Around this time of the year, since the 1980s, T.G.I. Friday’s locations all over the world begin the whittling down process for the annual Shake, Rattle and Pour World Bartender Championship. Vegas’ neighborhood competitions kicked off on September 15 at Sam’s Town and will continue throughout the month with celebrity judges including Charo and Mayor Oscar Goodman at The Orleans (9/16), Gold Coast (9/22), in Henderson (9/23), at the Sun Coast (9/24), on West Sahara (9/29) and Aliante (9/30). I will help judge the Sin City regionals at the Gold Coast on Tuesday, October 13. There, current T.G.I. Friday’s bartenders will attempt to flair their way into the judges’ hearts, delivering perfectly executed Friday’s cocktails using “freestyle flair” (a combination of exhibition and working flair). This event is open to the public as cocktails will later be auctioned off to support Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The regional winner will move on to the western divisional after which five U.S. competitors and four non-U.S. competitors will compete in spring in the 2010 world championships for $10,000.

Beam Global Spirits & Wines will also be awarding $10,000, this to the bartender who creates the best three-ingredient cocktail using the DeKuyper family of liqueurs, schnapps and flavored brandies. Bartenders, stop into the Sierra Gold at Interstate 215 and Jones Boulevard on September 21-23, between 2-5 p.m. and make your original cocktail using any of 25 DeKuyper liqueurs like Buttershots and Island Punch Pucker. DeKuyper will also provide 24 Beam Global spirits like Effen Black Cherry Vodka and Cruzan Vanilla Rum. Your three-ingredient cocktail must contain one DeKuyper liqueur. Ten semifinalists will compete in Las Vegas for $1,000 and one spot in the $10,000 finals in New Orleans on November 5. No smashing, muddling, fire or energy drinks need apply. Email xania.woodman@gmgvegas for the complete list of rules.

Bartenders, submit your original recipe using Domaine de Canton Ginger Extraordinaire Liqueur as the base or co-base of your cocktail by October 15 to be considered for round two of the competition that will be held in Las Vegas in November. All round one winners receive $250. The finalists will travel to French Saint Martin in November, where someone will win $10,000 and be crowned Bartender of the Year. Last year, Vegas bartender/mixologists Kristen Schaefer of BarMagic of Las Vegas and Alex Velez made the trip to Saint Martin as finalists; Schaefer was the only female finalist, so the gauntlet has been thrown down, ladies! Sign up at domainedecanton.com .