand, outside of Central Otago.
- Judges will come visit the chosen 15 competitors in their own venue, or venue of choosing, on a suitable day and time, organized between the two parties.
- Competitors will be given 8 minutes to present their drink.
- Competitors must present one drink on the day of judging. Drinks must be
assembled in front of the judges. - Competitors can earn 10 bonus points by promoting their cocktail within their
venue in June or July and have it on display when the judges come to visit. (lots of Prior notice will be given ahead of the visit) This would need to be for a minimum of one week, and be featured on a menu, drink special blackboard etc. - Drinks may be presented in any shape of glassware, or cup. The competitor will need to supply their own glassware.
- Competitors must provide all ingredients, apart from the Scapegrace.
- Competitors considered by the organisers to be practicing or promoting any
form of irresponsible drinking, including ‘shots’ will be disqualified. - Competitors are encouraged to talk to the judges during their presentation.
- Points are awarded for presentation and chat, telling a story about your drink.
ROUND #3 FINAL PRESENTATION
1. The Top Three drinks from Round #2 will win an all expenses paid trip to Central Otago, to compete in the National Final. These three will be joined by 2 local winners.
2. More information will be given out to the contestants regarding the final which will take place in Queenstown in October.
3. The contestants will need to present two identical drinks within an 8-minute presentation. There will be a wider judging group which the contestants will need to prepare drinks for. More info to follow shortly.
Copyright
- By entering the competition, competitors agree to assign copyright of their recipe and drink name to the competition organisers.
- Competitors and drinks presented during the competition may be photographed by the organisers and copyrights of these images for any use, including advertising will be retained by Scapegrace.
- By entering this competition, you are giving permission and assigning license to use images photographed during the competition, both still and video to the organisers.. You agree that images may be used in any media for any purpose which may include adverting, promotion, marketing materials.
- The competition organisers reserve the right to have the final decision on any matter relating to the judging of the competition.
APPLICATION FORM
Fill out the form below or send your application to Tim Giles, with the below headings tim@scapegracedistillery.com
