At the Swiss Cocktail Open, Switzerland’s largest cocktail competition, 23 bartenders from across Switzerland competed against one another on Monday afternoon, May 4, at Chicago 1928 in Zurich’s Oerlikon district. They had qualified for the finals in the weeks leading up to the event from a pool of over 50 applicants.
All bar professionals working in Switzerland were able to apply for the lively competition format with a networking area and table fair. They had to use at least one product from an international and one from a Swiss manufacturer for their drinks. In addition, the recipe could contain a maximum of one homemade ingredient and one specialty or niche product.
Top-class finale
In the first round, the 23 participants competed against each other in two groups. The top three finishers from each group qualified for the grand final of the top six. Alongside eventual winner Randy Schaller from Le Vestibule in Lausanne, Domenico Caruso (Clouds, Zurich), Michele Durante (Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, Basel), Blanche Dyhrenfurth (Atelier Classic Bar, Thun), Dominic Pérez (Hotel Vitznauerhof, Vitznau), and Philipp Vollmar (artcibar, Lenzburg) also made it to the final six.
In the final round, Randy Schaller’s creation “The Root Is On Fire” won over the jury across the board. In his cocktail, he combined 2 cl of Campari’s Mezcal Montelobos, 2 cl of Diageo’s Tequila Don Julio Blanco, 1.5 cl of Louis Morand’s Eau-de-vie de Coing, 1.25 cl of Biotta’s beetroot juice, 2 cl of Alba cinnamon and tonka bean honey syrup, 2 cl of fresh lime juice and crushed fresh tarragon, and a homemade beetroot and Espelette pepper opaline as a garnish.
Switzerland's Best Cocktail 2026: "The Root Is On Fire"
by Randy Schaller | Le Vestibule, Lausanne
| 2 cl | Mezcal Montelobos, Campari |
| 2 cl | Don Julio Blanco Tequila, Diageo |
| 1,5 cl | Quince Brandy, Louis Morand |
| 1.25 cl | Beet juice, Biotta |
| 2 cl | Homemade honey syrup with Alba cinnamon and tonka beans |
| 2 cl | Lime juice & fresh tarragon, smashed |
Decoration: Homemade opaline with beetroot and Espelette pepper
Second place went to Philipp Vollmar from artcibar in Lenzburg for his drink “Wedmedik.” Third place went to Blanche Dyhrenfurth from Atelier Classic Bar in Thun for her cocktail “Beautiful Mangoness.”
Overjoyed winner
The challenge cup was presented by last year's winner, André Haueter. Randy Schaller's face beamed with joy as he raised the trophy high in front of the large crowd of spectators.
Ranking list
| Cocktail name | Bartender | Local | Points |
| The Root Is On Fire | Randy Schaller | Le Vestibule, Lausanne | 53.80 |
| Wedmedik | Philipp Vollmar | artcibar, Lenzburg | 53.60 |
| Beautiful Mangoness | Blanche Dyhrenfurth | Atelier Classic Bar, Thun | 52.40 |
| Happy Places | Dominic Pérez | Hotel Vitznauerhof, Vitznau | 50.60 |
| Lady Gimlet | Domenico Caruso | Clouds, Zurich | 47.00 |
| Train | Michele Durante | Grand Hotel Les Trois Rois, Basel | 45.20 |
