The Cointreau Margarita Challenge (CMC) is once again open for entries, with bartenders from across the country challenged to show a commitment to sustainability, with the theme for 2025 being: ‘No Waste Margarita – From Fruit to Leaf’.
This year’s competition is bigger than ever, with the global extended to include 12 finalists, which will be the 10 winners of the regional competitions, including Australia. In addition, the final will include one Wild Card finalist, picked by the CMC jury plus one exceptional newcomer will be chosen for the Rookie of the year spot.
In its information about this year’s final, Cointreau said: “This year’s competition embraces sustainability with a theme inspired by the natural world. At Cointreau, our commitment to cocktails extends beyond the glass.
“We believe in crafting Margaritas that honour both the planet and the palate. From the fruit peel to the herb stems, every part of the ingredient has value. We pledge to use every element of the selected fruit, minimizing waste and maximizing flavour.
“Cointreau is challenging participants to showcase the full bounty of nature in their Margarita creations, demonstrating a commitment to sustainable practices by crafting innovative Margaritas – using every part of a fruit—from flesh to peel to leaves – with at least 25 ml of Cointreau L’Unique and salt.
“A jury of renowned bartenders and industry experts will have the difficult task of judging these innovative Margarita creations, evaluating them on creativity, flavour, presentation, and their embodiment of the ‘Fruit to Leaf’ ethos.”
The judging criteria for this year’s challenge has been broken down into four categories:
- Skills – 40 per cent: This year’s CMC celebrates innovation, sustainability and creativity. Entries will be judged on how skilfully participants utilise every part of the fruit to craft their Margarita.
- Ingredients – 30 per cent: All recipes should feature at least 25ml or 0.75oz of Cointreau l’Unique and salt. Beyond this, participating bartenders will have to showcase many elements of a single ingredient and demonstrate sustainability-mindedness.
- Storytelling – 20 per cent: Behind every great Margarita is an evocative story. Participating bartenders should submit compelling narratives that complement their concoctions offering insight into the inspiration behind each.
- Presentation – 10 per cent: Every cocktail tasting experience starts with the eye. Participating bartenders should craft visually striking drinks and ensure their submitted photographs accurately represent the uniqueness and personality of their creation.
Full details on all aspects of this year competition, including how you can apply and participate are listed on the 2025 Cointreau Margarita Challenge website.