Kiwi makes Top 10 in global bartender competition
Auckland cocktail bartender PJ Renaud has been selected as a Top 10 Finalist in the Jameson Black Barrel Bartender Series 2026 competition.
The global bartender competition and mentorship programme is dedicated to championing creativity, community and local culture and drew 432 entries from 60 countries worldwide.
Entrants were asked to submit a short video showcasing an original Jameson Black Barrel cocktail, inspired by their personal story and local community.
Renaud’s entry, ‘Pavlovaboy’, saw him selected as a Regional Champion and from there a Top 10 finalist.
The Top 10 Finalists will compete at a Grand Final at the Jameson HOSTS Global Summit in Ireland in September, where they will present their cocktails in a blind taste test to two separate panels of industry judges and mentors. The top three highest scores will be crowned Global Champions, receiving a €5,000 cash prize each, along with exclusive access to Jameson’s mentorship programme which will be led by industry experts.
The Summit brings together over 100 members of the global bar community for networking, seminars and immersive brand experiences led by leading industry figures from 7-10 September. Regional Champions will also attend as part of their prize.
Organisers say that entries were evaluated on a combination of creativity, execution and storytelling. Finalists stood out for smooth delivery of well-developed concepts, demonstrating strong production quality across their video submissions, and bringing their ideas to life through multiple locations, while integrating the Jameson Black Barrel brand seamlessly throughout.
This year’s cocktail entries reflect a growing crossover between the kitchen and the bar, with finalists drawing on bold, globally inspired ingredients and techniques. From savoury elements such as white soy sauce and tomato, to coffee, cheese, carob and tropical produce, bartenders explored a wide spectrum of flavours. Techniques including fat-washing, infusion, clarification and roasting were widely used, showcasing a varied level of craft and innovation.
Top 10 Finalists
1. Ellen Xu – China “SHAKEGGMATO”
2. Mariya Goncharova – Kazakhstan. “KARA KÜY”
3. Wayan Irawan – Indonesia. “Black Barrel of the Spice Isles”
4. Luka Mihaljev – Serbia. “Black Danube”
5. Christos Paraskeva – Lost + Found Drinkery, Nicosia, Cyprus. “Port of Gold”
6. Taynah de Paula – Elena Horto, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil “O ENCONTRO”
7. PJ Renaud – Auckland, New Zealand. “THE PAVLOVABOY”
8. Eray Hakan Evcil – Twins Cocktail Lab, Istanbul, Turkey. “Hoşlaf”
9. Lewis Kay – Barcelona, Spain. “La Bouqueria”
10. Darragh Connely – Galway, Ireland. “Serpent’s Dance”
