Canada bags Monkey Shoulder UBC Americas 2025 win
Montreal bartender Marie-Louise Roy-Bilodeau has won the Ultimate Bartender Championship (UBC) Americas competition, hosted by Monkey Shoulder.
The UBC tests real-world bartending skills, challenging competitors from knowledge to technical execution.
According to UBC, this year’s Americas final was highly competitive, featuring an exceptionally strong field of competitors and a packed crowd watching each bartender progress through high-pressure skill stages.
The competition consists of six challenges: a 50-question quiz, pouring accuracy, nosing, table service, creating a perfect serve against the clock and, finally, a head-to-head contest to build cocktails with speed and precision.
All contestants participate in the first five challenges, with only the top four highest scorers advancing to the semi-finals.
At the finals, Roy-Bilodeau – the reigning Canadian Ultimate Bartender Champion – was the only woman to make it to the top four, after competing against 26 of the top bartenders from North, South and Central America.
In the final round, where competitors must produce five cocktails and a shot at top speed with flawless technique and balance, Roy-Bilodeau reportedly delivered a performance that “exceeded the region’s best”.
Roy-Bilodeau commented on her win: “I wasn’t expecting to win. When I saw how many people I was competing against, I was very nervous – but everyone was so welcoming and made me feel included, even though I was the only competitor who didn’t speak Spanish.
“I’m so grateful to Monkey Shoulder for making this competition possible.”
Monkey Shoulder, launched in 2005, is a blended malt whisky owned by William Grant & Sons. The company’s portfolio also includes Glenfiddich, The Balvenie, Ailsa Bay, and Tullamore Dew.
In July this year, the company also completed the acquisition of The Famous Grouse and Naked Malt whisky brands.
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