Scapegrace seeking NZ’s best whisky cocktail

Scapegrace Distilling Co. is inviting bartenders across New Zealand to submit their best whisky cocktail for its 2026 Scapegrace Cocktail Competition.

The event challenges bartenders to create an original single malt whisky cocktail built around either Scapegrace Vanguard or Scapegrace Anthem.

Bartenders are invited to draw their inspiration from wherever they find it. “This competition is an open invitation to New Zealand's bartenders to engage with these whiskies properly, understand them, find their own angle, and build something exceptional around them,” said Tim Giles, Scapegrace Sales and Marketing Manager.

“Whisky is extremely popular right now and we want to find and celebrate the best whisky cocktail in New Zealand.”

Entries are open to bartenders currently working in a New Zealand hospitality venue and will close on 30 April.

Scapegrace judges will select the top 15 entries from bartenders from around the country and visit each of them in their own venue during June and July to taste and score their creation. 

The top three from that round win an all-expenses-paid trip to Queenstown, where they'll compete in the national final in October 2026 against three finalists from the Central Otago regional competition. The winner will take home $1,000 and the national title.

W: Full details at scapegracedistillery.com.