Speed Rack, the world’s first and only international all-women and femme bartending competition, announces its 13th season in the United States, beginning January 2025. Founded by spirits industry veterans Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix, Speed Rack aims to highlight leading female-identifying bartenders across the globe, with 100% of proceeds going directly to breast cancer education, prevention, and research. The organization has raised over $1.75 million dollars in the fight against breast cancer since inception, with a goal of breaking $2 million during Season 13.

Speed Rack was conceptualized in February 2011, in a bid by Ivy and Lynnette to foster relationships and shine a spotlight on talented women in their male-dominated industry. The competition brings together up-and-coming bartenders from around the country, starting with qualifying and elimination challenges in each region before culminating at the National Finals in July. Each event is ticketed and supported by top-tier sponsors in the beverage category, benefiting not-for-profit organizations and research centers including The Pink Agenda, Another Round Another Rally, Breast Cancer Research Foundation, Evelyn H. Lauder Breast Center, METAvivor, SHARE Cancer Support, and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute.  

Season 13 Dates and Details .... keep scrolling

Bartenders interested in participating first apply via online application, which includes a video demonstration. The twenty most qualified bartenders in each market are invited to participate in one of six regional competitions, showcasing their speed and aptitude when preparing four cocktails in a preliminary round. The top eight fastest competitors advance to the on-stage competition, a bracketed round-robin-style challenge utilizing a random selection of industry-standard cocktails. Rated on accuracy, taste, and presentation by guest judges, the fastest and most skilled participants move ahead until one winner remains.

Speed Rack Season 13 regional dates and venues have been confirmed for four U.S. cities, with additional DC and New England dates to be announced. U.S. National Ambassador Vance Henderson will reprise his role as host for each event:

Each local winner will go on to compete at National Finals, held annually at The Republic in New Orleans during July’s Tales of the Cocktail.

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A Singular Competition

To date, the award-winning Speed Rack team has hosted over 115 events in more than nine countries, welcoming over 2,000 competitors, 3,000 volunteers, and 32k attendees. In April 2024, Ivy and Lynnette immortalized the network they worked to build by co-authoring A Quick Drink: The Speed Rack Guide to Winning Cocktails with writer Megan Krigbaum, a compendium of recipes and industry wisdom from 80 Speed Rack alumni and friends. As it moves into its 13th season Speed Rack remains the only competition of its kind, filling a much needed void for community building amongst female-identifying members of the bartending industry.

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