LAS VEGAS –The United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) has selected five Flair and Classic finalists who will compete in the nation’s annual cocktail competition, Shake It Up, hosted this year at the 2025 Bar & Restaurant Expo. This high-energy competition, featuring both Classic and Flair bartending categories, will take center stage at the 2025 Bar & Restaurant Expo, taking place March 24-26, 2025, in Las Vegas.
USBG Shake It Up Classic Competition 2025 Finalists:
- Felipe Castro C – Park City, UT
- Yolanda Gregg – Charlotte, NC
- Connor Perry – Ann Arbor, MI
- Liz Rodriguez – Miami, FL
- Jonathan Stanyard – Seattle, WA
USBG Shake It Up Flair Competition 2025 Finalists:
- Mariano Gil, Jr. – Brownsville, TX
- Mike Hastings – Nashville, TN
- Manuel Picon – Miami, FL
- Harry Rivera – Las Vegas, NV
- Kenijiro Yanagi – Las Vegas, NV
Competition Schedule – Spotlight Stage at Bar & Restaurant Expo
- Tuesday, March 25, 2025 – 1:30 – 4:30 PM – Classic Competition
- Wednesday, March 26, 2025 – 1:30 – 3:30 PM – Flair Competition
These elite bartenders will showcase their speed, creativity, and technical skills live on stage as they craft stunning cocktails in front of expo attendees and a panel of esteemed judges. Competitors will be judged on multiple factors, including taste, aroma, presentation, creativity, and precision.
The highest-scoring Classic and Flair competitors will earn the prestigious title of 2025 USBG National Champion and represent the USBG at the IBA World Cocktail Championship in Cartagena, Colombia. The runner-up will go on to compete in the Pan-American Cocktail Championship in Santiago, Chile.
USBG Shake It Up Competitions are Sponsored By:
- Bull In China – Tools Sponsor
- Finest Call – Flair Syrup Sponsor
- Fresh Origins – Garnish Sponsor
- Hoshizaki Ice – Ice Sponsor
- LAV HORECA – Glassware Sponsor
- New Riff Distilling – Spirits Sponsor
- Reàl Infused Exotics – Classic Syrup Sponsor
Bartenders have this competition and many other activations to look forward to including the Cocktail Clubhouse, a dynamic and captivating space exclusively designed for those passionate about pushing the boundaries of beverage creation, workshops, mixology trainings and masterclasses.
Those interested in attending or exhibiting at the 2025 Bar & Restaurant Expo can visit www.barandrestaurantexpo.com and press can register here.
Bar & Restaurant Expo is a trade event and not open to the general public. Stay connected with Bar & Restaurant Expo on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
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About Bar & Restaurant Expo
Bar & Restaurant Expo has continued to evolve and mirror the fast-paced, trend-setting nature of the hospitality industry. The event has been providing the specific tools that bar and restaurant owners, operators, and managers need to grow their businesses, compete, and succeed in this hyper-competitive and dynamic industry. The Bar & Restaurant Group is part of the Questex Travel & Hospitality Division and also produces World Tea News, World Tea Expo, World Tea Academy, as well as Bar & Restaurant Expo, Bar & Restaurant News, and Vibe Conference.
About USBG
Founded in 1948, the United States Bartenders’ Guild®️ is the national, member-led not-for-profit association of bartenders and other hospitality professionals that unites and elevates the bar industry through education, community, and advocacy. Through its network, the USBG connects members with peer-to-peer learning, expert instruction, service projects, and skills-based competition, all while fostering a fun and healthy environment and reinforcing the importance of the ‘third place’ in neighborhoods across the country.
About Questex
Questex helps people live better and longer. Questex brings people together in the markets that help people live better: travel, hospitality and wellness; the industries that help people live longer: life science and healthcare; and the technologies that enable and fuel these new experiences. We live in the experience economy – connecting our ecosystem through live events, surrounded by data insights and digital communities. We deliver experience and real results. It happens here.
MEDIA CONTACT:
Kirvin Doak Communications
BarAndRestaurantExpo@kirvindoak.com
702.737.3100
