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Cointreau cocktail competition seeks world’s best Margarita

20 January 2022 By Melita Kiely

Returning for a second year, the Cointreau Margarita Challenge is on a quest to unearth the best Margarita cocktail in the world.

Bartenders worldwide are invited to submit their twist on the iconic Margarita cocktail, using locally sourced ingredients, by 31 January 2022.

A panel of expert judges will then sift through the entries to select the top 10 lucky finalists who will compete for the title of Cointreau Margarita Challenge winner 2022.

The judges will be: Alfred Cointreau, sixth generation of the Cointreau family; Rory Shepherd, Little Red Door Paris creative director and mixologist; Carole Quinton, Cointreau master distiller; Margarita Mum, influencer and stylist; Kevin Sueiro, Cointreau international brand ambassador; and Miguel Ángel Mora, winner of the first Cointreau Margarita Challenge, from Alquímico, Colombia.

Cointreau is a staple ingredient in the original Margarita recipe, which was created by Margaret Sames in 1948. Today, the classic drink remains one of the most popular cocktails in the world and ranks as the fifth best-selling tipple, according to 2021 data from Drinks International.

“At the heart of more than 500 cocktails, Cointreau has established itself as a staple of the international cocktail scene, thanks to the proven qualities of the liqueur on the one hand, and because at the heart of the original recipe of the essential Margarita,” Alfred Cointreau said.

“Global success since its inception, the Margarita now ranks fifth among the most consumed cocktails in the world and convinces both proven professionals and enthusiastic neophytes.”

How to enter and get the chance to win a trip to Paris

Each participant will have the chance to take part in a bespoke one-off masterclass hosted by Rory Shepherd on 21 February. Furthermore, Cointreau will support each finalist by promoting their Margarita cocktails.

Then, as part of the Cointreau Margaweek, based on the Cinco de Mayo festival, the finalists will compete in an ultimate – and secret – challenge, which will be set by the judges. The winner will be crowned during the Cinco de Mayo festivities on 5 May 2022, and will win an ‘Art of the Mix’ experience combining a Parisian excursion on top of a dive into Cointreau at Angers distillery.

Think you have what it takes to win? Make sure you submit your Cointreau Margarita recipe by 31 January 2022 by visiting www.cointreau.com/margaritachallenge.