Among the winners of the European Regional Final of the Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Challenge, now in its 5th edition, held in Madrid at the House of Mixology https://www.houseofmixology.com/, are 6 Europeans including one Italian, Emanuele Aurioso.
Emanuele , a bartender at Chiavari’s Teleria 108 bar, reached the important milestone with Bloody Thirsty, a cocktail served in a marble mortar, based on Flor de Caña and a fermented made from garden vegetables. Bloody Thirsty is a cocktail that uses the fruits of the earth, therefore sustainable and respectful of the theme of the challenge, telling the story of the land in the glass.
- The 6 awardees
The 6 European winners were able to elevate with their creations the characteristics of Flor de Caña, the premium rum that has been produced on a family estate since 1890 and is distilled with 100 percent renewable energy and aged naturally at the foot of an active volcano, without sugar or artificial ingredients.
- Yvonne Chan (UK) – Kwãnt Mayfair, with First of May cocktail.
- Timothée Nicolas (France) – DROPS, with the cocktail Rice Up!
- Emanuele Aurioso (Italy) – Teleria 108, with the Bloody Thirsty cocktail
- Dawid Stoch (Poland) – Art Katowice, with the Clever Club cocktail
- Emil Durchev (Netherlands) – LuminAir, with the cocktail Not Your Usual Daiquiri
- Oliden James Mata Saballo (Spain) – Lovo Cocktail Bar, Madrid, with the cocktail Ron-Mate
The Regional Final brought together 18 of Europe’s most talented mixologists,An exceptional panel of judges evaluated the cocktails based on story and inspiration, use of sustainable ingredients and techniques, creativity, taste and presentation. The judges were:
- Anna Sebastian (UK) – Founder of Anna Sebastian Hospitality and Celebrate Her, hospitality consultant and entrepreneur, curator of luxury brand experiences and promoter of women’s empowerment.
- Emanuele Balestra (Italy) – Bar director and renowned mixologist at Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic in Cannes. Famous for cocktails infused with botanical and aromatic innovations, he is author of Majestic Cocktails.
- Luis Inchaurraga (Argentina/Spain) – Mixologist, founder of House of Mixology, elected Best Bartender of Spain 2021. Sommelier expert in wine, tea, coffee and spirits, and author of Más allá del cóctel.
The six winners will advance to the Global Final of the Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Challenge “Road to Las Isletas,” to be held on the volcanic islets of Nicaragua in 2026. Here, the world’s best sustainable mixologists will compete for the title of “World’s Most Sustainable Mixologist by Flor de Caña” and a US$10,000 prize.
- The Theme of the Race
As a theme, the competition will have the reinterpretation of classic cocktails, reinventing timeless recipes with a modern and sustainable twist, adopting responsible sourcing and preparation practices.
- Flor de Cana and the positive message
With participation from more than 40 countries around the world, the Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Challenge aims to inspire positive change within the international mixology community.
- Flor De Cana a sustainable rum
In addition to being the world’s first Carbon Neutral and Fair Trade certified spirit, Flor de Caña is distilled with 100% renewable energy, captures and recycles all CO₂ emissions during fermentation, and has planted over one million trees since 2005.
