In English
Welcome to compete for the Finnish Championship in Flairtending!
This year, the competition will be held at the Food Fair in Helsinki Expo and Convention Centre on Sunday, April 13, 2025.
The official competition rules can be found at:
https://fbsk.yhdistysavain.fi/flair-sm-kilpailu/flair-saannot/
The competition category is Long Drink.
The performance time is 5 minutes, during which four (4) drinks must be prepared.
Cocktail recipes must be submitted no later than Sunday, April 6, 2025, at 24:00 via the recipe form on Yhdistysavain:
https://fbsk.yhdistysavain.fi/flair-sm-kilpailu/reseptilomake/
Cocktails will be judged based on appearance, aroma, and taste.
In the final, the competitor’s performance skills and interaction with the audience will also be evaluated. We will be using the IBA technical form from 2024.
A maximum of 6 competitors will qualify for the final. If there are more participants, finalists will be selected based on their submitted recipes.
Supporting members whose portfolios include products for preparing the drinks:
Anora Group
Arctic Blue Beverages Oy
Bacardi-Martini Finland
Beverage Partners Finland Oy
Björkbom Trading Oy Ab
Finlandia Vodka Oy
Brukett Oy
China Spirit Oy
Diamond Beverages
Dieta Oy
Eckes-Granini
Edrington Finland Oy
Helsinki Distilling Company
Interbrands Wine & Spirits
Kesko Oyj
Lignell & Piispanen
Mixtec Oy
Norex Selected Brands Oy
Oy Hartwall Ab
Oy Sinebrychoff Ab
Pernod Ricard Finland Oy
Rye Rye Oy
Servaali Oy
Sweet ´n´Syrup Finland Oy
Turku Distillery Ltd
Vinoble Oy
WineState
(FBSK ry:n kannattajia ovat myös seuraavat tahot: Omniexpress Oy, Shaker/Avec media, Ravintolakoulu Perho/ Liiketalous Opisto)
FLAIR RULES
Section 1
The competition is organized by the Finnish Bartenders and Supporters Club (F.B.S.K. ry).
Section 2
The competition is open to all participants.
The participant with the highest overall score is crowned the Finnish Champion. The representative for Finland in the IBA World Championship must be an active, honorary, student, or associate member of F.B.S.K. who has obtained the highest overall score in the Finnish Championship. If a student or associate member wins the championship, they must successfully complete the active member test to qualify as Finland’s representative. If the winner does not pass the active member test before the World Championship, the best-ranked active member will represent Finland at the IBA World Championship.
Section 3
The competition is led and supervised by the organizing committee, which also serves as the panel of chief judges.
The decisions of the chief judges are final and cannot be contested.
Section 4
The competition drink must fall into one of the eight (8) categories specified in the competition invitation:
SHORT DRINK SOUR
AFTER DINNER
BARTENDER'S CHOICE
LONG DRINK
SPARKLING
BEFORE DINNER
SHORT DRINK COBBLER
SHORT DRINK DAISY
Different categories will be rotated annually. Each competitor must prepare four (4) identical competition drinks.
Section 5
Homemade ingredients, such as cordials, syrups, and juices, are allowed in the drink.
A recipe for each homemade ingredient must be submitted with the competition registration. There is no limit to the number of ingredients used in the drink.
Section 6
The total alcohol content in a drink must not exceed the international recommendation of 7 cl.
In the Sparkling category, a minimum of 7 cl sparkling wine and a maximum of 4 cl of strong alcohol must be used. The maximum alcohol content may, however, be exceeded with flavoring ingredients that are measured in dashes or drops, such as bitters. The maximum amount for such flavoring ingredients is one (1) bar spoon.
Section 7
Only alcoholic beverages from the portfolios of F.B.S.K.’s supporting members may be used. The drink must contain at least 2 cl of alcohol from a supporting member’s portfolio. The use of additional products from supporting members is also encouraged.
All recipes will be reviewed. Competitors are responsible for obtaining their own ingredients. The list of supporting members will be provided in the competition invitation. Each competitor must bring enough ingredients and garnishes for a minimum of eight (8) drinks (four competition drinks and four additional drinks in case of a tiebreaker).
Section 8
Non-alcoholic ingredients must be widely available in Finland to all competitors.
Each competitor is responsible for procuring all alcoholic and non-alcoholic ingredients and bringing all necessary materials and equipment to the competition area.
Section 9
The drink's name and composition must not be identical to any internationally recognized or previously used recipe in a cocktail competition.
If an identical recipe is identified, the chief judges have the right to disqualify it.
Section 10
Garnishes must be edible.
Preparation time is 15 minutes, including garnish preparation. Once the 15-minute period has ended, no further garnish preparation is allowed. If the garnish touches the drink, it must be listed as one of the drink’s ingredients.
Section 11
Liquid ingredients must be specified in centiliters (cl).
This rule does not apply to dashes or lengthening ingredients in long drinks.
Section 12
The use of ice cream, heated ingredients, or pre-made alcoholic mixes is prohibited.
For example, hot coffee or pre-mixed bottled White Russian bases (vodka and coffee liqueur) are not allowed.
Section 13
Bottles and jugs for ingredients
Bottles used in the competition must contain the alcohol stated on their labels. Other ingredient containers must be unlabeled. Only full-size bottles (50/70 cl) are permitted. Smaller bottles are prohibited.
Section 14
Bottles used in the competition must contain at least 1.5 cl of product.
Section 15
Competitors may use pour spouts or original bottle caps.
Pour spouts may be taped to the bottle but must not be otherwise obstructed or modified. Bottles may be taped with a maximum of three (3) strips, each no wider than 2 cm. Bottles must not be painted.
Section 16
The competitor may not pour from a bottle before using it for flairing.
Section 17
Competitors must bring their own glassware.
Section 18
Each competitor has a total competition time of 5 minutes.
For every 15 seconds exceeding this limit, a penalty point will be deducted. If the performance lasts more than 6 minutes, it will be disqualified.
Section 19
Competitors must personally prepare their own drinks.
Section 20
Flaming is prohibited during the performance.
Section 21
Competitors are responsible for providing their own background music and must bring a backup copy on a USB stick.
Section 22
Both the performance and the drink will be evaluated in the competition.
Section 23
The winner is the competitor with the highest total score.
In case of a tie among the top three drinks, taste will be the primary deciding factor, followed by appearance and then aroma.
Section 24
The winner of the competition will be declared the Finnish Champion in the Flairtending category.
Section 25
Any protests regarding the competition must be submitted in writing to the chairperson of the organizing committee within 30 minutes of the announcement of the preliminary results or within 30 minutes of the official conclusion of the final round.