sltn serves

Stories worth sipping

As SLTN has always been – and always will be – dedicated to this amazing trade, we decided that this year’s cocktail competition would celebrate all that’s good about working in the industry. So, along with competition sponsor FUNKIN, we’re asking entrants to create a cocktail inspired by their favourite hospitality memory.

Is there a particular interaction with a colleague or customer that stands out in your mind? Or maybe there was a mentor that helped you develop your skills? Perhaps one wild shift always brings a smile?

Whatever your favourite hospitality memory, we want to see it in cocktail form!

Vicky Ilankovan

Executive Director, Equal Measures UK

Vicky is executive director of Equal Measures UK – the non-profit spearheading the delivery of intersectional equity in the drinks and hospitality industries.

Vicky’s dedication to the sector resulted in her being named as a Change Advocate in CODE Hospitality’s Women of the Year List 2024.

Vicky Ilankovan

Executive Director, Equal Measures UK

Vicky is executive director of Equal Measures UK – the non-profit spearheading the delivery of intersectional equity in the drinks and hospitality industries.

Vicky’s dedication to the sector resulted in her being named as a Change Advocate in CODE Hospitality’s Women of the Year List 2024.

Register your interest now

entry process and criteria

Entrants should prepare one cocktail inspired by their favourite hospitality memory. There are no restrictions on ingredients, and homemade components are permitted. From these entries, six will be selected to compete in the SLTN Serves final.

Entries should be posted on the entrant’s Instagram page, including video, images or both, as well as a list of ingredients and the hashtag #SLTNServes. They must also tag @scottishlicensedtradenews and @funkincocktails on Instagram to ensure we are notified of every entry.

Entries run from 2nd to 20th March 2026.

ENTER ON INSTAGRAM

the final

DATE • 11th May 2026

TIME • 12:00 — 16:00

LOCATION • Malo, 12 Bothwell St, Glasgow, G2 6LU

Six finalists will be invited to prepare and present two cocktails: their original entry drink and a second cocktail which must include at least one of the listed products from the FUNKIN range.

The second cocktail should be suitable for preparation in large volumes, as the winner will have this drink served at the 2026 SLTN Awards. The second cocktail should also be prepared without any homemade ingredients. Other than these practical stipulations, finalists have full creative freedom to craft their own unique cocktail concept.

Entrants will be scored on:
• The concept behind their drinks and their ability to communicate this
• The flavour of the drinks; the balance of the ingredients and how well they work together
• Their ability to prepare and present the drinks with skill and professionalism

Vicky Ilankovan

Executive Director, Equal Measures UK

Vicky is executive director of Equal Measures UK – the non-profit spearheading the delivery of intersectional equity in the drinks and hospitality industries.

Vicky’s dedication to the sector resulted in her being named as a Change Advocate in CODE Hospitality’s Women of the Year List 2024.

Vicky Ilankovan

Executive Director, Equal Measures UK

Vicky is executive director of Equal Measures UK – the non-profit spearheading the delivery of intersectional equity in the drinks and hospitality industries.

Vicky’s dedication to the sector resulted in her being named as a Change Advocate in CODE Hospitality’s Women of the Year List 2024.

Register your interest now

prizes

• Two tickets to the 2026 SLTN Awards (worth over £500)
• Your winning cocktail being served at the 2026 SLTN Awards
• An interview in SLTN, to be published in print and online
• A fast-track pass into the top six shortlist for either the SLTN Awards Mixologist of the Year or Bartender of the Year category

ENTER ON INSTAGRAM

2025 winner • MAIRI MCDOWALL

Spirit of the Sixties: Revolution!

At the final, held in Malo in Glasgow city centre, Mairi, from Sebb’s wowed judges with her entry cocktail, ‘Lil’ Pink Pill’, a celebration of the sexual revolution wrought by the hormonal birth control pill, and then followed that up with a winning volume serve, ‘Away From Home’ which was later served as the welcome drink at the 2025 SLTN Awards ceremony.

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2024 winners • Morgan Pyle and Mari Chierchia

Spirit of the Sixties

After much deliberation, judges took the decision to split the top prize between Glasgow bartenders Mari Chierchia and Morgan Pyle. Mari was awarded for her sixties-themed cocktail, Stop the World, Scotland Wants to Get On, while Morgan’s high-volume cocktail, Sunny Afternoon, was chosen to be served as a welcome drink at the SLTN Awards. 

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Vicky Ilankovan

Executive Director, Equal Measures UK

Vicky is executive director of Equal Measures UK – the non-profit spearheading the delivery of intersectional equity in the drinks and hospitality industries.

Vicky’s dedication to the sector resulted in her being named as a Change Advocate in CODE Hospitality’s Women of the Year List 2024.

Vicky Ilankovan

Executive Director, Equal Measures UK

Vicky is executive director of Equal Measures UK – the non-profit spearheading the delivery of intersectional equity in the drinks and hospitality industries.

Vicky’s dedication to the sector resulted in her being named as a Change Advocate in CODE Hospitality’s Women of the Year List 2024.

Register your interest now

event sponsors

SLTN Serves is an event organised by Peebles Media Group, publisher of Scottish Licensed Trade News (SLTN), Scotland’s leading hospitality trade magazine. © 2026 Peebles Media Group Limited. All rights reserved.