Battle of the Bars

Monday, November 16, 2026
The Bluestone | Columbus, Ohio
Doors: 5:30 PM | Competition: 6:00–9:00PM

Noble Cut Distillery is bringing together 16 of Columbus’ favorite bars and restaurants for one unforgettable night of cocktails, creativity, and friendly competition.

Set inside the historic Bluestone, this one-night cocktail showdown will put some of your favorite Columbus bartenders and mixologists head-to-head across 3 rounds of competition, and we need help judging round 1!

Your $45 ticket gets you all-access to the competition, plus everything you need for a great night out:

• Help judge Round 1 and choose your favorite cocktail
• Watch all 3 rounds of the cocktail competition
• One food token included with your ticket (Pizza or a Glizzy)
• DJ entertainment throughout the evening
• Celebrate Columbus' incredible local bar scene and experience the Bluestone like never before
• A night of good drinks, good food, and even better company

A little bit more about what to expect...

The rounds of competition are as follows:

Round 1 - The People's Choice
Sixteen bartenders will compete in eight head-to-head matchups, each creating a signature cocktail using Noble Cut Distillery spirits.

• Winners are determined by attendee voting.
• The eight winning bartenders advance to Round Two.
• Bartenders eliminated in this round become judges for Round Two.

Round 2 - Fresh + Local
The remaining eight competitors will create an original cocktail featuring Simple Times cocktail syrups paired with a Noble Cut Distillery spirit.

• Judging will be conducted by the eight bartenders eliminated in Round One.
• The top four competitors, determined by votes, advance to the championship round.

Round 3 - For All The Beans
The four finalists will take the stage to craft their best Espresso Martini, featuring our coffee sponsor's espresso concentrate alongside a Noble Cut Distillery spirit.

• The champion will be selected by a panel of Celebrity Judges.

A few more important notes:

• Guests must be 21+ to attend
• There will be drinks available for purchase at the Bluestone's bars
• Parking is located directly behind the Bluestone with an associated fee, but we highly recommend planning to use a ridesharing platform to ensure you and your guests are safe. Learn how to plan ahead with Uber or Lyft here!

And our favorite part of the evening, giving back. We are donating a portion of our ticket sales to Service! Service! Relief for Hospitality Workers is a Columbus-based nonprofit dedicated to helping hospitality workers build stable, sustainable careers and thrive in the industry. Founded in response to the hospitality industry's collapse during the COVID-19 pandemic, the organization provides immediate assistance alongside workforce training, mentorship, career opportunities, and entrepreneurial support. Their broader goal is to strengthen the entire hospitality community by investing in workers, supporting employers, and creating pathways to long-term economic opportunity. We could not be prouder and more grateful to work with Service! and do what we can to give back to a cause we care so deeply for.

We cannot wait to party with you at Battle of the Bars for a night of friendly competition, community and giving back!