CSFCC Official Rules & Guidelines

The Cairo Cocktail Flair & Cocktail Championship

From mystery basket heats to high-stakes grand finals. Precision, technique, storytelling, and professional bartending standards.

The Cairo Cocktail Flair & Cocktail Championship

CSFCC Flair Bartending Competition

Official Flair Rules & Scoring System. The CSFCC Flair Bartending Competition consists of two distinct flair disciplines:

01

Exhibition Flair

A performance-focused discipline emphasizing creativity, difficulty, originality, showmanship, choreography and technical execution.

02

Working Flair

A practical bartending discipline combining entertainment and flair with speed, accuracy, bottle control, efficiency and professional bar technique.

The two disciplines are judged independently. Competitors must demonstrate the skills specifically required by the discipline in which they are competing.

Part I — General Competition Rules

1. Competition Time

Exhibition Flair: Each competitor has a minimum performance time of 4 minutes and a maximum performance time of 6 minutes.
Working Flair: Each competitor has a minimum performance time of 3 minutes and a maximum performance time of 5 minutes.
Time Penalty: For every 10 seconds, or part thereof, exceeding the maximum permitted time, 2 points will be deducted from the competitor's final score.

2. Equipment & Station Rules

  • Bottles must begin and finish below the bartop.
  • Glassware must begin and finish on the bartop.
  • Competitors may arrange permitted equipment within their designated working area beforehand.
  • No unapproved equipment, prop, ingredient or special device may be brought onto the floor.
  • Broken glass, bottles or dangerous equipment must be reported immediately to staff.

3. Product, Sponsor & Safety Rules

Only authorised sponsor products may be used where restrictions apply (Vodka, Gin, Rum, Whiskey, Brandy, Tequila, syrups, and mixers). Safety takes absolute priority: fire performances, pyrotechnics, throwing equipment toward spectators, or unapproved electrical equipment are strictly prohibited.

Part II — Exhibition Flair Scoring

Maximum Positive Score: 25 Points

Category Max Points Description
Difficulty of Moves 10 pts Multi-bottle catches, blind catches, roll-aways, body wraps, and advanced manipulation.
Showmanship & Stage Presence 10 pts Confidence, charisma, personality, crowd interaction, and musical interpretation.
Cleanliness & Execution 5 pts Smooth transitions, controlled movements, accurate catches, and professional execution.
Total 25 pts Maximum Exhibition Base Score

Part III — Working Flair Scoring

Maximum Positive Score: 20 Points

Category Max Points Description
Pour Accuracy & Speed 10 pts Correct measurements, pour accuracy, speed, efficient workflow, and tool handling.
Bottle Handling & Working Flair 10 pts Practical flair, controlled bottle manipulation, safe catches, and consistent working volumes.
Total 20 pts Maximum Working Flair Base Score

Part V — Penalties & Deductions

Standard penalty schedules applied independently of positive scoring:

Incident / Violation Deduction
Dropped tool / minor prop failure -1
Minor liquid spill -1
Major liquid spill / overflow -3
Tin drop -3
Catastrophic bottle drop / Broken bottle -5
Wrong or missing required ingredient -5
Every 10 seconds over maximum time -2

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