Cantineros Game takes flair bartending to Miami
Chelo Tiki and the Miami Rum Congress organised the third edition of the Cantineros Game last month, highlighting the skills of flair bartenders.
The Rum Lab hosted the Miami Rum Congress at the Miami Beach Convention Center in Florida from 6 to 8 February. The event is one of six for 2026, with more to come in Puerto Rico, New York and Spain.
The Cantineros Game launched in 2024 and has grown rapidly, with 10-20 flair bartenders from across the world taking part. This year, more than 30 bartenders applied to compete, with these whittled down to 12, each representing a different country.
The Cantineros Game recognises and rewards bartenders who demonstrate outstanding skills in flair bartending, technique, creativity, showmanship, and excellence in the preparation of tiki and tropical cocktails.
The challenge asked bartenders to prepare three cocktails – either two tiki and one tropical, or vice versa – within seven minutes. Exceeding the time limit resulted in penalties or disqualification, as ruled by the judges.
Competitors could choose their own music and perform an individual routine that integrated flair into the cocktail preparation.
As well as adhering to the tiki or tropical category, cocktails had to have an ‘aesthetic’ final presentation and be served ‘correctly’. They were evaluated for execution, presentation and consistency.
The judges awarded each competitor a maximum of 100 points, with up to 35 for flair and technique, 30 for cocktail execution, 20 for show and performance, and the remaining 10 for creativity.
Bartenders were awarded cash prizes, trophies and points contributing to the Global Flair Bartending Ranking.
Rodrigo Felix from France was awarded first place. He was followed by Nicaragua-born Joseph Chavarria, who lives in Miami, and Gaston Santandreu of Uruguay.
The 2026 judges were kept secret, representing a rum brand, a tiki specialist, a bartender and a member of Flair Bartenders USA.
Next year will be the competition’s most ambitious yet, titled the World Cantineros Game 2027. The event will take place on 4-5 February 2027, at the Miami Beach Convention Center.
At least 24 bartenders representing five continents are expected to attend. The 12 bartenders who participated in the 2026 game will be invited back, with 12 new international hopefuls added to the mix. Registration for the latter is now open.
The first day will be a qualification round, where 24 bartenders will be whittled down to 12. The following day will be the grand final, where the remaining 12 bartenders will fight for the crown.
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