Bacardi has been hosting its prestigious global cocktail competition since 2013. Inviting bartenders to showcase their talent to everyone in the industry, BLCC has proved to be a wonderful competition platform for all the talented bartenders from all over the world. The participants get exposure, national winners get fame and the global winner gets to have his/her cocktail featured on various bar menus across the globe!
In 2013, Elizaveta Evdokimova from Russia won the BLCC trophy with her cocktail Knight Cup. The cocktail is inspired by the family heritage of Bacardi Carta Blanca, emphasizing loyalty, traditions and honour.
Served in an Old Fashioned glass, the recipe calls for cynar liqueur, pomegranate liqueur, Giffard sugar cane syrup and Bacardi Carta Blanca light rum. The cocktail is garnished with pomegranate leather before being served.
In 2014, Tom Walker from the UK won the competition with his cocktail Maid in Cuba. It is inspired from the American style of drink-making, taking inspiration from the likes of a Daiquiri and Mojito.
Using a Coupe glass to serve the award-winning creation, Maid in Cuba calls for La Fee Parisienne absinthe, Bacardi Carta Blanca light rum, fresh lime juice, Giffard sugar cane syrup, Thomas Henry soda water, mint leaves and peeled English cucumber as its ingredients. The cocktail uses a slice of cucumber as garnish.
In 2015, Franck Dedieu from France won the competition with his cocktail Le Latin. According to him, the cocktail brings the works of the Bacardi family and his own family together, which involved wine and vineyards.
Le Latin requires a Coupe glass and Bacardi Carta Blanca light rum, Viognier white wine, fresh lemon juice, olive brine and Giffard sugar cane syrup. An olive is added for garnishing.
In 2016, Chai-An Chan from the US won the competition with his cocktail Venceremos. The cocktail is a representation of Chan and his history, particularly from where he comes and where his bartending career began. The cocktail is an Asian take on the popular Pina Colada cocktail.
Venceremos is served in a wine glass and is garnished with pineapple leaves. The recipe requires Bacardi Carta Blanca light rum, coconut rum liqueur, fresh pressed pineapple juice, English cucumber-extracted cucumber juice, fresh lime juice and sesame oil.
In 2017, Ran Van Ongevalle from Belgium won the competition with his cocktail Clarita. The creation brings inspiration from the past, knowledge from the present and dreams of the future together in a glass.
The recipe calls for Bacardi 8 year old rum, Amontillado sherry, Dutch white creme de cacao, La Fee Parisienne absinthe and saline solution. Garnished with olive oil, Clarita is served in a Coupe glass.
In 2018, Erik Van Beek from the Netherlands won the competition with his cocktail Carino. The cocktail talks about love and endearment for our fellow humans and how love and support can come from strangers at times.
The cocktail recipe is a product of Bacardi 8 year old rum, yellow Chartreuse liqueur, greek yogurt, vanilla sugar syrup and fresh lemon juice. It is served in a Coupe glass and is garnished with freshly-grated nutmeg.
In 2019, Ronnaporn Kanivichaporn from Thailand won the BLCC trophy with his cocktail Pink Me Up. The refreshing drink is a product of the lack of ‘pick me up’ rum cocktails like the popular vodka-based Bloody Mary.
The recipe calls for cherry tomatoes, Bacardi Carta Blanca light rum, basil leaves, Giffard orgeat syrup, fresh lemon juice and olive brine. The cocktail is served in a Coupe glass and is garnished with an olive and basil leaf.
So, these were the cocktails that passed all the challenges and emerged as the public and the jury’s favourites. Ahead of their time, the cocktails have paved a way for more unique recipes that have wowed the enthusiasts from time to time. A winner all in all, which of these fascinates you the most?
