Woodford Reserve has announced the highly anticipated return of its Global Bar Exchange, an international advocacy program that celebrates creativity, craft, and the shared culture of hospitality. Running from September 2025 through April 2026, the series will unite emerging talent from some of the world’s most respected and innovative bars, offering audiences a chance to experience flavor-driven, Bourbon-forward collaborations that stretch across continents.
Now in its third edition, the 2025/26 Global Bar Exchange will span 12 key markets: Australia, Brazil, Dubai, Germany, Hong Kong, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Netherlands, the UK, and the USA. Far more than a guest shift series, this exchange immerses bartenders in the culinary and cultural DNA of host cities. They’ll explore local ingredients, culinary techniques, and regional traditions before channeling those discoveries into cocktails that reflect both place and personality.
A Cultural Exchange Through Bourbon
For Woodford Reserve, the Global Bar Exchange is less about itineraries and more about storytelling through spirits. “We are now in our third year of the Woodford Reserve Global Bar Exchange and cannot wait to kick off the new edition,” said Nidal Ramini, Director of Advocacy at Brown-Forman. “This year will see a dynamic mix of partners and exciting new markets, and we’re building on the momentum of our previous Exchanges to deliver something truly global in scale and spirit.”
Each stop concludes with a collaborative bar takeover, where visiting and host bartenders showcase their creations. These drinks often live beyond the event, finding permanent homes on bar menus. A standout example: LINE Athens’ Old Fashioned, a mix of Woodford Reserve, Metaxa 12 Stars, cotton mead, and bitters, born during the 2023 edition and now part of the bar’s regular offerings.
The 2025/26 lineup kicks off in September, when London’s Nightjar team travels to Brisbane’s Death and Taxes. That exchange flips in October, with the Australian team heading to London. In November, Seoul’s Bar Cham will collaborate with Amsterdam’s Sins of Sal, before hosting them in Korea later that month.
Upcoming Lineup Highlights
- Nightjar at Death and Taxes: 7–12 September | Guest Shift: 9 September
- Death and Taxes at Nightjar: 13–18 October | Guest Shift: 17 October
- Bar Cham at Sins of Sal: 18–20 November | Guest Shift: 20 November
- Sins of Sal at Bar Cham: 26–28 November | Guest Shift: 28 November
Additional collaborations and dates will be announced soon. For more information, head over to the brand’s official website.
A Travelling Spectacle
This year’s program will be amplified by a lifestyle campaign titled “A Travelling Spectacle”, capturing the stories, cities, and bartenders behind the exchange. Expect narratives not just about cocktails, but about the communities and connections that shape modern hospitality.
Since its founding in 1996, Woodford Reserve has consistently championed the bartending world, building bridges between cultures while elevating the craft of Bourbon. The Global Bar Exchange 2025/26 continues this legacy, offering a sensorial and professional immersion that celebrates the people and places reshaping hospitality today.
In the end, the Exchange is not simply about swapping barstools. It’s about the shared pursuit of artistry, the global language of flavor, and a Bourbon that carries with it the philosophy Woodford Reserve has always stood for: to enrich life with substance and style.
