Woodford Reserve®, the world’s best-selling super-premium+ American whiskey, announces the return of its Global Bar Exchange, an international advocacy programme designed to celebrate the creativity, skill, community and shared spirit of the hospitality industry.
Running from September 2025 through to April 2026, the initiative will bring together emerging talent from some of the world’s most respected and breakthrough bars to collaborate and create unforgettable, flavour driven experiences that champion Woodford Reserve’s signature depth, craft and character.
The third iteration of the series, 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. In each city, visiting bartenders will be fully immersed in the host city’s flavour culture – from exploring regional ingredients and culinary techniques to engaging with unique experiences and hospitality perspectives – all whilst crafting one-of-a-kind Bourbon forward drinks that reflect both place and personality.
Far more than a series of guest shifts, Woodford Reserve’s Global Bar Exchange – created exclusively for and with the global bartending community – is a sensorial, cultural and professional immersion. Designed to inspire, educate and empower, the programme nurtures meaningful connections, encourages skill development and fosters a shared sense of purpose. Each stop culminates in a collaborative bar event, where visiting and host bartenders showcase their serves throughout the evening – drinks that often become part of bar menus, such as LINE Athens’ Old Fashioned, a blend of Woodford Reserve, Metaxa 12 Stars, cotton mead and bitters, created during the 2023 Global Bar Exchange by Vasilis Kyritsis.
Kicking off in September, London’s Nightjar team will travel to Brisbane, Australia, to visit Death and Taxes between 7th –12th September, followed by a return leg in October as Death and Taxes heads to London from the 13th – 18th October. Come November, Seoul’s Bar Cham will take up residence at Amsterdam’s Sin of Sal, before the collaboration continues in Seoul later that month.
This year’s programme will be amplified by a lifestyle inspired global campaign titled ‘A Travelling Spectacle’, bringing to life the stories, talent and cities behind the exchange, capturing the spirit of modern hospitality.
“We are now in our third year of the Woodford Reserve Global Bar Exchange and cannot wait to kick off the new edition. 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. The programme continues to deepen our connections with the bartending community, creating meaningful collaborations and connections that reflect the heart of modern hospitality.” Notes Nidal Ramini, Director of Advocacy at Brown-Forman.
Since its launch in 1996, Woodford Reserve has supported the modern hospitality community and aspires – through this programme – to provide an elevated, immersive cultural exchange for participating bar talent. Curated to foster conversations and the sharing of ideas amongst global peers, the ‘Global Bar Exchange’ brings participants together to showcase their collective creativity, expertise and talent.
By connecting respected voices from across the industry, the Global Bar Exchange reflects Woodford Reserve’s ongoing commitment to the people and places shaping modern hospitality and its mission to ‘enrich life with substance and style’.
Line Up to Date:
- Nightjar at Death and Taxes: 7-12th September | Guest Shift: 9th September
- Death and Taxes at Nightjar: 13-18th October | Guest shift: 17th October
- Bar Cham at Sins of Sal: 18-20th November | Guest Shift: 20th November
- Sins of Sal at Bar Cham: 26-28th November | Guest Shift: 28th November
Additional dates to be released in due course