El Dorado crowns Heritage Cocktail Competition winner
Canadian bartender Erick Lerch, of Toronto’s Mother Cocktail Bar, has won El Dorado rum’s 2025 Heritage Cocktail Competition.
The 2025 competition finals were held on Thursday 10 April at the Demerara Rum Heritage Centre in Guyana where 10 global finalists went head-to-head to showcase their creative mixology.
All finalists were awarded an all-expenses-paid trip to Diamond Distillery, Guyana’s last remaining distillery, nestled along the Demerara River and also the home of El Dorado rum.
Erick Lerch from Mother Cocktail Bar in Toronto, Canada, ultimately took home the title of El Dorado Rum Heritage Cocktail Competition 2025 champion.
Lerch, alongside the other finalists, was given two tasks.
Firstly, the finalists needed to recreate their winning cocktail from the regional heats. After that, they were then required to create a new drink inspired by ingredients native to the Guyanese market, incorporating one of the El Dorado single still rums.
The competitors were judged on various criteria, including visual appeal, taste and balance of flavour, creativity and originality, the story behind their heritage, brand synergy and suitability, and the name of their cocktail.
The judging panel, comprised of seasoned industry experts, included Marie King, an international rum and cocktail specialist from the US; Timo Janse, a bar owner and cocktail expert from the Netherlands; and Shaun Caleb, master distiller at Demerara Distillers Limited.
For his triumph, Lerch was awarded a prize of US$5,000 and a collection of rare El Dorado Rums.
Lerch secured the win with two cocktails: ‘Vida aDorada’ (Adored Life), a tribute to his Mexican roots and travels through England, Southeast Asia and Canada, and ‘Thank You, Guyana’, a nod to the rich heritage of El Dorado, combining the brand’s Single Still Port Mourant with coconut water and jelly.
The judges commented: “It was a unanimous decision, and we feel confident that we chose the right winner. Over the past two days, we saw some truly impressive drinks, but day two really set the top contenders apart. We’re happy to say we found someone who stood out.”
Steven Huddleston from Stir by SQ1 in Tennessee, US, secured second place, while Romel Persaud from Therapy Cocktails in Guyana came third. Both contestants impressed the judges with their innovative use of local ingredients and compelling narratives that reflected their cultural heritage.
The competition made it debut last year with Mike Dojcsak from Canada the inaugural winner.
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