# Drink Masters
**Drink Masters** is a Netflix reality competition series in which twelve mixologists compete in cocktail-making challenges for a $100,000 cash prize and the title of Ultimate Drink Master. It premiered on October 28, 2022, is hosted by comedian [Tone Bell](https://www.edgepedia.org/tone-bell), and is judged by bartenders Julie Reiner and Frankie Solarik.[1](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/drink-masters) • [2](https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/81437299)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Premiere | October 28, 2022, on Netflix[1](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/drink-masters) |
| Format | 10 episodes, roughly 39 to 42 minutes each, TV-MA rating[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/drink-masters/) • [4](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/drink-masters) |
| Host and judges | Tone Bell (host); Julie Reiner and Frankie Solarik (judges)[1](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/drink-masters) |
| Prize | $100,000 and the title of Ultimate Drink Master[2](https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/81437299) |
| Season 1 winner | Lauren "LP" Paylor O'Brien[5](https://imbibemagazine.com/qa-lauren-lp-paylor-obrien-of-netflixs-drink-masters/) |
| Creators | Matthew Hornburg and Tim Warren[3](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/drink-masters/) |
| Reception | 80% Tomatometer and 45% Popcornmeter on Rotten Tomatoes; 6.7/10 on IMDb[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/drink_masters) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21840870) |
## Spoilers
### Plot
#### Season 1
Twelve working bartenders and bar owners from across North America step into a studio-bar built like a mad scientist's liquor cabinet, bottles lit from behind and laboratory equipment humming on the counters. Their first challenge: ninety minutes to build the most personal margarita they can. Tone Bell keeps the room loose with jokes while Reiner and Solarik taste, swirl, and interrogate every glass. From that episode on, the rhythm never changes: a main challenge in which the winner earns safety or praise, then a bottom-two Mix-Off, fifteen minutes to remix a classic and prove they belong.
The challenges escalate quickly from competent to absurd. The mixologists invent a drink that resembles a famous painting, distill and clarify flavors until a cocktail no longer looks like what it is, and pair a cocktail with a dish from a Michelin-starred kitchen. Tao Zrafi wins the dessert challenge with "Absolut Opera," a clarified vodka drink built on sponge cake, butter, coffee, and cocoa nib, engineered so no one can tell by looking whether they are about to taste coffee or chocolate.[15](https://leisurebyte.com/drink-masters-5-best-drinks/) Kate Gerwin turns out one of the season's most talked-about plates of liquid food: a reposado tequila and madeira drink served alongside sopaipilla and honey ice cream, a cocktail that doubles as a dessert course.[15](https://leisurebyte.com/drink-masters-5-best-drinks/)
**The moment everyone remembers is the dry-ice margarita, the closest the gentle season comes to a scandal.** A contestant, Alex, presents a margarita with a pellet of dry ice sitting in the glass, fog pouring over the rim like stage smoke. The judges will not touch it. Frankie Solarik delivers a lecture on the spot: if he were to consume one of those pellets, it would stick to his esophagus, create carbon dioxide, and he would choke to death.[10](https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2022/10/drink-masters-netflix-review/) Decider's reviewer later pointed out that any speck of dry ice left in the glass could have seriously injured the judges, making it the season's most genuinely dangerous drink.[16](https://decider.com/2022/10/28/drink-masters-netflix-review/) It is the rare moment where the show's love of theatrical presentation collides head-on with the fact that these people are actually going to swallow what the contestants hand them.
As the field thins, three competitors separate from the pack: Lauren "LP" Paylor O'Brien, a Washington, DC bartender with deep classical knowledge and a molecular-gastronomy toolkit; Kate Gerwin; and Tao Zrafi. The finale demands the full range of everything the season has tested: each finalist builds a cocktail paired with a dessert and tells the personal story behind it, the way a great bartender does at the end of a long night. LP closes with "A Spoonful of Sugar," a date-infused cognac and milk punch served with an earl gray dry-ice "Sugar" that dissolves theatrically over the drink, a cocktail that wins on story and spectacle at once. She is crowned the first Ultimate Drink Master and takes the $100,000.[17](https://www.theviewersguide.com/tvreference/drink-masters-211104) • [15](https://leisurebyte.com/drink-masters-5-best-drinks/)
### Characters
**Tone Bell** hosts, and his job is to be the audience's stand-in: cracking jokes between rounds, translating judge-speak into plain English, and keeping a competition that could turn stuffy feeling like a party.
**Julie Reiner** (herself) is the New York bar legend behind Clover Club and Leyenda, and the season's palate of record. She judges on balance and hospitality, and she is the judge most likely to tell a contestant exactly why their drink tastes muddled.
