El Alquimista cocktail contest names winner
Peruvian bartender Manuel Gaspar Lao won the El Alquimista World Bar 2025 international cocktail tournament this month.
The final took place in Manizales, Colombia, on 16 May. The Industria Licorera de Caldas (Caldas Liquor Industry), Colombia’s state-owned liquor company, organised the competition.
To participate in the competition, entrants needed to create a serve using different varieties of Ron Viejo de Caldas, which is the best-selling rum in Colombia.
Using Ron Viejo de Caldas Gran Reserva Especial, Lao created a cocktail named Cerca del Bosque, which translates to ‘near the forest’. Other ingredients included banana, citrus, honey and Peruvian coffee, all selected to ‘transport attendees to the fog forests of Manizales and Colombia’.
He said: “I’m very happy with this victory. I feel very proud to have represented my country. Since I arrived in Colombia, they’ve treated me very well, so I’ve tried to repay all that affection through this cocktail where I’ve brought both cultures together.”
For his efforts, Lao was rewarded with a cash prize of US$3,000 and a cocktail course valued at US$4,000.
He added: “I take this achievement with great responsibility and want to make the public understand that behind a spirit, there is a lot of work, like that of the master rum maker and other people who work daily to create a great brand like Ron Viejo de Caldas. It will be a pleasure for me to be able to share all the knowledge I’ve accumulated over the past few days in Manizales and take it to other places.”
Andrea Baldisserotto, from the Colombian department of Antioquia, came second, winning US$2,000. Meanwhile, Jesús Antonio Higuera of Ecuador took third place and a prize of US$1,000.
Diego Angelillis Quiceno, general manager of the Industria Licorera de Caldas, said: “We witnessed an event worthy of the best in the world with very talented participants, which became a great opportunity for the Caldas Liquor Industry to continue being recognised nationally and internationally for its quality and innovation.”
This month, the Art of Italicus and Cardenxe Sotol also named their competition winners.
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