Six extraordinary bartenders from across Europe were crowned winners of the European Regional Final of the Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Challenge, held in Madrid, Spain. They will now represent Europe at the Global Final in Nicaragua in 2026, where the world's best sustainable mixologists will compete for the title of "World's Most Sustainable Mixologist by Flor de Caña" and a prize of $10,000.

The European champions are:

• Yvonne Chan (UK) – Kwãnt Mayfair, with the First of May cocktail
• Timothée Nicolas (France) – DROPS, with the Rice Up! cocktail
• Emanuele Aurioso (Italy) – Teleria 108, with the Bloody Thirsty cocktail
• Dawid Stoch (Poland) – Art Katowice, with the Clever Club cocktail
• Emil Durchev (Netherlands) – LuminAir, with the cocktail Not Your Usual Daiquiri Oliden
• James Mata Saballo (Spain) – Lovo Cocktail Bar, Madrid, with the Ron-Mate cocktail.

The Regional Final brought together 18 of Europe's most talented mixologists, who competed at the House of Mixology, the renowned school founded by Luis Inchaurraga, elected Best Bartender in Spain 2021.

An exceptional jury evaluated the cocktails based on their story and inspiration, use of sustainable ingredients and techniques, creativity, taste, and presentation. The judges were:

• Anna Sebastian (UK) – Founder of Anna Sebastian Hospitality and Celebrate Her, hospitality consultant and entrepreneur, curator of luxury brand experiences and female empowerment advocate;
• Emanuele Balestra (Italy) – Bar director and renowned mixologist at the Hôtel Barrière Le Majestic in Cannes. Renowned for his cocktails infused with botanical and aromatic innovations, he is the creator of Majestic Cocktails;
• Luis Inchaurraga (Argentina/Spain) – Mixologist, founder of the House of Mixology, elected Best Bartender in Spain 2021. A sommelier expert in wine, tea, coffee, and spirits, he is the author of Más allá del cóctel. The six winners will advance to the Global Final of the Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Challenge “Road to Las Isletas,” which will be held on the volcanic islands of Nicaragua in 2026.

Celebrating Flor de Caña's 135th anniversary, this year's edition invited mixologists to reinterpret classic cocktails, reinventing timeless recipes with a modern and sustainable twist, and adopting responsible sourcing and preparation practices.

With participation from over 40 countries around the world, the Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Challenge highlights the brand's ongoing commitment to sustainability and its mission to inspire positive change within the international mixology community.

Produced since 1890 on a family estate, as well as being the world's first certified Carbon Neutral and Fair Trade spirit, Flor de Caña is distilled with 100% renewable energy, captures and recycles all _CO2 emissions during fermentation, and has planted over a million trees since 2005.