Global gourmet syrup and sauce brand Monin is calling for the rising stars of the UK bartending and mixology world to gather after a four year hiatus that demonstrate their cocktail making prowess as it opens entries for the coveted MONIN Cup.

Open to those aged between 18 and 27, the MONIN Cup gives up-and-coming talent the opportunity to compete against the UK’s best in class. Before the UK champion heads to France for the international final and the chance to be crowned the coveted 2022 MONIN Cup winner.

As togetherness is back on the agenda once again, the MONIN Cup is reflecting this consumer move to spend time together by hero-ing the theme, ‘Sharing Memorable Moments’.

Lee Hyde, Senior Beverage Expert at MONIN, says “After almost two years of forced separation, creating moments of togetherness is more important than ever.

“So, this year we are challenging contestants to channel their creativity and skill through style, emotion and theatre to deliver a cocktail experience that can be enjoyed and even felt through a shared experience.

“We’re hoping that entrants will use their creativity to develop a drink that has something unique to offer and that will live on in the audience and judges’ thoughts, well beyond the end of the competition”.

The competition will kick off with two regional heats, the first in Manchester on 26th July 2022 followed by London on 9thAugust, culminating in the UK final on the 6th September.

The winner of the UK final will bag themselves an all-expenses paid trip to the Berlin Bar Convent in October 2022, including flights and a stay at a 4* hotel. So make sure you get your entry in before 17th July 2022. The winner of the international final will receive a global prize.

So, if you want to flex your cocktail making muscles and are in the UK, aged between 18 and 27, go to monin.com or to find out more, go to monin.com

Global Bourbon brand Wild Turkey has announced Warren Zeiders as the headliner for its third annual 101 Bold Nights concert series.

“I’m excited to team up with Wild Turkey to support those who go after their dreams,” Zeiders says. “Beyond the notes and words, music is all about bringing people together and finding your crew. The songwriters and fans all have so many stories and ideas, and I’m happy to partner with Wild Turkey to continue to help bring everyone together.”

As part of the partnership, Zeiders – who recently won his first CMT Music Award – will perform at a series of three concerts hosted by Wild Turkey, in partnership with iHeartMedia, to benefit Spaceflight Records, a nonprofit record label that helps empower emerging artists and music professionals to trust their spirit and advance their careers.

Zeiders embodies the idea behind Wild Turkey’s global campaign and platform, “Trust Your Spirit” – that music-making, much like Wild Turkey’s iconic bourbon-making process, is most authentic when artists trust their instincts and do things their own way.

He was a star collegiate athlete when he released his debut single “Ride the Lightning,” which launched his career overnight.

“We launched 101 Bold Nights as a way to tell the bold stories of artists that share Wild Turkey’s trailblazing spirit, and through this concert series, we’re also able to support emerging musicians who are committed to following their passions,” said Andrea Sengara, Vice President of Marketing, Campari America.

“The idea was inspired by the steadfast dedication and conviction of the people who built Wild Turkey and its legacy. That same passion and commitment exists across all industries, and we’re excited to celebrate it with this initiative. It’s been an honour to partner with musicians, such as Warren Zeiders, who authentically embody Wild Turkey’s bold spirit.”

Fans and music lovers ages 21+ can join Wild Turkey and iHeartMedia for a performance from Zeiders at the first 2024 101 Bold Nights concert in Charlotte, NC on Wednesday, May 29. Fans can enter Wild Turkey and iHeartMedia’s sweepstakes to win tickets to the show by visiting news.iheart.com/101boldnights/.

Additional 101 Bold Nights concerts will be held in Los Angeles and Austin later this year, and Wild Turkey will be curating fan experiences at several more of Zeiders’ existing 2024 tour stops in select markets.

For more information on events, dates, and venues, fans can visit the Wild Turkey website to sign up for the brand’s community newsletter or connect with the brand on Instagram (@wildturkey).

