Albany Capital Center

Get ready for the Battle of the Bartenders, one of the Festival’s most buzzed-about showdowns. This high-energy competition brings together some of the Capital Region’s boldest and most inventive mixologists as they go head to head, crafting cutting-edge cocktails that blend premium spirits, fresh ingredients, and serious creativity.

Guests will taste each concoction and help crown the ultimate winner, because at this festival, the people’s palate always counts. It is a full-on celebration of local talent, cocktail artistry, and mixology magic. The Battle of the Bartenders is included with the Grand Tastings and Seminars lineup, so be sure to have a Grand Tastings and Seminars ticket in hand for a front-row sip of the spirited competition.

Friday Lineup  |  Rock and Roll Pours
Crank it up and meet the bartenders ready to rock your glass:

• Zach Wolfgramm, Kindred

• Juliana Bloss, Lost & Found Bar & Kitchen 

• Robert Shoykhet, TORO Cantina 

• William Oshei, Itameshi 

• Benjamin Pickering, The Hollow Bar + Kitchen 

• Zach Wachtel, Jack’s Oyster House by NeoVista Hospitality Group 

• Dionne Puorto, Smith’s Public House

• Emily Groff, Daley’s On Crooked Lake

Saturday Lineup  |  Psychedelic Sips
Things get trippy as these bartenders bring the color, creativity, and surprise:

• Logan Virkler, Speckled Pig Brewing Co

• Chelsea Conger, Mazzone Hospitality

• Olivia Savas, Noah’s Italian

• Julietta Ford, The Roosevelt Room 

• Sabrina Ross, Swifty’s Restaurant and Pub 

• Shane Spillenger, Slidin’ Dirty & Ophelia’s 

• Joseph Heaney, Sea Smoke Waterfront Grill

• Rich Birkmayer, Stacy’s Stratch Kitchen