Cocktail Wars Premieres Tonight on E! with Joey Fatone, Lance Bass, Woodford Reserve, Jack Daniel’s, and Heaven Hill

E! tells BourbonBlog.com that its new mixology competition series, Cocktail Wars, premieres tonight, Tuesday, August 18, 2026, at 10 p.m. ET/PT with two back-to-back episodes.

BourbonBlog.com founder and Bourbon expert Tom Fischer recently caught up with cohost Joey Fatone and Brian “Q” Quinn of Impractical Jokers during Kentucky Derby coverage.

Watch below as Q experiences the Kentucky Derby for the first time, with Fatone joining the fun.

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The 10-episode series is hosted by longtime friends and *NSYNC bandmates Joey Fatone and Lance Bass, alongside expert mixologist Melissa Brooke.

Each episode brings together three mixologists for a fast-moving series of challenges testing creativity, technique and showmanship. One bartender walks away with a $10,000 prize, but for whiskey fans, the bottle lineup may be nearly as interesting as the competition.

Woodford Reserve Double Oaked and Jack Daniel’s Lead the Premiere

The premiere puts two familiar Brown-Forman whiskeys directly into the action: Jack Daniel’s Old No. 7 Tennessee Whiskey and Woodford Reserve Double Oaked Bourbon.

Jack Daniel’s serves as a featured ingredient in the first round, while Woodford Reserve Double Oaked becomes the focus of another challenge. Brown-Forman says its wider portfolio will appear during the series, including Jack Daniel’s, Woodford Reserve, Herradura, Fords Gin and Diplomático Rum.

The show will also feature educational appearances from Brown-Forman experts, including Woodford Reserve Master Distiller Elizabeth McCall and Jack Daniel’s Brand Ambassador Byron Copeland.

Heaven Hill Brands Join the Competition

Heaven Hill Brands is also stepping behind the bar throughout the season with Deep Eddy Vodka, PAMA Pomegranate Liqueur, Domaine de Canton and Hpnotiq. The season finale will spotlight Deep Eddy Espresso Vodka, a new expression built around Deep Eddy Original Vodka and espresso flavor.

Heaven Hill’s presence extends beyond the bottles. Elayne Duff, the company’s Global Director of Advocacy, and Lynn House, National Spirits Specialist and Portfolio Mixologist, are scheduled to appear in featured episodes and bring an industry perspective to the challenges.

Joey Fatone, Lance Bass and a Rotating Celebrity Panel

Fatone and Bass are joined by Brooke and a rotating roster of celebrity guest judges that includes Lauren Graham, Seth Green, Rachel Maddow, Melissa Gorga, Ramona Singer, Sonja Morgan, Peppermint, Braun Strowman and others.

The premise is familiar to anyone who enjoys high-energy cooking competitions, but the cocktail focus gives viewers a closer look at how professionals balance flavor, presentation, speed and technique. It also gives major spirits brands a rare primetime showcase in which the bottles are ingredients rather than background scenery.