Global Tequila Brand Don Julio has teamed up with Sony Music Latin artists to introduce ‘A Summer of Mexicana‘  to celebrate and highlight inspiring Mexican creatives who live Por Amor.

With the meteoric rise of Música Mexicana, Tequila Don Julio will bring modern Mexico to the mainstage through a series of summer concerts featuring artists, including award-winning singer-songwriter Christian Nodal, as well as performances on Jimmy Kimmel’s Summer Stage and an in-app Spotify program that will encourage further shareability of this growing genre.

“With the introduction of ‘A Summer of Mexicana‘ we continue to toast those who live Por Amor and uphold Don Julio González’s legacy of passion and dedication to craft,” says Karen Harris, Vice President of Tequila Don Julio. “As a brand born from Mexico, we strive to celebrate the rich and vibrant culture of modern Mexico and look forward to spotlighting these talented creatives.”

Kicking off in May, Tequila Don Julio is bringing ‘A Summer of Mexicana’ to life through a series of immersive experiences including:

• ‘A Summer of Mexicana’ Tour: Mexican artists have influenced the music industry as Música Mexicana has become one of the most popular genres among mainstream listeners. Tequila Don Julio and Sony Music Latin artists are coming together for a private concert series this summer featuring some of Sony Music Latin artists hottest musicians who are taking over the charts – making stops in Houston featuring celebrated singer-songwriter Christian Nodal, Los Angeles, and a stop in Chicago during the Sueños Music Festival.
• Jimmy Kimmel Live Concert Series: To further showcase the beauty of Música Mexicana and the Latin genre as a whole, Tequila Don Julio will highlight breakthrough musicians on Jimmy Kimmel Live’s Concert Series, starting with a performance from Christian Nodal followed by talented artists throughout the summer.
• Personalized Playlists: Spotify, the world’s #1 streaming platform, and Tequila Don Julio are bringing Música Mexicana to the center of summer celebrations with personalized playlists custom created according to each listeners preferred vibes. With Latin music now the 4th biggest collection of genres on Spotify, there’s something for everyone – whether lounging poolside or celebrating a night out with your crew.
• ‘A Summer of Mexicana’ Artist Edition: Tequila Don Julio Blanco and Tequila Don Julio Reposado take center stage as Mexican illustrator Dia Pacheco has teamed up with the brand to release the ‘A Summer of Mexicana’ Artist Edition available just in time for Cinco de Mayo and through the summer season. Each carefully drawn box design showcases vibrant symbols of Mexico reminiscent of Pacheco’s own experience growing up in the colorful town of Merida, Yucatán. The limited-edition Tequila Don Julio Blanco and Tequila Don Julio Reposado artist boxes are sold for an SRP of $44.99 and $49.99 for standard 750ml bottles at select retailers nationwide including online at ReserveBar and Caskers while supplies last.

To continue to uplift those who live Por Amor, the Tequila Don Julio Fund is partnering with charity organizations at each concert stop in Houston, Chicago and Los Angeles to support communities of emerging creatives beginning with The Houston Art Alliance, a local arts and culture organization whose principal work is to implement the City of Houston’s vision, values, and goals for its arts grantmaking and civic art investments.

A grand total of $500K will be donated to national and local charities throughout the summer leading up to Mexican Independence Day on September 16^th. To learn more about the Tequila Don Julio Fund visit donjulio.com/fund.

Actress Busy Philipps has teamed up with the award-winning Olmeca Altos Tequila to help US fans have the ‘key’ lime ingredients to make the best Margaritas at home.

Just in time for Cinco de Mayo (and continuing throughout the month of May), the Altos Tequila Emergency HotLime will deliver fresh limes (and other key margarita-making essentials) to the lucky winners’ doors.

If you’ve forgotten your juiciest Margarita ingredient, call the Altos Tequila Emergency HotLime – 888-268-1261 – to enter for a chance to win a Busy approved Altos Margarita Essentials package.

Eligible winners chosen will not only receive juicy limes via mail (thanks to Tropical Fruit Box), but the Margarita Essentials kit will also include Altos Tequila branded swag (cantaritos cups, a bucket hat, lime squeezer) and, of course, all the additional ingredients such as fresh limes and habanero mango honey to make a Busy-inspired Margarita.

“This incredibly fun partnership is one I couldn’t resist! Besides helping make sure people can have fresh limes to make delicious margaritas, I’ll also be surprising some winners and picking up the phone lines to chat,” Philipps says.

Select lucky callers will have a chance to talk about all things Margarita-related with Busy herself.

Busy suggests, “You might want to add the Altos Tequila Emergency HotLime number to your speed dial now.”

“My margarita recipe is simple,” Philipps continues. “A great tequila, like Altos, and fresh limes are a must.  Add a touch of homemade simple syrup and a half-salted rim, and you’re set.  Easy peasy unless you realize you only have old, hard limes or no limes at all.  We’ve all been there.  So, I’m here to help fix that with my friends at Altos Tequila.”

For more information about the Altos Tequila Emergency HotLime and full sweepstakes and participation rules, please visit Emergency HotLime – Olmeca Altos and YouTube. Follow us on Instagram at @altostequila and @busyphilipps.

Mexico City bar Handshake Speakeasy has been named the best bar in North America and the Best Bar in Mexico at this year’s North America’s 50 Best Bars.

Making history as the first bar in Mexico to be named No.1, Handshake Speakeasy narrowly beat out New York City’s Superbueno, who won The Best Bar in Northeast USA 2024 and the title of Disaronno Highest New Entry.

Toronto’s Civil Liberties, No.21, won the title of The Best Bar in Canada for the third year in a row. Puerto Rico’s La Factoría, at No.18, was also recognised as The Best Bar in the Caribbean for the third year.

Overall, the U.S. led the list with 26 bars, followed by Mexico with 15 bars, seven from Canada and two on the list from the Caribbean.

“What a momentous occasion for the Mexico cocktail scene! We give our biggest ¡Felicidades! to Handshake Speakeasy and head bartender Eric van Beek for the team’s incredible work in delivering excellence,” said Emma Sleight, Head of Content for North America’s 50 Best Bars.

“Handshake Speakeasy continues to push the boundaries of the art of cocktail creation as well as always putting service first, so we are pleased to see them crowned the first bar in Mexico City named No.1 on North America’s 50 Best Bars list.

“We also extend our congratulations to all the other incredible bars on this year’s list, which are testaments to how exciting, innovative, and dynamic the North American bar scene truly is,” Sleight continued.

New York continued its lead with the most top bars in the North America list with 12 of the 26 U.S. listees. These included Superbueno (No.2), Overstory (No.3), Martiny’s (No. 4), Double Chicken Please (No.7), Katana Kitten (No.12), Employees Only (No.15), Dante (No.20), Attaboy (No.31), The Dead Rabbit (No.33), Maison Premiere (No.41), new entry Angel’s Share (No.43), and Milady’s (No.44).

Jewel of the South (No.7) was named The Best Bar in the South USA, with Thunderbolt (No.8) named The Best Bar in themiko (No.19) from Chicago was named The Best Bar in the West USA and Ku Midwest.

San Francisco’s True Laurel (No.30), another new entry, won the Kettle One Sustainable Bar Award, with a new entry from Chicago Meadowlark (No.32) taking home the Siete Misterios Best Cocktail Menu Award.

Handshake Speakeasy is joined by Mexico City’s Rayo (No.5), Licorería Limantour (No.9), new entry Tlecān (No.10), Café del Nadie (No.17), Baltra Bar (No.26), Kaito del Valle (No.28), Hanky Panky (No.42) and Brujas (No.45).

Simpl Things in Toronto joins the stellar lineup as Campari One To Watch, and Grand Cayman’s Library by the Sea (No.35) earns the London Essence Best New Opening Award

To view the full list, go to theworlds50best.com