Carlos Ferron wins Flor de Caña cocktail competition
Panama-based bartender Carlos Ferron has been crowned champion of the Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Challenge 2022.
Ferron, of La Cuadra Market Bar in Panama, represented Latin America in the global final, which took place in Nicaragua on Saturday 4 February.
He faced fierce competition from competitors from Europe, North America and Asia Pacific.
Ferron took home a sustainably-made trophy, a personalised bottle of Flor de Caña 25 Years Old Rum, US$10,000 and the title of ‘World’s Most Sustainable Bartender 2022’ for his two cocktail creations: Talamanca, and 5 Generaciones. He will also receive a complimentary sustainability training and assessment from the competition’s partner, Food Made Good.
Talamanca was made with Flor de Caña 12 Years Old rum, acidified banana cordial, home-made cocoa vermouth, and pomegranate syrup with spices.
Ferron’s 5 Generaciones combined Flor de Caña 12 Years Old Rum with home-made orange liqueur, carrot and spices syrup, and lemon juice. Ferron also made a compost box to present alongside his cocktail, demonstrating further the sustainability of his drink.
He said: “It is an amazing honour to have been named ‘World’s Most Sustainable Bartender’ representing Latin America.
“It’s been a truly unforgettable experience and I thank everyone who supported me along the way, especially Flor de Caña who united us all under a single motto: sustainability, because being green is part of growing.”
The judging panel comprised: Giacomo Giannotti, owner of Paradiso Bar in Barcelona; Alex Francis, bar manager of Little Red Door in Paris, France; Julio Cabrera, owner of Café La Trova in Miami, US; and Juliane Caillouette, managing director of the Sustainable Restaurant Association in the UK.
The three other finalists were: Marco Pastanella from the US, who represented North America; Tom McHugh from Australia, representing Asia Pacific; and Dimitris Kaitalidis from Greece, representing Europe.
More than 30 countries took part in the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge.
The previous Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Challenge was won by bartender Manachain Monaghan, owner of Below Stairs in Leeds, UK.
In 2021, the Nicaraguan rum brand launched a global Zero Waste Month.
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