On the night of the peak, the glory is crowned. Liao Jianming, from FLAIR Bar in Shanghai, China, won the top honor at the 2024 Cointreau Margaret World Bartending Competition, which is also the second time that Chinese bartenders have won the global championship after last year's competition!
This year, ten top bartenders from around the world gathered to compete for the crown of the 2024 Cointreau Margaret World Bartending Competition Finals. Under the theme of "Capture the Flavours of Your City", the participating bartenders competed for the coveted and unique title of champion with a glass of Cointreau Margarita cocktail, which is infused with elements unique to their hometown.
Photo 1: Jienming Liao (middle), winner of the 4th Cointreau Margaret's World Bartending Competition, Patrick Rowson (right), and Patty Dennison (left), second runner-up, ·· Patty Dennison (left)
The popularity of this competition is unprecedentedly high. Entrants from 79 countries presented a record number of over 2,000 entries, showcasing the love that bartenders around the world have for Cointreau Margaret. After six months of competition, 10 talented players stood out and went to the World Finals in Angers, France.
The finalists competed on a level playing field in front of a jury of experts with extensive expertise, who judged each wine on its taste, flavour, presentation and creativity. The judging lineup of this year's Cointreau Margaret World Bartending Competition is as follows:
Liu Shuting: Winner of the 2023 Cointreau Margaret World Bartending Competition, from Asia's 50 best bars Hope & Sesame
Margarita · Sadr: winner of the World's 50 Best Bars Award from Paradiso Bar in Barcelona, Spain
Rory · J. · Shepard: Winner of the World's 50 Best Bars Award, former creative director of "Little Red Door" in Paris, France
Patrick · Pistolesi: Winner of the World's 50 Best Bars Award from Drink Kong Bar in Rome, Italy
图2:今年决赛专家评委包括:帕特里克·皮斯托莱西Patrick Pistolesi(左一),刘舒婷Lola Lau(左二),玛格丽塔·萨德尔Margarita Sader(左三),罗里· J·谢泼德Rory J. Shepherd(左四)
"The Margaret World Bartending Contest is an exceptional competition. Every year, the number of participants has steadily increased, and the level of competition has also improved year by year, and both the participants and the jury have demonstrated more and more exquisite bartending skills and sharp and excellent judging standards. In addition to the technical mastery, it was even more gratifying to witness the friendliness and mutual support shown by the players. I am proud that our ten finalists are now part of the Cointreau family. ”
——君度全球品牌大使 Kevin Sueiro
Figure 3: Kevin Sueiro, Cointreau Global Brand Ambassador
The top 10 contestants competed in the arena, a unique interpretation of Cointreau's Margarita mix-and-match
The Cointreau Margaret World Bartending Competition aims to showcase the latest bartending art and the boundless creativity of bartenders around the world. Each contestant showcased their own unique interpretation of the margarita by selecting ingredients from their home city while highlighting the unique taste of Cointreau's signature orange liqueur. The shaker is churning in the air, and the bar spoon collides with the wall of the glass, concretizing the fusion of Cointreau orange wine and different ingredients, making the atmosphere intense but joyful.
Figure 4: Top 10 contestants from around the world are parachuted into the Cointreau family estate to compete for the final title
The jury evaluated the performance of the contestants from three dimensions: taste, appearance and originality. After several rounds of fierce competition, the champion, runner-up and third runner-up were finally born.
Figure 5: The contestants won high praise from the judges for their excellent skills and outstanding performances
Champion: Liao Jianming from FLAIR Bar in Shanghai, China
Liao Jianming, a contestant from China, won the favor of the jury with a glass of "Autumn Colors" with a glass of "Autumn Colors" with the unique charm of Chinese bartending culture, and finally won the first place.
Picture 6: Liao Jianming skillfully integrated Cointreau orange wine with rice wine and osmanthus to innovatively interpret the artistic connotation of cocktails, which amazed the four seats
"Play as many games as you can and don't be afraid to fail. Actually, I learned a lot from my failures. I think that's why I've been able to get here today. ”
- Liao Jianming, winner of the 2024 Cointreau Margaret World Bartending Competition
秋天的颜色 (Autumn Color):
- 25ml Cointreau orange wine
- 30ml Tower brand Chinese semi-dry rice wine
- 25ml osmanthus sour juice
- 5ml fig tree sotho
- Spray: Sotho
- Rim: Dry plum powder
Figure 7: The top three finishers celebrate and share the joy with the judges
Visit the official Cointreau website to find out more recipes from the top 10 players in the world.
Rookie of the Year Award
In addition to the top three awards, Cointreau's Margaret Rookie of the Year award was awarded to Shaina YEH, bartender from Singapore 28 Hong-Kong Street, · the year. The newcomer, who has only been in bartending for 9 months, stands out with a stunning floral and spicy margarita.
The award recognises the talent, skill and passion of bartending for less than two years of experience. In line with our brand values of "Legacy and Mentorship", the recognition of the Rookie of the Year award is in line with the growing growth of the Cointreau family.
The Cointreau family
The finalists of the Cointreau Margarita World Bartending Contest not only participated in a competition, but also joined a family. Each year, the 10 finalists become part of the Cointreau family. The Cointreau family aims to place quality and experience at the heart of every cocktail by shared values such as team spirit, and to promote responsible drinking. The bartenders are proud to be the face of the Cointreau family and will continue to uphold the values of supporting each other in the competition, from inspiring more people to create amazing cocktail creations.
Figure 8: Cointreau Orange Wine has become a pioneer of global cocktail culture and is widely used in the recipes of more than 500 of the world's most famous cocktails
The legacy of the Cointreau Margarita is a testament to the pairing of ingredients and the skill of mixology. Congratulations to all the winners! Adhering to these principles, they continue to deliver exceptional experiences to cocktail lovers around the world.
Of course, the Margaret World Bartending Competition will continue to grow year by year, showcasing the skills of experts in the field of bartending. The legacy of Cointreau orange wine continues – the fifth edition of the competition will also begin, so stay tuned!