IBA Panamerican takes a break in Tenerife

For the 15th Pan American Cocktail Competition this year, the 47 countries taking part headed to, on the face of it, a slightly unexpected venue: the Costa Adeje Gran Hotel in Tenerife.

To explain, let’s recap the history of the competition. “The initiator of this prestigious event is Jose Ancona,” says Ron Busman, IBA vice-president for Europe. “In 1996, he felt a growing necessity to display the many talents of elite bartenders from the Americas on a larger and more international-oriented scale.”

Initially, guild presidents from Argentina, Brazil, Peru, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, the US and Venezuela took part in the first edition of the competition, but as the number of South American entrant countries grew over the years – nearly all of them Spanish-speaking – Spain too was admitted five years ago.

Following 14 years of being held in the Americas, the IBA Pan American moved to Tenerife this year after local bartender Victor Suarez took the title in 2010. Renamed Friendship Cup Isla de Tenerife Pan American Cocktail Competition for this year, it attracted a number of prestigious partners, including Bacardi-Martini, Finest Call, Grand Marnier, Monin, Francisco Guerrero and Ron Diplomatico.

Rafael Martin Torres from Spain was named winner of The Pan American Classic Competition, while Mathias Santurio of Uruguay took the top prize in The Pan- American flairtending competition.

Meanwhile, Pepe Dioni was named winner of The Pan-American President’s Competition, Stojan Krizma from Slovenia won The Classic Friendship Competition, and Marek Posliszny was top dog in The Flairtending Friendship Competition.

The 16th Pan American Cocktail Competition will take place next year in Lima, Peru.