OFFICIAL RULES
NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. You must be at least 21 years of age, able to prove that you are currently employed as a bartender and a legal resident of the United States, and residing in Maryland to participate. Contest void wherever prohibited or restricted by law.
CONTEST PERIOD: Start Date [Nov 3, 2025] Entry deadline: [Nov 25, 2025 at 11:59 pm (ET)]
HOW TO ENTER: In order to enter, the Contest potential entrants must visit https://www.oldforester.com/maryland-bartender during the Contest Period. Your Submission Entry must be completed using the form. All entries become the Property of Brown-Forman/Old Forester.
Limit one entry per person.
Selection Process:
Phase 1 - Online entries:
All complete entries submitted to https://www.oldforester.com/maryland-bartender within the entry timeframe will be judged against the below criteria based on the perceived qualities of the written recipes. Entrants will be notified via email if they have been selected to move onto the finale. Judges will not take into consideration current employer, time spent bartending, or any other personal information in the selection of finalists.
Judging Criteria (Online Entries)
Initial scores will be based on the judges’ interpretation of the written description submitted. In some cases, judges may recreate the cocktails to settle closely ranked submissions.
Winners must be currently employed as a bartender. Judging is in the sole discretion of Old Forester/Brown-Forman and a panel of judges selected by Old Forester/Brown-Forman. Judging for online entries will be conducted/concluded on or about Nov 26, 2025.
Phase 2 - Regional Finales:
A finale event will be held in Maryland on Dec 1, 2025 where 8 finalists will compete for a chance to win the Maryland Old Forester Bartender Contest.
A panel of industry experts selected by Old Forester/Brown Forman will judge this event. Rules and judging criteria will be shared with all Finalists a minimum of 1 week prior to the Final competition. These will be a variation of the criteria outlined above. Weighting may vary.
Guidelines and Requirements:
Recipes must be original. An original recipe is the product of one's own mind and is not a copy or imitation.
Old Forester Bourbon must be listed as the primary ingredient in your cocktail recipe.
Recipes must not exceed 7 ingredients including drops, dashes (this does not include garnish, sprays or citrus zests).
Not more than 2 ounces of beverage alcohol per recipe.
Brown-Forman/Old Forester and participating promotional companies, any and their respective affiliates, directors, officers, employees, parents, subsidiaries (collectively the “Released Parties”), will have no liability whatsoever for, and shall be held harmless by entrants against any liablilty for any damage, loss or injury of any kind including without limitation, death to persons or property damage resulting in whole or in part, directly or indirectly, from acceptance, possession use or misuse of any prize or participation in the Contest. Furthermore, the Released Parties are not in any way liable for damage, loss or injury resulting from computer malfunctions, misdirected or incomplete entries or acceptance and use of the prize. Brown-Forman/Old Forester reserves the right in its sole discretion, to cancel or suspend this contest should virus, bugs or other causes beyond the control of the sponsor corrupt the administration, security or proper play of the contest. Brown-Forman/Old Forester reserves the right at its sole discretion, to disqualify any individual who tampers with the entry process, and to cancel, terminate or suspend the contest. Brown-Forman/Old Forester assumes no responsibility for any error, omission, interruption, deletion, defect, delay in operation or transmission, communication line failure, theft or destruction or unauthorized access to, or alteration of, entries.
CAUTION: Any attempt by an entrant to deliberately damage any website or undermine the legitimate operation of the contest is a violation of criminal and civil laws and should such an attempt be made, the sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such attempt. Sponsor reserves the right to seek damages from any such entrant to the fullest extent of the law.
ELIGIBILITY: Employees of Brown-Forman, their affiliates, as well as the advertising/promotion agency, and the immediate families and household members of each are not eligible to win. Holders of wholesale or retail licenses are not eligible. You must be at least 21 years of age and a legal resident of the United States, residing in Maryland to be eligible.
PRIZES:
There will be three (3) prizes awarded. Each prize consists of (1) round-trip coach class airfare tickets from the major airport closest to the winner's home to/from Louisville, Kentucky (exact flight times to be determined by the Sponsor). (2) two nights hotel stay in Louisville, (hotel chosen by Sponsor, standard room, double occupancy), round trip ground transportation to the Old Forester Distillery, one (1) tour of the Old Forester Distillery grounds and distillery, lunch (exact date and times to be determined by the Sponsor), $250 in spending money (cash or cash equivalent, including bank gift card). Trip will take place in early 2026. Approximate retail value of each prize is $1,499 ARV. The prize will be sent to each winner digitally The ARV may vary based on transportation vendor quotes and distance between departure point and destination. The winner will not receive the difference between actual and ARV. Taxes are the sole responsibility for the winner. A 1099 will be issued. No substitution or transfer of prize permitted. Alcohol is not part of any prize. Limit one (1) prize per person. If the winner cannot travel on dates, he/she must forfeit the prize and an alternate winner may be selected. An alternate potential winner may have a shorter time to respond.Unclaimed prize(s) may not be awarded.
Travel is subject to the terms and conditions set forth in these Official Rules. All expenses, ground transportation, and other costs not expressly stated in the prize description are the sole responsibility of the winner. Winners from the United States must possess government issued photo ID acceptable for domestic travel in the U.S. Restrictions, conditions and limitations apply.
Old Forester/Brown-Forman reserves the right to substitute any prize for one of equal or greater value. By accepting the Prize, the winner agrees to abide by any terms, conditions, and restrictions relating to the Prize elements.
The odds of winning are based on the number of eligible entries received during the Contest Period.
CLAIMING PRIZES/RELEASE: Winner(s) may be required to sign an affidavit of eligibility and liability release. By accepting his or her prize, the winner: (a) releases Brown-Forman/Old Forester and their affiliated companies and licensed alcohol wholesalers and retailers from any all liability claims, action or proceedings arising out of or for injuries or damages sustained while involved in a promotion activity or connection with the use of the prizes; as well as (b) consents to the use by Brown-Forman/Old Forester for promotional and advertising purposes in connection with this promotion and general use of the images submitted with entries, of his or her name and/or likeness and/or voice without further compensation. Proof of identification and age verification will be required
Any information entrants provide during the course of claiming a prize will only be used for administration of the Contest and for purposes of Prize fulfillment. By entering this Contest, entrants consent to such collection, use and disclosure of information.
PRIVACY: Except as otherwise contemplated in these Official Rules, your contact information and any other information submitted by you, or collected by Brown-Forman, in connection with this Contest will be used in accordance with the Brown-Forman’s privacy policy (https://legal.brown-forman.com/privacy-policy/english).
WINNERS’ LIST: For the name of the prize winner(s), send a self-addressed stamped envelope to Red Moon Marketing, Dept., Old Forester Whiskey November contest Winners List, 7804 Fairview Road, Box #309, Charlotte, NC 28226 before Dec 31, 2025 .. Do not send entries to the address.
YOUR FRIENDS AT OLD FORESTER REMIND YOU TO DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
Old Forester Straight Bourbon Whisky, 43-57.5% Alc. by Vol., Old Forester Distilling Company at Louisville in Kentucky.
To find out more about responsible consumption, visit Responsibility.org