Elijah Craig and VinePair Crown Devin Ballard of Washington, D.C Winner of the New Era of the Old Fashioned Cocktail Contest in Louisville, KY on February 26, 2025. 

After three rounds of competition and hundreds of entries, Elijah Craig and VinePair celebrated the grand finale of the New Era of the Old Fashioned Cocktail Contest in Louisville, KY. Out of nearly 400 initial online submissions, just 15 bartenders advanced to the semi-finals video submission round, and only five finalists were invited to come to Kentucky to compete live for the $15,000 grand prize.

The competition culminated on February 26th, where the five finalists showcased their innovative takes on the Old Fashioned, impressing a panel of esteemed judges including Adam Teeter- VinePair Co-Founder & CEO, Lynn House- National Spirits Specialist and Portfolio Mixologist at Heaven Hill Brands, and Joanna Sciarrino- Editor in Chief at VinePair. That evening, guests gathered for a celebration where the winner and runners up were announced. Hailing from Washington, D.C., Devin Ballard took home the grand prize with his cocktail, Ogun’s Blessing, a bold and creative reimagining of the classic drink.

Grand Prize Winner

Devin Ballard- $15,000 and a feature in Volume II of Elijah Craig’s Cocktail Book

Second Place

Armando Garza- $2,500 and a feature in Volume II of Elijah Craig’s Cocktail Book

Third Place

Simon Banks- $1,000 and a feature in Volume II of Elijah Craig’s Cocktail Book

Fourth Place

Bridget Ramsey- $500 and a feature in Volume II of Elijah Craig’s Cocktail Book

Fifth Place

Courtney Moy- $250 and a feature in Volume II of Elijah Craig’s Cocktail Book

Our second annual cocktail competition highlights Elijah Craig’s continued commitment to the craft of cocktail innovation and its dedication to supporting the bartending community. This year’s first in-person Competition and Finale Event brought together industry professionals, bourbon enthusiasts, and cocktail aficionados to honor the artistry behind one of the world’s most iconic drinks. Elijah Craig looks forward to hosting next year’s Finale in Louisville, KY once again. Cheers!