No filters, no effects and no digital frills. This year’s Czech final of the Planteray Games showed that what really matters behind the bar still happens in the mind, the nose and the hands.
This year, Prague’s Tretter’s Bar hosted one of the purest bartending competitions the Czech scene has seen in recent years. Twenty-two bartenders from across the country took part in the Czech round of the Planteray Games 2026 – and from the very first moment, it was clear that this time it wouldn’t be about a flashy show, but a return to the craft itself. The competition’s concept deliberately went against the grain of current trends. No social media selections, no laboratory ingredients or visual gimmicks. Just what every true bartender should master: knowledge, sensory skills, technique, speed and the ability to perform under pressure.
“This year, we wanted to create a competition that would bring the focus back to the true craft of bartending. No pressure from social media, no production gimmicks or ultra-demanding preparations – just knowledge, sensory skills, technique and working under pressure (and the judges certainly made sure of that!). The feedback from the bartenders genuinely surprised and delighted us. It confirmed that this is exactly the kind of format the Czech scene has been missing,” said the organisers.
A competition that doesn’t forgive weaknesses
The competition was structured so that nothing could be “got around”. It began with a Kahoot knowledge quiz, which tested the contestants’ knowledge of cocktail history, rum classics and general bar know-how. This was followed by a scent-based “memory game” – a discipline that quickly reveals who has a truly trained nose and who relies more on intuition than on experience.
Only then did the final play-offs begin. The top eight competed in head-to-head battles inspired by sports bracket systems, preparing classic rum cocktails. However, each round was complicated by a random element determined by a roll of the dice – from the preparation style to the specific type of rum. Flexibility and the ability to improvise thus played just as important a role as technique. Moreover, the wild card, which might have seemed like an advantage, often turned into a trap. The jury did not hesitate to make the task even more challenging, pushing it to the limits of the competitors’ comfort zone.
Eight names made it through to the final play-off, having proven themselves across all disciplines: Juraj Pavlík (La Casa Havana de la Vieja), Matúš Brath (Fairmont), Rudolf Ďorď (Bugsy’s Bar), Lucie Černíková (La Casa Havana de la Vieja), Jan Stříbrný (Urban Bar), Tomáš Hradecký (Monika Bar), Tomáš Bakaj (AnonymouS Bar) and Jan Adamovský (La Casa Havana de la Vieja).
A strong jury, intense pressure
A major highlight of the entire competition was the judging panel, comprising prominent figures from the Czech bar scene: Václav Vojíř (Bugsy’s Bar), Michal Tretter (Tretter’s Bar) and Jakub Janeček (UPB). It was their approach that lent the competition authenticity and credibility. It wasn’t just about judging technique, but about a comprehensive view of bartending as a craft, where details, interaction with the guest and the ability to react in real time are decisive.
The special challenges introduced by the jury in each round were often the proverbial “hot potato”. Combining rum with tequila, unexpected flavour pairings or unconventional ingredients – all of this tested not only knowledge, but also courage and creativity.
Consistency was the deciding factor
The winner of the Czech round of the Planteray Games 2026 was Juraj Pavlík from La Casa Havana de la Vieja. Throughout the competition, he impressed not only with his technical precision but also with his natural demeanour and confidence behind the bar. His consistency was key: he delivered consistently strong, flawless performances across all rounds, which proved decisive in this format.
“As well as his superb skills, Juraj is a really likeable chap, and we believe he will impress the jury at the global final, which is taking place in Croatia this year. He would richly deserve this year’s prize: a lifetime experience trip to Barbados.”
The Planteray Games thus delivered not only a winner this year, but also a strong message to the entire scene. At a time when bartending is often shifting towards spectacle and technology, they served as a reminder that what matters most still happens behind the bar – in skill, experience and the ability to hold one’s own without crutches.
Source: Ultra Premium Brands
