In a celebration of creativity, sustainability, and bartending excellence, Jared Schmidt of Osetra Bar in Canada was named the World’s Sustainable Cocktail Champion 2025 at the Global Final of the Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Challenge. The event took place on Saturday, March 7, in the stunning volcanic islets of Granada, Nicaragua.
This year’s competition marked Flor de Caña’s 135th anniversary and focused on classic cocktails, encouraging bartenders to reinterpret traditional recipes through a modern and environmentally responsible perspective.
The final brought together 15 outstanding bartenders from more than 25 countries, each selected for their talent and their commitment to sustainability within the hospitality industry. Set against the dramatic landscape of the Mombacho Volcano, competitors presented cocktails that combined exceptional flavor with sustainable techniques and ingredients. Flor de Caña — a carbon-neutral rum produced using 100% renewable energy and supported by the planting of more than one million trees — continues to promote environmentally responsible practices across the global bartending community.
After two competitive rounds, including the creative “Sustainable Market” challenge, Schmidt earned first place thanks to his originality and technical skill. His winning cocktail, “Por Mundo Limpio,” reimagines a Golden Era classic and features Flor de Caña 12 Year Rum infused with caramelized mushrooms, organic cane sugar and nori, delivering a bold yet sustainable flavor profile.
As the global champion, Schmidt receives the title along with a $10,000 cash prize, the competition trophy, and a sustainability evaluation for his bar through a partnership with the Sustainable Restaurant Association.
“This has been an incredible experience,” Schmidt said. “I’m very thankful to Flor de Caña, the judges, and my fellow competitors. Visiting Nicaragua and connecting with bartenders from around the world made this truly special.”
Second place went to Trần Gia Phát of Firkin Bar in Vietnam, while Dawid Stoch from Art Katowice Bar in Poland finished in third, completing a remarkable lineup of international bartending talent.
The judging panel included Danil Nevsky (ranked second in the Bar World 100 and recipient of the Best International Bar Mentor award at Tales of the Cocktail), Kendall Hauer, a luxury beverage consultant based in Miami, Luis Inchaurraga, an Argentine mixologist with more than 25 years of experience, and Gary Gruver, Director of Global Beverage Operations at Marriott International.
Flor de Caña is a premium rum brand recognized for its strong commitment to sustainability. Produced at a family estate established in 1890, the rum is distilled using 100% renewable energy and naturally aged at the base of an active volcano without added sugar or artificial ingredients. The brand has received numerous international recognitions, including World’s Most Sustainable Rum Brand (USA), Ethical Award (UK), and Sustainable Spirits Producer (France).
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