Drink Masters is the first competition to showcase cocktails as liquid art and the mixology artists who make them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Hosted by comedian Tone Bell and judged by two titans of the cocktail world, Frankie Solarik and Julie Reiner, Drink Masters will make you forget everything you think you know about cocktails.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Twelve talented mixologists from across North America, each with a dream to make their mark in the world of mixology, compete in a series of challenges designed to push their skills to the limit. Round after round, they\u2019ll put their heart, talent and technique on the line to deliver mind-bending cocktails that redefine the genre. One by one, they\u2019ll be eliminated until the winner claims the coveted title of Ultimate Drink Master and the life-changing grand prize of $100,000 cash prize. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
The Drink Masters contestants are Taoufike \u201cTao\u201d Zrafi, Loyd Von Rose, Natalie Migliarini, Raj Shukla, Meredith Barry, Aisling Gammill, Kapri Robinson, Michael R. Anderson, Alex Velez, Kate Gerwin, Christian \u201cSuzu\u201d Suzuki-Orellana, and Lauren \u201cLP\u201d Paylor. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
EPISODE HIGHLIGHTS<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Episode 1 \u2013 11 September 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mixologists put their own spin on the world\u2019s most popular cocktail, the Margarita. Later, in a dramatic Mix-Off Battle, one mixologist will be smoked out of the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Episode 2 \u2013 18 September 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mixologists concoct colourful cocktails from an array of fresh fruit. And in a nerve-wracking Mix-Off battle, a sour classic cocktail will topple one more mixologist from the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Episode 3 \u2013 25 September 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n Flowers and herbs abound as Cocktail King Dale DeGroff drops in to guest judge the mixologists in a blooming botanical cocktail challenge. Later, a Cosmopolitan Mix-Off battle leaves one mixologist in the dirt.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Episode 4 \u2013 2 October 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n Travel back in time to a raging prohibition party, full of showboating bartenders and guys and dolls looking to fill up on giggle water. Later, a nail-biting Canadian Rye Mix-Off Battle sends one mixologist packing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Episode 5 \u2013 9 October 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n Guest judge and chocolatier Gonzo Jimenez encourages the mixologists to tap into their<\/p>\n\n\n\n sweetest side with a dessert cocktail challenge. Then, a caffeinated Mix-Off Battle hangs one mixologist out to dry.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Episode 6 \u2013 16 October 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n The quest for the Ultimate Drink Master kicks into hyperdrive in a jaw-dropping cocktail tournament that puts the mixologists\u2019 skill, technique and speed to the test. Seven will become six after three fastpaced rounds of cocktail-making.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Episode 7 \u2013 23 October 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mixologists put their palates to the test with a food and drink pairing challenge as Chef Edward Lee joins the judging panel for an action-packed cocktail service. Later, in a tricky colour-inspired Mix-Off battle, one mixologist is blacklisted from the competition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Episode 8 \u2013 30 October 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n Special guest judge Tiffany Barriere inspires the mixologists pour their passions into hot, spicy and delicious cocktails that bring the heat. Later, the chill<\/p>\n\n\n\n blast of a winter-themed Mix-Off Battle leaves one more mixologist out in the cold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Special guest judge, bartender Tiffany Barriere inspires the mixologists to tap into their passionate side and create a hot and spicy cocktail.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Episode 9 \u2013 6 November 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n The mixologists target the finals with a flight of 3 cocktails made from the judges\u2019 favourite spirits. Later, two mixologists must show off their signature style as they battle for the remaining spot in the Finale.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Episode 10 \u2013 13 November 2025<\/p>\n\n\n\n Catch Drink Masters every Thursday at 19:00, only on S3.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For media enquiries<\/p>\n\n\n\n Caroline Phalakatshela<\/p>\n\n\n\n Publicity Specialist \u2013 Video Entertainment<\/p>\n\n\n\n 072 382 2032\/ phalakatshelamc@sabc.co.za<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" Drink Masters is the first competition to showcase cocktails as liquid art and the mixology artists who make them. Hosted<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":22,"featured_media":6756,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_lock_modified_date":false,"pgc_sgb_lightbox_settings":"","footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[239,234],"tags":[],"rttpg_featured_image_url":{"full":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1.jpg",1200,628,false],"landscape":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1.jpg",1200,628,false],"portraits":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1.jpg",1200,628,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-300x157.jpg",300,157,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-1024x536.jpg",990,518,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1.jpg",1200,628,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1.jpg",1200,628,false],"exsc_200x144":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-200x144.jpg",200,144,true],"vodi-480x270-crop":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-480x270.jpg",480,270,true],"vodi-696x677-crop":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-696x628.jpg",696,628,true],"vodi-990x440-crop":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-990x440.jpg",990,440,true],"masvideos_video_large":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-640x360.jpg",640,360,true],"masvideos_video_medium":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-480x270.jpg",480,270,true],"masvideos_video_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-120x67.jpg",120,67,true],"masvideos_movie_large":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-600x628.jpg",600,628,true],"masvideos_movie_medium":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-300x450.jpg",300,450,true],"masvideos_movie_thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/09\/DRINK-MASTERS_-1-150x225.jpg",150,225,true]},"rttpg_author":{"display_name":"Katlego Marungwana","author_link":"https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/author\/marungwanak\/"},"rttpg_comment":1,"rttpg_category":"Media Office<\/a> Media Center<\/a>","rttpg_excerpt":"Drink Masters is the first competition to showcase cocktails as liquid art and the mixology artists who make them. Hosted","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6755"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/22"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6755"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6755\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6757,"href":"https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6755\/revisions\/6757"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6756"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6755"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6755"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.sabc3.co.za\/sabc3\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6755"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}The finalists pull out all the stops to create a delicious 3-course drink menu. Who will nab the crown? The three finalists must create an original 3-course drink menu to prove that they have what it takes to be the Ultimate Drink Master.<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
<\/h5>\n\n\n\n