{{short description|American speed bartending competition}} {{For|bartender speed racks generically|well drink}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2025}} thumb|Speed Rack 2013 '''Speed Rack''' is a speed bartending competition for women in the United States that was cofounded by bartenders Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero. In 2011, Mix approached Marrero, who was the president of the New York City chapter of LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails), about creating a competition to showcase talented women in the craft cocktail world.<ref>{{cite web|title=Fastest female bartenders to compete in S.F. Speed Rack|url=http://www.sfgate.com/entertainment/article/Fastest-female-bartenders-to-compete-in-S-F-6837348.php|website=San Francisco Chronicle}}</ref> The competition raises funds for Breast Cancer education, prevention and research, while promoting women bartenders in an largely male promoted industry.<ref>{{cite web|title=About Us {{!}} Speed Rack|url=http://www.speed-rack.com/about/|website=speed-rack.com}}</ref>
The competition starts with timed heats in different cities around the country before the final in New York City. Proceeds from the tickets to every stage of the competition are donated to various breast cancer charities and the competition has raised over $350,000 in the past 5 years.<ref>{{cite web|title=Women bartenders compete for a cause at Speed Rack|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/lifestyle/food-dining/2016/03/28/women-bartenders-compete-for-cause-speed-rack/4RQlFKDqshWgTpw4MjmauK/story.html|website=BostonGlobe.com}}</ref> 100% of the proceeds go to charity with the supplies and locations being donated, while the show is run by volunteers.<ref name=seattle/> Major liquor companies such as Jameson, Stoli and Barcardi are sponsors.<ref>{{cite web|title=Sponsors {{!}} Speed Rack|url=http://www.speed-rack.com/sponsors/|website=speed-rack.com}}</ref>
Speed Rack got its name from the shelf below a bar where well liquor is stored to make quick cocktails.<ref>{{cite web|title=Speed Rack Competition to Crown Top Female Bartender|url=http://www.nashvillescene.com/food-drink/article/13063445/speed-rack-competition-to-crown-top-female-bartender|website=Nashville Scene|date=11 March 2016 }}</ref>
==Stages of competition== The competition makes 8 stops around the country each year for the preliminary heats. Only the top 8 in each city advance to the final round of the heat to determine the winner that will head to the finals in NYC. Competitors are given a list of 75 cocktails that could appear in the competition, giving them time to memorize the drinks, practice their speed and improve their quality.<ref>{{cite web|title=How to Win a Speed-Bartending Competition – Los Angeles Magazine|url=https://www.lamag.com/liquidlablog/how-to-win-speed-rack-competition/|website=Los Angeles Magazine|date=21 January 2015}}</ref> In the beginning heats the competitors must make 10 drinks from a pre-determined list as best and fast as possible, this narrows the field down to the final 8 in each city.<ref name=seattle>{{cite web|title=The Bar Code: Going Back to Speed Rack|url=http://archive.seattleweekly.com/home/962741-129/the-barcode-going-back-to-speed|website=Seattle Weekly}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|title=Speed Rack bartender competition comes to Nashville|url=https://www.tennessean.com/story/life/2016/03/15/635936558834628670-nas-whisky-drink-2368-1-jpg-image-81824270-speed-rack-all-female-speed-bartending-competition-makes-stop-nashville-mercy-lounge-sunday-afternoon-marks-first-time-event-come-nashville-its-five-year-history-while-name-may/81822178/|website=The Tennessean}}</ref> Competitors must be skilled in both speed and accuracy, even if a competitor does not have the fastest time, if their cocktails are better than those that are quicker they could still advance in the competition. The judges are looking for the best cocktails out of the group that are made the quickest.<ref>{{cite web|title=Female Bartenders Prepare for the Return of Speed Rack Las Vegas|url=http://vegasseven.com/2016/01/20/female-bartenders-prepare-return-speed-rack-las-vegas/|website=Vegas Seven|date=20 January 2016}}</ref>
Each city's winner is crowned Ms. Speed Rack – Seattle or Chicago etc. and given a ticket to attend the final in New York.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Tribune|first1=Chicago|title=18 Chicago mixologists to square off in local bartending competition|url=http://www.chicagotribune.com/dining/ct-speed-rack-chicago-20151104-story.html|website=chicagotribune.com|date=4 November 2015 }}</ref><ref name=seattle/>
==Competition locations== *2012 *2013 *2014 *2015 *2016 – Nashville, Chicago, New York City, Boston, Las Vegas, San Francisco, Seattle, San Antonio *2017 – Chicago, New York City, Seattle, San Francisco, Atlanta, Houston, Boston, Denver
==Gender bias in bartending== Speed Rack is just one competition or organization that is bringing awareness to the gender gap in bartending.<ref name=washington>{{cite news|last1=Allan|first1=M. Carrie|title='The line is crossed, and it's crossed daily': The struggles of female bartenders|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/food/the-line-is-crossed-and-its-crossed-daily-the-struggles-of-female-bartenders/2016/09/24/4cb2c1a6-7f4f-11e6-8d0c-fb6c00c90481_story.html|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=24 September 2016}}</ref> Kate Gerwin was the Bols bartending champion in 2014 and then established Girls with Bols that pairs new, up and coming, female bartenders with mentors.<ref name=washington/>
The San Antonio Cocktail Conference hosts "Women Shaking It Up" where proceeds go to Girls Inc. of San Antonio.<ref>{{cite web|title=Celebrate the power of female bartenders all over town|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/food/bars-drinks/article/Celebrate-the-power-of-female-bartenders-all-over-6751601.php|website=San Antonio Express-News}}</ref>
LUPEC has chapters all over the country that help educate and empower female bartenders.<ref>{{cite web|title=Speed Rack competition elevating women bartenders|url=http://www.mysanantonio.com/news/local_news/article/Speed-Rack-competition-elevating-women-bartenders-4207360.php|website=San Antonio Express-News}}</ref>
== References == {{Reflist}}
== External links == * [http://www.speed-rack.com/ Official Website] * [https://www.lupec.org/ LUPEC Website]
Category:Bartending Category:Cancer fundraisers