NEW ORLEANS, LA (March 12, 2025) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation and Flor de Caña Rum are proud to announce Jezraim “Jez” Carreon as the global winner of the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge. Representing the renowned bar “Employees Only” in Singapore, Jez Carreon stood out among a global pool of talented bartenders for his unwavering commitment to sustainability and exceptional creativity in crafting eco-conscious cocktails.
The Sustainable Cocktail Challenge sponsored by Flor de Caña Rum, invited bartenders from around the world to craft cocktails that prioritize sustainability through the use of eco-friendly ingredients, zero-waste techniques, and meaningful storytelling. Participants were tasked with showcasing how sustainability can be woven into every step of the creative process, from ingredient sourcing to final presentation.
About the Winning Cocktails
In the elimination rounds, Jez presented “Nicaragua is Calling”, a cocktail that reflects his three-year sustainability journey with Flor de Caña. The drink featured Flor de Caña 12 Year Rum, homemade corn kernel milk, spiced coconut liqueur, acid-corrected pineapple juice, and a syrup crafted from corn cob and pineapple husk—ingredients chosen not only for their flavors but also for their role in reducing kitchen waste.
The cocktail was built around the concept of a closed-loop process, where every element of the ingredients is used, leaving minimal to zero waste. Corn, coconut, and pineapple—three locally available ingredients in many tropical regions—were selected to emphasize local sourcing and support for local farmers, reducing the carbon footprint associated with transportation.
For the Global Final in Nicaragua, Jez created “Mi Ultimo Adios – My Last Goodbye”, a cocktail designed to highlight underutilized tropical ingredients and the potential of often-discarded food scraps. The recipe included a spent papaya and banana peel tincture, a banana and starfruit cordial, fresh papaya juice, and Flor de Caña 12 Year Rum. Crafted in La Isleta, the cocktail was prepared under limited equipment and time constraints, showcasing Jez’s ability to apply sustainable creativity in real-world bar environments.
Together, these cocktails told a sustainability story rooted in practical action, balancing bold flavors with a commitment to minimizing waste, supporting local agriculture, and reducing environmental impact.
“Jez Carreon exemplifies everything this competition stands for: innovation, creativity, and a deep-rooted commitment to sustainability,” said Taylor Barron, Director of Partnerships at Tales of the Cocktail Foundation. “His thoughtful approach to ingredient sourcing, waste reduction, and storytelling is a shining example of how bartenders can drive meaningful change within the hospitality industry.”
In recognition of his achievement, Jez Carreon received the prestigious title of Flor de Caña World’s Sustainable Cocktail Champion, a $10,000 cash prize, and an opportunity to further advocate for sustainable practices in the global beverage industry.
Over 30 countries participate in the Sustainable Cocktail Challenge, which is a celebration of Flor de Caña’s historic commitment to sustainability and its way of sharing and promoting these values with the global bartender community. In addition to being the world’s first Carbon Neutral and Fair Trade certified rum, it is distilled using 100% renewable energy, it captures all CO2 emissions generated during fermentation and has also planted over one million trees since 2005.
For more information on upcoming Sustainable Cocktail Competitions, visit flordecanachallenge.com or follow on Instagram @flordecanausa.
For more information about Tales of the Cocktail Foundation and its initiatives, please visit https://talesofthecocktail.org. Tales of the Cocktail will take place in New Orleans July 20-25, 2025. #totc2025
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About Tales of the Cocktail Foundation:
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization that educates, advances, and supports the global hospitality industry and creates lasting impact in our host communities. Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is the global leader in spirits education and a platform to tackle issues facing the industry. The pillars of the Foundation are to Educate, Advance, and Support the hospitality industry through programs that benefit individuals and organizations in the community and to make a lasting impact in communities that host our events. Tales of the Cocktail will take place in New Orleans July 20-25, 2025. #totc2025
About Flor de Caña
Established in 1890 and a family run business for over 130 years, Flor de Caña is a portfolio of exceptionally smooth bourbon barrel aged rums. It’s distilled with 100% renewable energy and naturally aged at the base of an active volcano without sugar or artificial ingredients. The brand is recognized as a global leader in sustainability and has Carbon Neutral & Fair Trade certifications and has received distinctions such as “Green Distillery of the Year” (Caribbean), “Ethical Award” (UK) and “Green Award” (Hong Kong). Learn more at www.flordecana.com
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