Entries Are Open for the 2021 Licor 43 Bartenders & Baristas Challenge

Every year, through its Bartenders & Baristas Challenge, Licor 43 calls on cocktail and coffee professionals around the world to showcase their expertise and creativity in the art of pairing Licor 43 with coffee. This year’s fifth edition is taking place virtually, and entries open on May 14.

The 2021 global judging panel includes coffee and cocktails consultant and educator Timon Kaufmann; Imbibe senior editor Penelope Bass; and Merijn Gijsbers, barista champion, trainer, and consultant for Het Koffiegenootschap and Alpro. The judges will be looking for cocktails that seamlessly yet creatively merge coffee and Licor 43, while deftly highlighting both ingredients—ultimately seeking out the best coffee cocktail in the world. “I’m always blown away by the level of creativity in cocktail competitions, and as a very enthusiastic coffee drinker myself, I can’t wait to see the creations that result from this collision of coffee and cocktail culture,” says Bass.

Annarose Krone from Nic’s on Beverly in Los Angeles won last year’s competition with her Deja Brew, a mix of Licor 43, blended scotch, chocolate bitters, espresso, and raspberries. For the 2021 challenge, coffee and cocktail professionals will submit videos of themselves making and talking through their creations. There will be a series of regional rounds from which nine finalists will be selected to move on to the global finals. Judges will then select the final winner and an additional winner will be chosen by public vote on October 27. 

Coffee has long been part of Licor 43’s story, from the Café Asiatico in Cartagena and Café Barraquito in Tenerife in the 1950s to the Carajillo 43 today, which is a signature serve in Mexico. “There is a natural marriage of aromas and flavors between Licor 43 and coffee,” says Julian Fernández, Zamora Company’s Global Marketing & Innovation Director of Spirits. “And over the last four years that we have run this competition, we can see what inspiration this has been to entrants from both the bar and barista worlds.”

Professionals interested in entering and learning more about the 2021 Challenge can head to licor43.com.