**Frankie Solarik** (himself) is the co-owner of Toronto's Bar Chef and the show's theatrical conscience. He loves a dramatic presentation, which is exactly why the dry-ice incident lands so hard: the man who wants cocktails to be theater is the one who refuses to drink the most theatrical cocktail of the season.[18](https://www.autostraddle.com/attention-cocktail-queers-netflixs-new-mixology-competition-series-drink-masters-is-the-show-for-us/)
**Lauren "LP" Paylor O'Brien** is the season's winner, a DC bartender who said the show tested her ability to execute cocktails in many different scenarios, work under pressure, and lean on both her knowledge of classics and molecular gastronomy.[19](https://www.mashed.com/1068030/new-competition-series-drink-masters-will-showcase-a-culinary-approach-to-drinks-exclusive-interview/)
**Kate Gerwin** is the season's emotional center, an Albuquerque bartender who admitted the pressure was far beyond what she expected: "I cried a lot, more than even usual." She also gave the show its best argument about judging itself, pointing out that flavor is subjective and shifts with age, culture, and biology.[19](https://www.mashed.com/1068030/new-competition-series-drink-masters-will-showcase-a-culinary-approach-to-drinks-exclusive-interview/)
**Tao Zrafi** is the quiet technician of the finals, a Toronto bartender whose clarified, deconstructed drinks, including the dessert-round winner "Absolut Opera," showed a taste for engineering over showmanship.[15](https://leisurebyte.com/drink-masters-5-best-drinks/)
### Interpretations and controversies
The dry-ice margarita is the show's one brush with genuine controversy, with critics noting the judges were put at real risk by a drink that could have killed them had any dry ice remained in the glass.[16](https://decider.com/2022/10/28/drink-masters-netflix-review/) On the other end of the spectrum, some viewers found the show almost too nice: producers deliberately kept the interpersonal drama minimal to keep the focus on mixology, and executive producer Matt Hornburg described the goal as being about "what appears around the glass" as much as what is in it, an optimistic tone he contrasted with typical American reality TV.[20](https://thecinemaholic.com/is-netflixs-drink-masters-scripted-or-real/)
### Sequels, spin-offs, and adaptations
The show was quietly renewed in late 2023, and filming on a second season began in early 2024.[17](https://www.theviewersguide.com/tvreference/drink-masters-211104)
## Format
Twelve mixologists from across North America work in a combined cocktail and kitchen space, competing in themed challenges that test their skill and creativity in inventing drinks meant to look striking and taste well.[1](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/drink-masters) • [8](https://www.sabc3.co.za/sabc3/drink-masters-s1-thursdays-1900-starts-11-september-2025/) Contestants are judged on flavor, presentation, and sensory experience, and they also prepare edible bites to complement each beverage.[9](https://thenewshouse.com/entertainment/drink-masters-brings-cocktails-but-holds-the-excitement/)
Each episode contains two challenges: a main challenge, after which the contestants judged lowest compete against each other to avoid elimination.[10](https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2022/10/drink-masters-netflix-review/) The time allowances are generous by cooking-competition standards; the opening challenge, reinventing the margarita, gave contestants 90 minutes, twice as long as chefs on some cooking shows get to make multiple dishes from scratch.[10](https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2022/10/drink-masters-netflix-review/)
The season's themed rounds included a fruit-based sensory cocktail challenge, botanical cocktails judged with industry pioneer Dale DeGroff, a 1920s speakeasy team challenge in which party guests decided the outcome, dessert-inspired cocktails with guest judge Gonzo Jimenez, and a three-part tournament testing technique, speed, and precision.[2](https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/81437299) In the finale, the three remaining finalists each create an original three-course drink menu to prove they deserve the title.[8](https://www.sabc3.co.za/sabc3/drink-masters-s1-thursdays-1900-starts-11-september-2025/)
## Contestants and winner
The twelve season 1 contestants were Taoufike "Tao" Zrafi, Loyd Von Rose, Natalie Migliarini, Raj Shukla, Meredith Barry, Aisling Gammill, Kapri Robinson, Michael R. Anderson, Alex Velez, Christian "Suzu" Suzuki-Orellana, Kate Gerwin, and Lauren "LP" Paylor O'Brien.[8](https://www.sabc3.co.za/sabc3/drink-masters-s1-thursdays-1900-starts-11-september-2025/) • [3](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/drink-masters/) Lauren "LP" Paylor O'Brien was crowned the Ultimate Drink Master at the end of the season.[5](https://imbibemagazine.com/qa-lauren-lp-paylor-obrien-of-netflixs-drink-masters/)
