AMBRA & BANK STREET SOCIAL PRESENT. . . 

🍹Bring your shakers and compete in an exciting cocktail competition! 🍹

To celebrate the launch of our exciting collaboration with Bank Street Social to launch the Ambra Sottoterra Amaro, we are inviting Adelaide's cocktail elite to battle it out to win $500 cash for themselves and a 10L cube of Sottoterra Amaro for their venue.

Entrees open from 12am 1st June 2025 and close 11:59pm on the 13th July 2025, with the live final being held at Bank Street Social on the 31st August 2025 from 5pm to 8pm for formalities and kick ons afterward.

Key Dates

1. Submissions Open: Sunday 1st June 2025
2. Submissions Close: Sunday 13st July 2025
3. Judges visiting venue for tasting: 13th July 2025 - 17th August 2025
4. Cocktails to be listed and on offer at venues: 13th July  2025 - 17th August 2025
5. Finalist Announcement: 10th August 2025
6. Live Final at Bank Street Social: 31st August 2025 5pm - 8pm for formalities, kick ons after.

Prizes

Each finalist will be given a 500mL bottle of Ambra Sottoterra Amaro valued at $56 for reaching the final for themselves to take home.

The 1st Place winner will receive $500 cash & a 10L of Ambra Sottoterra Amaro valued at $1,120 for their venue as well as a special trophy!

How do you enter?

Step 1: Stir Up Some Trouble

To step into the Sottoterra Showdown, your cocktail must feature at least 30mL of Ambra x Bank Street Social Sottoterra Amaro—no ifs, no buts, no bitters-less shortcuts.

This isn’t just any Amaro. It’s bold, it’s bittersweet, it’s born underground and raised behind the bar. Whether you’re shaking up some shady business or stirring a glass full of secrets, make sure our Sottoterra is front and centre.

Bring the flavour. Bring the flair. And above all—bring the amaro.

Step 2: Put It On the Map (or at least the Menu)

If you’re in it to win it, your cocktail needs to be more than a backstage secret. To qualify, you must list your Sottoterra creation on your venue’s cocktail menu from 13th July to 17th August at a minimum. If you're proud of your design and get it done on 1st June 2025 and want to list it from 1st June to 17th August, feel free! As long as it is on the list during the required period. Judges will be popping in during this time to check listings and of course, try your amazing inventions!

It’s your time to let the whole city taste what you’ve been stirring up. Give your guests a chance to fall for the flavour, raise a few eyebrows, and maybe even start a Sottoterra obsession of their own.

Because if it’s not on the menu, how will they find their new favourite underground classic?

Step 3: Spill the Secrets 

Time to put pen to paper (or fingers to keys). To officially enter, you'll need to complete and submit the Sottoterra Showdown entry form—you’ll find it conveniently at the bottom of this page

Tell us your cocktail name, ingredients, method and a little bit of the magic behind it. No gatekeeping allowed—we want the full story, from first pour to final garnish.

Think of it as your cocktail’s underground passport.

What happens next?

After submitting your creation, you have to make sure that the cocktail is listed on the venue's cocktail list during the activation period, 13th July to 17th August. Judges will be making surprise appearances in venues to try the amazing cocktails and make decisions on between 8 - 10 finalists to participate in the live final at Bank Street Social on Sunday 31st August!

Judging Criteria

Cocktail submissions will be judged out of a maximum total of 30 points before the live final & maximum 70 points on the night of the final, for a maximum total of 100 points based on the following categories:

Pre-Final Points on offer:

Social Media Photo Upload (20 points total)

• Presentation of cocktail on social media posts to Facebook & Instagram (10 points)
• Tag of both @ambraspirits & @bankstreetsocial in socials posts and use the #SottoterraShowdown hashtag (10 points)

Menu listing (10 points total)

• Cocktail is clearly displayed on cocktail menu or free standing POS display (10 points) 

Use of Amaro Sottoterra (10 points total)

• Did the recipe include a minimum of 30ml of Amaro Sottoterra as the hero ingredient? (5 points).
• Does the drink clearly showcase the flavours and character of the product? (5 points)

Name & Menu Feature (15 points total)

• Is the cocktail name creative, memorable, and capable of selling the drink? Would it stand out on a real cocktail list and spark intrigue? (10 points)
• Was the cocktail prominently featured in venue on the cocktail menu? (5 points)

Presentation/Visual Impact (20 points total)

• Has thought been put into how the drink looks? (10 points)
• Glassware selection & Garnish (5 points)

Flavour & Balance (20 points)

• Do the flavours compliment the Sottoterra Amaro? (5 points)
• Overall flavour of the cocktail (10 points)
• Balance & creativity of ingredients (5 points)

Inspiration Creativity or Unique Flair (5 points)

• Has the cocktail accurately captured either a stunning twist on a classic cocktail or have you come up with an incredibly unique creation? Either is totally fine! (5 points)

Live Final - 31st August 2025

From 10th August 2025, all of the finalists will be announced via Social Media on both the Bank Street Social & Ambra social media pages as well as by phone and email to the successful finalists.

Finalists will need to be available to come down on the 31st August 2025 from 4pm to 8pm for an event run time of 5pm to 8pm. The final will be live streamed to the Ambra Social Media & Bank Street Social Facebook pages. There will also be live footage and photography taken for future publishing in industry publication.

Bartenders will be required to bring all necessary tools and any specialty ingredients or glassware required to make your cocktail. We’ll provide Amaro Sottoterra, ice, and basic bar setup. Any specialty liquors required will be confirmed and approved at time of announcement of finalists.

The final will be open to spectators and the venue will be open for business as per usual. So bring your friends, family & cheerleaders to help give you a lift to glory in the Sottoterra Showdown!

FAQ

1. How many drinks will I be required to make on the night of the live final? 

4 drinks in total will be needing to be made of your cocktail. Presentation to be as uniformed as possible. Judges will be given 15 minutes to sidebar and taste and discuss cocktails upon completion before marking their final score.

2. Are there prizes for second and third, or only 1st Place? 

The grand prize of $500 cash and a 10L Sottoterra is only going to be awarded. All finalists will be given a bottle of Sottoterra Amaro for reaching the finals.

3. Is there a limit to how many cocktails I can submit?

Each bartender may submit one cocktail as their official enter. If a venue has multiple bartenders submitting entries, each cocktail must be listed on the menu

4. When will the finalists be announced?

Finalists will be notified in early August, with the live final taking place at Bank Street Social.

5. Can I promote my cocktail on social media?

Yes — and we encourage it! Tag @ambraspirits and @bankstreetsocial and use the hashtag #SottoterraShowdown.

6. Do I need to bring my own equipment to the final?

Yes — please bring all necessary tools and any specialty ingredients or glassware required to make your cocktail. We’ll provide Amaro Sottoterra, ice, and basic bar setup. Any specialty liquors required that are not standard in a bar may need to be secured. This will be confirmed upon announcement of finalists.

7. I have a few questions, who can I direct them to?

Any questions can be asked and answered by Dan O'Connell, National Sales Manager for Ambra Spirits at dan@ambraspirits.com.au or call on 0417 888 613.

Sottoterra Showdown Terms & Conditions

Open to South Australian residents aged 18+ working in licensed venues. Entries must feature a minimum of 30ml Amaro Sottoterra and be submitted via the official Form on this page by 11:59pm ACST, 13 July 2025. Finalists will be selected based on criteria listed above. One winner will receive a $500 cash prize, a 10L Amaro for their venue and media release. By entering, you agree to Ambra Spirits using your submitted content for promotional purposes. Drink responsibly. Full T&Cs available [here].