The Dueling Bartender Showdown

March 08, 2026
Culinary Innovation Theater 2150

Get ready for a high energy, no filters, dueling bartender showdown that is part master class, part comedy, and fully unforgettable. Two industry pros and educators go head to head on stage to break down, rebuild, and debate one deceptively simple question: what actually makes the perfect Old Fashioned. Expect sharp banter, strong opinions, live technique, and moments that are genuinely better than Cats on Broadway. This is not a quiet demo. It is fast, interactive, and designed to pull the audience into the conversation while delivering serious beverage insight.

What you will walk away with:

  • New techniques and professional level nuances for building a consistently great Old Fashioned
  • A clear view of current beverage trends, operator realities, and where spirits and cocktails are truly headed
  • Practical insight into how educators, brands, and operators are training and developing the next generation of beverage professionals

Come for the laughs. Stay for the learning. Leave with sharper skills and stronger perspective.

Speakers
Gabriel Urrutia
Gabriel Urrutia, Professor and Bevpreneur in Residence - FIU Bacardi Center of Excellence Global Brand Ambassador
Mitchell Meredith
Mitchell Meredith, Professor and Faculty Director, Beverage Education