I’m not a historian, but according to the 2001 movie A Knight’s Tale, medieval knights would joust not only for money, but also for glory.
These days, it is not as easy to find ways to joust with your peers, but down at 1864 Tavern, owner Dylan Evans has been setting up friendly bartender competitions for the past couple of years. These contests feature local bartenders from all over the area coming together to make cocktails in a head-to-head format. While the stakes of a drinks competition are not the same as with most medieval feats of sport, the idea remains the same: Give it everything you’ve got for the glory.
“One of my favorite and most terrifying experiences coming up bartending was competitions,” Evans said.
We both started bartending in the 2010s, a time when local bartender competitions were more common than they are today. Bartenders would come together to showcase sponsored alcohol brands and compete head-to-head to win prizes, with the best recipe and charisma ultimately emerging victorious. These contests were an excellent way for bartenders to gain confidence, test recipes and earn recognition for their skills.
“We got to grow up competing in front of our peers,” Evans said. “We put our creations out there to be appreciated, and somewhat destroyed, but we’re always putting ourselves out there just to say, ‘Look, I belong here.’”
Over the past eight or so years, the competition landscape has shifted mostly online, removing community and showmanship from most contests. And, as in many communities after the COVID-19 shutdowns, the Reno bartending community has fewer opportunities to gather and share. So two years ago, with the help of sponsored brands, Evans and his team started hosting competitions again—first a couple of times a year, and now every month.
“I think the big, motivating factor for me is that I like passing the knowledge on to these young cats,” Evans said.
He and his team ask local beverage-industry veterans to judge the competitions, giving newer bartenders the opportunity to showcase their skills in front of some of Reno’s most discerning drinkers. Past judges have included owners and bartenders from some of Reno’s most award-winning bars, like Death and Taxes, Rum Sugar Lime and Chapel Tavern.
The themes and format for these cocktail showdowns depend on the sponsoring brand; some brands may want a focus on more austere, stirred drinks, while others may want a wild, tropical flair.
Evans said the competitions involve varying levels of difficulty. “Some are easier; some are harder, but I don’t want to always keep raising the stakes, so the competition can remain approachable,” he said. His competitions have brought together bartenders with diverse skill sets, coming from workplaces ranging from dive bars to high-end cocktail lounges.
The competition jitters can be a considerable factor while competing. When the spotlight is on, it’s common to see bartenders who make drinks every day sweating with nerves.
“It helps you when your peers are cheering you on, and you see them having the same nervousness,” Evans said. “Everyone shares that same drive and those same feelings that you’re having in the room. It levels the playing field”.
Some thrive under the pressure of competition, challenging themselves to create in ways they never would have otherwise. “I think that competitions can give people real-world exposure to their concepts, to see what real people think of their drinks,” Evans said.
Once every quarter, Evans invites the public to join these normally industry-only events. The public events are ticketed, and proceeds go to charity. Evans also pays the bartenders—and for some, these public showcases are the first time they are being paid for their skills, rather than just their labor.
1864 Tavern is located at 290 California Ave., in Reno. If you are interested in joining these contests, either as a participant or as a person who loves cocktails, follow 1864 Tavern on Instagram @1864tavern to learn about upcoming events as they’re scheduled.