2016 Chivas Masters in pictures

We bring you the thrills and spills of the 2016 Chivas Masters which was held this year in Shanghai.

Chivas Regal revealed last week that its 2016 champion was Alex Millan Ponce de Leon from Instituto Culinario de Mexico and Bootlegger in Puebla, Mexico who triumphed against 14 other bartenders from around the world.

Max Warner, global brand ambassador for Chivas Regal, commented: “The third year of the Chivas Masters global bartending competition has shown the world that a great cocktail is more than an exceptional spirit base, which is of course essential: teamwork and collaboration are also key components in delivering a memorable drinking experience.

“Our winner Alejandro epitomised these values, underpinned by truly outstanding bartending skills – a worthy winner, supported by his team.”

Judge Dre Masso remarked on the outstanding quality of entrants: “On behalf of the wider judging panel it was fantastic to see such a resourceful, innovative and skilful group of bartenders competing – all of the finalists in Shanghai proved themselves to be at the top of their game.

“However, Alejandro is a fantastic winner, both due to his exceptional talent behind the bar and his camaraderie throughout the finals. I can’t wait to see how his career progresses – I expect great things.”

Click through for the Chivas Masters 2016 in pictures…

The 15 global finalists from left to right: Dave Lam from Quinary, Hong Kong; Stefanos Draganidakis from The Trap, Greece; Aurélie Panhelleux from CopperBay, France; Lukas Motejzik from Herzog, Germany; Renier Ernesto Rodriguez from Meliá Cohiba, Cuba; Ben Rojo from Angel’s Share, USA; Stanislaw Domin from Kawiarnia Literatka, Poland; Tomáš Melzer from Hemingway Bar, Czech Republic; Chelsie Bailey from The Rummer Hotel, UK; Naoya Mizugishi from Fujiya & Miyagi, Japan; Mor Koral from Mor Koral, Israel; Johan Blaauw from Cape Grace Hotel, South Africa and Yao Lu from The Union Trading Company, China with Santi Ortiz from Ohla Barcelona left in front with overall winner, Alex Millan Ponce de Leόn from Instituto Culinario de Mexico / Bootlegger in Mexico.

De Leon also led a group of fellow finalists to victory who were awarded the Chivas Masters Collective title for their pop-up bar, The Beach Brothers @ Logan’s Punch. From left to right, the team comprised Ben Rojo from the US, Santi Ortiz from Spain, Stanisław Domin from Poland and Tomáš Melzer from Czech Republic with De Leon at the front. The team will embark on a trip to Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans later on this year.

De Leon in the middle with judges, Chris Lowder, Naren Young, Leo Robitschek and Dre Masso.

De Leon wowed the judges with his ‘El Jornalero’ (The Labourer’) cocktail – an inventive mix of Mexico’s indigenous ingredients which showed a “great authenticity to the roots of his Mexican culture.”

Everyone erupts with the announcement that Chivas Regal has crowned  Alejandro Millan Ponce de Leon from Instituto Culinario de Mexico / Bootlegger in Puebla, Mexico as the 2016 Chivas Master. De Leon commented:

“The global Chivas Masters final in Shanghai has opened my eyes and I hope that I have shown just what Mexico can do. It is a huge honour to hold the title of Chivas Master. The support of my team in Mexico and the amazing bartenders around me here at the global final has showed me that true brotherhood exists, and being able to work with these people is a great privilege”.