The second COINTREAU MARGARITA CHALLENGE is proving to be a resounding success! More than 500 entries were received from 47 countries around the world for the first phase of the competition, which closed on 31 January. The world’s most talented bartenders were invited to create their own take on the iconic Margarita, drawing on the best ingredients from their local area as inspiration, to turn “The Original” into “Their Original” and be hailed as the Margarita King or Queen!
The Margarita Challenge 2022 Results
536RECIPES
47COUNTRIES
10FINALISTS
1WINNER
AND THE WINNER IS…
AND THE WINNER IS…
Jonathan Stanyard! (USA)
« Winning this competition is a significant milestone in my career » - Jonathan Stanyard (@thebittergringo)
The six members of the jury had the extremely difficult task of selecting just one winner from the ten finalists who came to compete from all over the world. During the final round, they had to take on 3 challenges: making their qualifying drink, a speed round in which they had to make four cocktails in less than a minute and finally the creation of a sustainable Margarita. Along with those challenges they were judged on storytelling ability, technical feats and, most importantly, the taste of their creations. It was “The Lovely Rita” by US mixologist Jonathan Stanyard, bartender in Seattle, that won over the entire jury, earning him a trophy and a weeklong trip to Paris!
“Winning this competition is a significant milestone in my career. To compete among the world's best bartenders and their Margaritas was thrilling. Overall it was such a humbling experience, and being called the winner of the Cointreau Margarita Challenge is a spark I can still feel. The Margarita cocktail is special to me for many reasons. I am originally from California, which is rich in Mexican culture, so margaritas were often integrated into my life”, Jonathan Stanyard.
His creation: The Lovely Rita
His creation: The Lovely Rita
“This cocktail is inspired by local ingredients, a song from the past, and flavors of other countries. I built on top of the classic recipe with local flavors of the Pacific Northwest: rhubarb, strawberries, and rosemary.”
The recipe:
- 25 ml Cointreau L’Unique
- 45 ml Roca Patron Silver
- 25 ml Lime Oleo Citrate
- 15 ml Salted Vanilla Rhubarb Shrub
- 10 ml Strawberry infused Campari
Meet the jury
Miguel Ángel Mora
Winner of Cointreau Margarita Challenge Year 1, from Alquímico, Colombia (top 100 best bars in the world).
Carole Quinton
Cointreau Master Distiller
Kevin Sueiro
Cointreau International Brand Ambassador
"We had an almost impossible task given the very high levels of originality, diversity and quality present in these reinterpretations of the classic Margarita. It was very difficult for us to reach agreement as a jury, but we have, and of course we are particularly proud to promote these recipes, which all put a fresh twist on one of the world’s most iconic cocktails, while showcasing the exceptional talents of their creators."
