The Ultimate Rum-Bartender, the renowned global competition that celebrates the art of rum-based cocktails, returns for its third edition. This year promises to be bigger and better, with bartenders from around the world competing and showing skills and creativity in the world of rum mixology.
Organized by a team of influential figures in the spirits and cocktail industry, The Ultimate Rum-Bartender aims to identify the finest rum bartenders worldwide while promoting the appreciation of rum through innovation, presentation, and craftsmanship.
Meet the Organizers
The competition is led by a distinguished team of industry leaders:
–Federico Hernández, Director of The Rum Lab and organizer of the Spain Rum & Gin Expo 2025, a second edition anticipated event in the rum and spirits world.
–Carlos Riveros, Founder of the Tiki League & Latin America Cocktail Championship, which has had more than 2000 participants in its four editions. Carlos has been an ambassador for several rum brands.
–Pablo Mosquera, a seasoned cocktail consultant whose expertise in mixology and rum is well-recognized in the global bartending community.
An Esteemed Jury of Experts
This year’s edition will be judged by an exceptional panel of professionals, each bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to the competition:
–Don Pancho Fernández (Cuba): A legendary rum master with decades of experience in rum production and distillation.
–José Rafa Malem (Cuba): Former President of the Association of Bartenders of Cuba (ACC) and a true eminence in Cuban rum, bringing decades of experience and wisdom to the competition.
–Oscar Lafuente (Spain): Last year’s winner and Global Ambassador for Destilerías Arehucas.
–Gastón Santandreu (Uruguay): A leading figure in the development of Tiki cocktail culture in Uruguay. He is also a broadcaster and host for cocktail events across Latin America, and the winner of last year’s Best campaign promoting the competition award.
–Carlos Riveros (Peru).
–Federico Hernández (Puerto Rico).
–Pablo Mosquera (Spain).
A Global Stage for Rum Lovers
This third edition of The Ultimate Rum-Bartender invites bartenders from around the world to compete in a celebration of rum, skill, and creativity. Participation is by merit only: all competing bartenders have been carefully selected under a strict vetting process conducted by the organizing team. Only professionals who have demonstrated exceptional talent and innovation in crafting rum-based cocktails have been invited to take part.
The nominated bartenders are as follows:
-Juanyunes Fuentes (Chile)
-Trevor Luke (Jamaica)
-Jony Aplicano (Honduras)
-César Castañeda (Honduras)
-Erick Medina (Honduras)
-Adolfo Zepeda (Nicaragua)
-Joseph Pate (Belize)
-Abner Escobar (Guatemala)
-Glorianny Cilie (República Dominicana)
-Jair Carballo (México)
-Roberto Montero Herrera (Costa Rica)
-Jorge Luis Carrero Barrios (Colombia)
-Andres Valencia Ariza (Ecuador)
-Rocío Jael (Argentina)
-Yon Pavón (Spain)
-Miguel Ángel Martínez (USA)
-Roberto Elias Salguero (El Salvador)
-Bruno Pereira (Uruguay)
-Charlie de León (USA)
-David Rodriguez Montesdeoca (Colombia)
-Rudy Ramses Osorio (Chile)
-Nando Arcaya (Ecuador)
-Antony Frank Aguilar Solís (Perú)
-Jonathan “Piraña” Cerna (El Salvador)
-Javier Poveda Gómez (Costa Rica)
-Piero Rivadeneyra Valente (Perú)
-Félix Cuevas (Panamá)
-Jonathan León (Perú)
Competition Format
This year’s edition will feature a blend of public voting and expert judging.Thus, two awards will be given:
–The Ultimate Rum-Bartender: Chosen by the expert panel based on the bartender’s skill and creativity.
–The Most Popular Rum-Bartender: Awarded to the bartender with the most public votes on TheUltimateAwards.com.
Key Dates
–Public Voting Period: April 21–25, 2025.
–Winner Announcement: Monday, April 28, 2025.
Prizes
The winners will receive bragging rights, a feature interview to be published on The Rum Lab, and a certificate that will be presented during an exclusive award ceremony held at the Spain Rum & Gin Expo 2025. This event will take place on May 8 and 9, 2025, at Plaza Caleido, Madrid, Spain.
Get Involved
Public voting for The Ultimate Rum-Bartender begins on April 21 and will continue until April 25. To vote and learn more about the competition, visit www.TheUltimateAwards.com
Since its inception, The Ultimate Rum-Bartender has grown into one of the most respected competitions for rum mixologists worldwide. The competition celebrates not only the creativity and technical skill of bartenders but also the global love for rum and the vibrant culture surrounding it.
