Cointreau 'Shake It Up' Margarita Challenge
Cointreau announces the launch of its 6th Annual bartender competition, The Margarita Challenge, with a new theme: Shake It Up! Unleash your creativity with a single, specified "imposed" secret ingredient revealed by a "shake of the Cointreau shaker" when you enter, pushing the boundaries of what a Margarita can be.
Since its beginning, The Margarita Challenge has attracted passionate bartenders from around the world to enter this celebration of the Original Margarita and Cointreau's role as its essential ingredient. This competition, designed exclusively for bartenders by bartenders, goes beyond delicious cocktails; it's about pushing creative boundaries, showcasing incredible talent, and cultivating a strong sense of community among bartenders who share a love of innovation and the art of mixology.
One finalist from each country advances to the Global Final in France with an all-expenses-paid experience competing against the world's best bartenders at Cointreau's historic mansion in Angers, Loire Valley. (In the USA and other countries, this is an on-line competition with no in-person regional final.)
To enter, visit Cointreau.com for a chance to compete and win.
The prize
The global grand prize winner receives a promotional budget for a sponsored tour of guest shifts at top Cointreau-curated bars around the world, plus a trip for two back to France and an invitation to join the Cointreau Collective.
Mandatory recipe requirements
- Must include Cointreau l'Unique (not Cointreau Noir)
- The assigned secret ingredient
- Must include a salt element (rim, saline, salted syrup, etc.)
- One submission per bartender
Judging criteria
- 40% - Respect of the theme / secret ingredient
- 40% - Skill
- 10% - Storytelling
- 10% - Presentation / photo
Key dates
- Recruitment & submissions open: 1 April - 31 May 2026
- Judging: June - August
- Global finalists announced: September
- Global Final: November 2026, France
