How the Savaje Cocktail Competition Works
A simple, four-step flow so your team knows exactly what to expect from start to finish.
Step 1 – Apply to Enter
Submit your bar and Savaje Rum cocktail name or concept using the entry form below.
Step 2 – Feature Your Cocktail
Run your Savaje Rum cocktail as a featured menu item and promote it in-venue and online.
Step 3 – Judging
Judging will take place by votes online . Venues promote their cocktail to patrons and vote online.
Step 4 – Winners Announced
We crown the Winner, Runner-Up, and 3rd place winners are announced.
Key Dates
Mark your calendar so your team can prep, promote, and pour on time.
Entry opens
December 1, 2025
Registration officially opens for bars, restaurants, lounges, and hotel bars interested in competing in the Savaje Signature Showdown.
Judging Begins
February 1, 2026
Voting opens as guests visit participating venues to try and vote for their favorite Savaje cocktail.
Registration Closes
February 15, 2026
Entries must be submitted before midnight on February 15th.
Competition Show Down
Apr 28, 2026
Announcements of winners.
Prizes & Recognition
Market-specific prizes for Winner, Runner-Up, and People’s Choice — updated for each city.
1st Place
Savaje Rum 1st Place Award, Custom Merch Package, Spotlight Interview, Featured Placement on Savaje Website & become part of the Savaje Tales of the Cocktails Experience
2nd Place
Savaje Rum 2nd place Award,
Premium Merch Bundle
Professional Photoshoot, Cocktail Feature on Savaje Socials,
Judges’ Choice Recognition Badge
3rd Place
Savaje Rum Fan Favorite Award
Exclusive Social Media Spotlight Video
Fan Favorite Website Feature
People’s Choice Seal
Who Can Enter
- Participants must be a licensed bar, restaurant, lounge, hotel bar, or cigar lounge within the designated market.
- All entrants must be 21+, with valid age and employment verification.
- Only one cocktail entry per venue is permitted.
- Competitor must be a bartender in the Tampa, St. Pete, Sarasota, or surrounding Bay Area
Entry Requirements
- Cocktail must feature Savaje Rum as the base spirit.
- Full recipe, measurements, and preparation instructions must be submitted before scheduled judging begins cut off for entries is Feb 15, 2025. Judging opens Feb 1, 2026.
- Cocktails must be served at the participating venue during competition dates.
- Cocktail must use at least 1.5 oz. of Savaje Rum
- Cocktail recipe must have no more than 8 ingredients max (including garnishes, rims, etc.)
- Homemade ingredients must be easy to replicate
- Venues must ensure their cocktail is featured, your cocktail is recommend by bar staff and available for guest to order consistently during the competition.
Official Rules & Fine Print
Click below for the Full details on judging criteria, voting, and legal eligibility.
2026 - Savaje Signature Competition Rules
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Cocktail Entries are evaluated based on the following criteria:
- Flavor & Balance – overall taste, harmony of ingredients
- Presentation – visual appeal, garnish, and professionalism
- Creativity & Originality – bold, outside-the-box thinking, especially in adapting Savaje Rum into traditionally non-rum cocktail styles (Old Fashioned, Gimlet, Paper Plane, Penicillin, etc.).
- Use of Savaje Rum – Savaje Rum must be the primary spirit and used thoughtfully
- Brand Alignment – cocktail should reflect Savaje Rum’s identity: bold, premium, modern, and rebellious without being gimmicky.
- Guest Appeal– cocktails should be approachable, smooth, and enjoyable enough that guests naturally want to order more than one.
Cocktails that do not feature Savaje Rum as the base spirit will not be accepted.
Competition Timeline
- Entry Window: December 1, 2025 – February 15, 2026
Venues submit their cocktail concept using the official entry form. - Online Voting Window: February 1, 2026 – April 28, 2026
Public voting is conducted online through the official Savaje Rum voting platform. - Winner Announcement: Late April or Early May 2026
Winners announced for:1st Place2nd Place3rd Place
(Savaje Rum reserves the right to announce winners digitally or in conjunction with a future in-person activation.)
Online Voting Rules
- Voting is open to the public during the online voting window
- Each guest may cast one vote per cocktail per day
- Votes must be submitted through the official Savaje Rum voting system
- Any suspected vote manipulation, automated voting, or fraudulent activity will result in disqualification
Eligibility Requirements
- Participants must be a licensed bar, restaurant, lounge, hotel bar, or cigar lounge within the designated market.
- All entrants must be 21+, with valid age and employment verification.
- Only one cocktail entry per venue is permitted.
- Competitor must be a bartender in the State of Florida
Cocktail Requirements
- Cocktail must feature Savaje Rum as the base spirit.
- Full recipe, measurements, and preparation instructions must be submitted before scheduled judging.
- Cocktails must be available for purchase at the participating venue during competition dates.
- Final presentation at the Showdown event must match the submitted recipe.
- Cocktail must use at least 1.5 oz. of Savaje Rum
- Cocktail recipe must have no more than 8 ingredients max (including garnishes, rims, etc.)
- Homemade ingredients must be easy to replicate
Venue Feature Requirements
During the competition window, the cocktail must be FEATURED at the participating venue, meaning:
- Presented to guests in a simple, easy-to-reference way — for example, a printed feature card/menu insert or table tent with a QR code that patrons can scan and share.
- Positioned so guests can easily discover it (not “available on request”).
- Actively recommended by staff when guests order cocktails (e.g., bartender/server prompt).
- Available for guests to order consistently during normal operating hours (venue-defined, but not restricted to a single night only).
Available for guests to order consistently during normal operating hours (venue-defined, but not restricted to a single night only).
Disqualification Conditions
Entrants may be disqualified for:
- Failing to feature Savaje Rum as the base spirit
- Not offering the cocktail in-venue during the judging window
- Vote manipulation or tampering
- Incomplete or inaccurate entry submission
- Unprofessional conduct or breach of competition rules
Legal & Fine Print
- Must be 21+ to participate.
- Savaje Spirits LLC reserves the right to modify competition rules or prizes at any time.
- All Voting results and competition decisions are final.
- By entering, venues grant permission for Savaje Rum to feature cocktail names, images, and venue content on social media and marketing materials.
Competition Partners
We proudly collaborate with industry partners, distributors, and organizations to bring this competition to life.
Paradise Craft Distributors
Florida distributor partner supporting on-premise placements and activations.
Enter Your Bar into the Competition
Ideal for bars, restaurants, lounges, hotel bars, and cigar lounges ready to showcase a Savaje Rum cocktail.
What you’ll need to submit
- Bar / venue name, address, and primary contact
- Cocktail name / Concept using Savaje Rum.
- Full recipe and name will be solidified prior to Judging.
- High-quality photo of the cocktail (if available)
- Preferred competition contact email and phone number
Complete the form below to submit your bar for consideration. Space may be limited based on market and timing.
We’ll review all entries and confirm participation by email.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to the most common questions from bar managers and beverage directors.
Does it cost anything to enter?
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No. There is no entry fee to participate in the competition. You are responsible only for your normal cost of goods and service at your venue.