Last fall, we called on the world’s best bartenders to submit a creative reimagining of a Cointreau classic: The Original Margarita—which celebrates its 75th anniversary this year. The 10 finalists traveled to Angers, France in mid-April for an immersive Cointreau experience. The jury assessed the finalists to crown the grand prize winner!
The Margarita challenge 2023 results
1246RECIPES
67COUNTRIES
10FINALISTS
1WINNER
THE JURY NAMED THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER...
THE JURY NAMED THE GRAND PRIZE WINNER...
Lola Liu! (from Shenzhen, China)
Lola Liu’s masterful reinterpretation of the Original Margarita and her exceptional mixology skills have earned her this year’s title. She will walk away with a trip for two to France and a sponsor budget to take off on a tour to promote her reinvented Original Margarita in the world’s best cocktail bars. Cheers to Lola!
“If I had to describe my Margarita Challenge experience in three words, I would say that it was fun, knowledgeable, and heartwarming. And for the bartenders who want to join the competition next year, go for it! This is a once in a lifetime challenge you shouldn’t miss. "
Lola Liu, 2023 Margarita Challenge Grand Prize winner.
Lola's creation: The Mysterious East Margarita
Lola's creation: The Mysterious East Margarita
"My cocktail was inspired by Cointreau’s unique mix of fresh and dry peels from sweet and bitter oranges, by using multiple dry and fresh peppercorns, adding a little bit of jasmine tea and auga wood, to create a somewhat aged tangerine peel-perfumed cocktail.”
The recipe:
20ml Cointreau infused with Basao jasmine tea
60ml Mysterious east spiced Patron reposado tequila
20ml Mixed peppercorn cordial
15ml Verjus
Glass: Nick & Nora
Garnish: Mixed Pepper Salt
Discover the second, and third place winners
Also big congratulations to Billy Lai Him Choi from Hong Kong, China for his 2nd place and to Lize Rombaut from Bruges, Belgium for her 3rd place!
Both of them have mastered the competition thanks to their reinterpretation of the Original Margarita, with La Sorpresa for Billy and Dewy's Lagarita for Lize.
MEET THE OTHERS FINALISTS...
THE JURY
Jonathan Stanyard
2022 winner of the Margarita Challenge. Bartender and Owner of The Bitter Gringo Co..
Rory J Shepherd
Former creative Director of The Little Red Door, World’s 50 Best Bars awardee.
Kelly Magyarics
Journalist and spirit & cocktails expert.
Carole Quinton
Cointreau’s Master Distiller.
“The 2023 Cointreau Margarita Challenge showed us how exciting and creative modern bartending can be, while still celebrating its history and roots. The engaging personalities, captivating stories, and outstanding drinks showed us what it means to be a bartender. It made me proud to be part of this industry and the contestants should be proud of what they achieved.“
Rory Shepherd, World’s 50 Best Bars awardee, former Creative Director of The Little Red Door & jury member
BEHIND THE SCENE