## Reception
Critical response was warmer than audience response. Rotten Tomatoes recorded an 80% Tomatometer against a 45% Popcornmeter, and IMDb users gave the series 6.7 out of 10.[6](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/drink_masters) • [7](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21840870) Andy Dehnart, editor of the reality TV site reality blurred, wrote that the show presents mixology as a culinary art and praised it as a "classy culinary competition with cocktails, not cuisine."[10](https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2022/10/drink-masters-netflix-review/) Common Sense Media judged the series not particularly original but noted that it explains what mixology involves and how cocktail making works as a visual art form.[1](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/drink-masters) A Guardian review took a harsher line, describing the contestants as spending the show at each other's throats.[11](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/28/drink-masters-the-netflix-show-thats-like-a-boozy-bake-off-for-dreadful-people)
The series earned several award nominations, including a 2023 Leo Award nomination for Best Cinematography in an Info Lifestyle or Reality Series and three 2024 Canadian Screen Award nominations for direction, photography, and writing in lifestyle or reality/competition categories.[12](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/drink-masters/1060187973/)
## Aftermath and influence
Netflix had not officially announced a second season as of late 2023, but a casting call looking for new contestants was issued in December 2023.[13](https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/drink-masters-renewed-for-season-2-at-netflix/) Season 1 also aired on SABC 3 in South Africa starting September 11, 2025.[8](https://www.sabc3.co.za/sabc3/drink-masters-s1-thursdays-1900-starts-11-september-2025/)
The format has been adapted elsewhere. Hong Kong's first cocktail competition reality show, *Master Mixologist* on ViuTV, drew on Drink Masters as an inspiration, though its creators, including Cecilia Wong and Antonio Lai, changed the structure, adding a speed challenge that allowed eliminated contestants to return and using group challenges drawn from ViuTV's experience with shows such as *King Maker*.[14](https://www.tatlerasia.com/dining/drinks/master-mixologist-viutv-jay-khan-cecilia-wong-antonio-lai-interview)
## References
1. [Drink Masters – Parents' Guide & TV Review, Common Sense Media](https://www.commonsensemedia.org/tv-reviews/drink-masters)
2. [Watch Drink Masters, Netflix Official Site](https://www.netflix.com/ca/title/81437299)
3. [Drink Masters – Netflix Reality Series, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/show/drink-masters/)
4. [Drink Masters – streaming tv show online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/drink-masters)
5. [Q&A: Lauren "LP" Paylor O'Brien of Netflix's Drink Masters, Imbibe Magazine](https://imbibemagazine.com/qa-lauren-lp-paylor-obrien-of-netflixs-drink-masters/)
6. [Drink Masters, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/drink_masters)
7. [Drink Masters (TV Series 2022– ), IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt21840870)
8. [DRINK MASTERS S1, SABC 3](https://www.sabc3.co.za/sabc3/drink-masters-s1-thursdays-1900-starts-11-september-2025/)
9. ["Drink Masters" brings cocktails but holds the excitement, The NewsHouse](https://thenewshouse.com/entertainment/drink-masters-brings-cocktails-but-holds-the-excitement/)
10. [Drink Masters review: Netflix crafts creative, classy cocktails, reality blurred](https://www.realityblurred.com/realitytv/2022/10/drink-masters-netflix-review/)
11. [Drink Masters: the Netflix show that's like a boozy Bake Off, The Guardian](https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2022/oct/28/drink-masters-the-netflix-show-thats-like-a-boozy-bake-off-for-dreadful-people)
12. [Drink Masters, TV Guide](https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/drink-masters/1060187973/)
13. ['Drink Masters' Renewed for Season 2 at Netflix, What's on Netflix](https://www.whats-on-netflix.com/news/drink-masters-renewed-for-season-2-at-netflix/)
14. [Finding "the Keung To of mixology": Jay Khan, Antonio Lai and Cecilia Wong on Master Mixologist, Tatler Asia](https://www.tatlerasia.com/dining/drinks/master-mixologist-viutv-jay-khan-cecilia-wong-antonio-lai-interview)
15. [https://leisurebyte.com/drink-masters-5-best-drinks/](https://leisurebyte.com/drink-masters-5-best-drinks/)
16. [https://decider.com/2022/10/28/drink-masters-netflix-review/](https://decider.com/2022/10/28/drink-masters-netflix-review/)
17. [https://www.theviewersguide.com/tvreference/drink-masters-211104](https://www.theviewersguide.com/tvreference/drink-masters-211104)
18. [https://www.autostraddle.com/attention-cocktail-queers-netflixs-new-mixology-competition-series-drink-masters-is-the-show-for-us/](https://www.autostraddle.com/attention-cocktail-queers-netflixs-new-mixology-competition-series-drink-masters-is-the-show-for-us/)
19. [https://www.mashed.com/1068030/new-competition-series-drink-masters-will-showcase-a-culinary-approach-to-drinks-exclusive-interview/](https://www.mashed.com/1068030/new-competition-series-drink-masters-will-showcase-a-culinary-approach-to-drinks-exclusive-interview/)
20. [https://thecinemaholic.com/is-netflixs-drink-masters-scripted-or-real/](https://thecinemaholic.com/is-netflixs-drink-masters-scripted-or-real/)
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