New York – September 15, 2026 -- Lucas Bols named Rebecca Ardman of Boston and Michael Sanz of Los Angeles as the East and West Coast winners of the 2026 BOLS Cocktail Battle, securing both bartenders a spot at Cocktail Fever, the brand's global bartender event in Amsterdam.
Two US bartenders qualify for Amsterdam's Cocktail Fever program
Ardman won with SPF-U, a layered cocktail blending BOLS Banana Liqueur and BOLS Blue Curacao with Partida Tequila, Frangelico, lemon and vanilla, topped with pineapple-cinnamon foam. Sanz took the West Coast title with Fire and Ice, combining BOLS Blue Curacao and BOLS Elderflower Liqueur with gin, lemon, lavender bitters and chile-spiced hot honey.
Both drinks were judged on flavor, originality, technical execution, visual presentation and storytelling, built around this year's "Neon Nights" competition theme.
Runners-up round out the US finalist field
Carlos Flores placed second and Nicole Greenwell third on the East Coast; Kate Brown finished second and Azalea Barr third on the West Coast.
Winners join global cohort for two-day Amsterdam training program
Cocktail Fever brings together 2026 BOLS Cocktail Battle winners from participating countries for training at the BOLS Cocktail Academy inside the House of BOLS, a distillery visit, seminars, masterclasses and networking with the global bartender community.
Ignacio Llaneza, Vice President of Marketing for USA and Canada at Lucas Bols, said the two winning cocktails demonstrated how BOLS Liqueurs can support distinct creative directions while representing the US bartender community internationally.
North American competition drew trade-media backing from Chilled Magazine, Difford's Guide
The 2026 US competition received editorial, digital and social support from CHILLED Magazine and Difford's Guide, extending exposure for participating bartenders across trade channels.
Bols confirms competition returns to the US in 2027
Following the 2026 edition, Lucas Bols confirmed the BOLS Cocktail Battle will return to the United States in 2027, with theme, entry dates and competition details to be announced at a later date.