Mexico bartender named 2016 Chivas Master

Mexico’s Alejandro Millan Ponce de Leon has been crowned winner of the Chivas Masters cocktail competition in Shanghai.

Following competition from 14 bartenders over a five-day final, Alejandro, from Instituto Culinario de Mexico and Bootlegger in Puebla, Mexico, was named 2016 Chivas Master earlier this week.

An expert panel of judges was impressed by Alejandro’s winning local cocktail, called El Jornalero, which contained indigenous Mexican ingredients.

For his prize, Chivas Regal will take Alejandro on a bespoke trip to one of the world’s most iconic bars in a city of his choice to create a signature Chivas cocktail.

Alejandro also led a team of bartenders who were awarded the title of ‘Chivas Masters Collective’ for their pop-up bar, The Beach Brothers @ Logan’s Punch.

The team – comprising of Santiago Ortiz Jacome from Spain, Ben Rojo from the United States, Stanisław Domin from Poland, and Tomáš Melzer from Czech Republic – will all embark on a trip to the Tales of the Cocktail 2016 festival in New Orleans.

“The global Chivas Masters final in Shanghai has opened my eyes and I hope that I have shown just what Mexico can do,” said Alejandro. “It is a huge honour to hold the title of Chivas Master.

“The support of my team in Mexico and the amazing bartenders around me here at the global final has showed me that true brotherhood exists, and being able to work with these people is a great privilege.”

The judging panel consisted of Chris Lowder, head bartender at the Four Seasons in Seoul; Naren Young, head bartender at Dante in New York City; Dre Masso; and Leo Robitschek, bar director of New York’s Eleven Madison Park.

Each coached the finalists in a series of workshops and judged competitors on their bartending talent and ability to lead, mentor and inspire a team.

“The third year of the Chivas Masters global bartending competition has shown the world that a great cocktail is more than just an exceptional spirit base, which is of course essential: teamwork and collaboration are also key components in delivering a memorable drinking experience,” said Max Warner, global brand ambassador for Chivas Regal.

“Our winner Alejandro epitomised these values, underpinned by truly outstanding bartending skills – a worthy winner, supported by his team.”