The World Cocktail Competition is a highly competitive event with more than seventy nations represented.
The Irish hospitality sector is celebrating today as Irish bartender Darren Geraghty has placed in the global top 15 at the prestigious World Cocktail Competition. In addition to his remarkable performance, Darren has also been awarded Cocktail of the Year in the Classic Cocktail: After Dinner category.
Earlier this year, Darren was named Best Cocktail Experience Winner 2025 at the Irish Restaurant Awards. His success on the world stage now confirms his position among the best internationally.
The World Cocktail Competition is a highly competitive event with more than seventy nations represented. This is the 72nd edition of the competition and took place in Cartagena in Colombia between the 23rd and 27th of November.
Competitors took part in five separate heats covering long drink, oriental fusion, after dinner, before dinner and coffee cocktail categories. Months of practice, recipe refinement and performance preparation were evident in every entry. After an intense day of competition, fifteen bartenders were selected by an international judging panel for the semi-final.
After a tense final announcement, Ireland’s own Darren Geraghty was confirmed as one of the semi-finalists, a historic achievement for an Irish competitor.
This success would not have been possible without the generous support of Monin and Michael Ingle, proud sponsors of the Best Cocktail Experience competition as part of the Irish Restaurant Awards, who provided essential guidance throughout the competition.
Speaking after the results were announced, Darren Geraghty said:
“Not only was I honoured to win the Irish cocktail competition at the Irish Restaurant Awards, I am truly honoured to represent Ireland on the world stage. To come in the top 15 in the world overall and win a gold medal for Cocktail of the Year in the Classic Cocktail: After Dinner category, is amazing and I am incredibly grateful for the support I have received”
Michael Ingle, who also travelled to the competition, said:
“This is an incredible achievement by Darren. To place in the top 15 in the world and win Cocktail of the Year in the Classic Cocktail: After Dinner category is no small feat. Monin are proud to sponsor the Irish Restaurant Awards Cocktail Experience Competition which helped pave the way for Darren’s success. We are already looking forward to next year’s competition, where I have no doubt the contest to represent Ireland on the world stage will be fierce.”
