Kat Hood of College Cocktail Bar in Barcelona has claimed victory at the 2025 Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge, representing Southern Europe in the prestigious international competition. The finals, held at the Brix Hotel in Port of Spain, Trinidad & Tobago, marked the 11th edition of the annual event.
Fifteen bartenders from across the globe competed in the challenge, each tasked with creating a modern interpretation of the Queen’s Park Swizzle—a Trinidadian cocktail dating back to the 1920s. The original recipe features a blend of rum, demerara sugar, lime juice, mint, and Angostura aromatic bitters.
Finalists traveled from Argentina, Australia, Canada, Dubai, Lithuania, Malaysia, Poland, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the UK, the US, and the Caribbean to take part in the competition.
Hood secured the top prize with her original creation, the Galleon Sunset Swizzle, earning a US$10,000 cash award and a two-year global brand ambassador contract with the House of Angostura. Inspired by the Queen’s Park Swizzle and Spain’s Rebujito, her cocktail featured Angostura 7 Year Old rum, apple-ginger-peppercorn cordial, miso-infused fino Sherry, fresh Thai basil, and a combination of orange and hibiscus bitters. The drink was praised for its crisp, umami-rich profile and aromatic complexity, with a visual presentation evoking a vibrant sunset.
Jay Cozma of Old Love’s Place in Sydney, Australia, was named runner-up and appointed Angostura brand ambassador for Oceania. South Africa’s Alex Fahrenheim secured third place and will serve as the brand’s ambassador for the South African region.
The judging panel was led by Jack Sotti, co-founder of Archive & Myth. He was joined by Daniel Ortega of Bijou Drinkery Room in Mexico City, Raymond Edwards, chief brand educator at Angostura, and Marv Cunningham, the 2020 Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge winner. Evaluation criteria included innovation, flavor development, technical skill, storytelling, and sustainability in preparation.
Sotti described Hood as a standout competitor, praising her hospitality, poise, and the balance of her cocktails. “She smashed it by making two delicious, well-balanced drinks,” he said, noting her polished presentation and compelling interaction with both judges and fellow competitors.
Hood becomes the first woman to win the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge. Her performance and character drew acclaim for embodying the spirit of global bartending camaraderie, with fellow contestants and judges lauding the sense of connection and shared passion exhibited throughout the competition.
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