NEW ORLEANS, LA (November 13, 2025) — Tales of the Cocktail Foundation (TOTCF) announces the return of the Holiday Coquito Competition, presented in partnership with Bacardi USA. The national program spotlights Coquito, the creamy, coconut-based holiday staple beloved across Puerto Rico, inviting bartenders from 13 U.S. regions to craft their own innovative interpretations of the classic.
The iconic Caribbean cocktail traditionally combines rum, evaporated milk, coconut cream, sweetened condensed milk, and warming spices. Like many holiday traditions, each family has its own take on the recipe, mixing in signature touches. This year, Tales of the Cocktail Foundation and BACARDÍ Rum invite bartenders nationwide to honor this tradition by creating and sharing their own inspired recipes.
Bartenders will compete for the chance to win an educational trip to Casa BACARDÍ in San Juan, Puerto Rico, including round-trip airfare, hotel accommodations, ground transportation, travel insurance, and an immersive experience at the Casa Bacardi distillery.
The competition launches in November 2025, with participating bars featuring Coquito menu placements alongside in-bar education and blind judging through December. Throughout the season, guests can visit participating venues to enjoy limited-time Coquito creations that honor tradition while showcasing contemporary technique and flavor innovation.
Participating bars include:
- Atlanta, GA
- Cascade Skating Rink
- El Super Pan
- Fox Bros BBQ
- Holiday Bar
- Jojo’s Beloved
- Madre Selva
- St. Julep
- Austin, TX
- Amelia Social Lounge
- Canje
- Coconut CLub
- Daydreamer
- Firehouse Lounge
- Hanghart
- High Noon
- Midnight Cowboy
- Small Victory
- The Roosevelt Room
- Trona
- Veracruz Fonda
- Boston, MA
- Doña Habana
- Eastern Standard
- Mariel
- The Tiller Restaurant Cliff House
- Wusong Road
- Chicago, IL
- Adalina
- Arbella
- ArePA George Cantina
- Beatnik on the River
- Beatnik West Town
- Bordel Chicago
- Cantina Rosa
- Cebu Chicago
- Celeste
- Cira
- Clandestino
- Common Decency
- Copper Coin
- Demera Ethiopian Restaurant
- Diego
- Don Pez Taco Cantina
- Eaves
- ESCO
- Green Room
- Hala Kahiki Tropical Lounge
- Kayao
- Kashmir Chicago
- Kitchen and Kocktails
- La Josie
- La Licor
- La Sandwichera Cafe
- Laberinto
- Lazy Bird
- Love Street
- Mama Delia
- Mahari Restaurant
- Marinas Bistro & Rum Bar
- Mariscos San Pedro
- Matilda
- Moneygun
- Ola Barra, Cocina & Lounge
- Pearl Club
- Royal Palms Shuffleboard Club
- Sparrow
- Sportsman’s Club
- Tabu
- The Alderman
- The Good Eating Co.
- The Hi-lo
- The Meadowlark
- The Press Room
- The Staley
- The Up Room
- The Victor Bar
- Trino
- TRUCE
- VIN312 Winery
- Zoe’s Patio
- Dallas, TX
- Atlas
- Atlas Bishop Arts
- Catbird
- Double D’s
- Gingers
- Ladylove Lounge and Sound
- Nickel City
- Sunset Rooftop Lounge
- Houston, TX
- Bayou Heights Bier Garten
- Behind Closed Doors
- Blue Lagoon Bar and Grill
- Daiquiri Time Out
- 93 til
- The Toasted Coconut
- Tikila’s
- Trash Panda Drinking Club
- Voodoo Queen Daiquiri Drive
- Miami, FL
- Ball & Chain
- Café La Trova
- La Cañita Bayside
- Kiki on the River
- Mangos Tropical Cafe
- Mama Tried
- Regatta
- Sun Bar
- Tala Beach
- The Dirty Rabbit
- The Sylvester
- Sra Martinez
- Nashville, TN
- Old Glory
- Perfectly Fine
- Coral Club
- Gramps Bar
- Pearl Diver
- Taco Mamacita
- Twenty First
- New York, NY
- Analogue
- Bateman’s
- Chinato
- Maison Pickle
- Miss Lily’s
- Mr. Melo
- Orion Bar
- Shinka
- So & So’s Piano Bar
- Tiki Chick
- Northern California
- Alter Ego
- Bar April Jean
- Folklore
- Haberdasher
- Horsefeather
- Kaiyo Rooftop
- Kayah by Burma Love
- Lost Resort
- Napa Yard
- Sand Bar Oakland
- The Treasury
- Wilfred’s Lounge
- Orlando, FL
- Beacon
- Ceiba Orlando
- Chayote Barrio Kitchen
- Four Flamingos
- Grafton Street Pub & Crown Alley
- Lamp & Shade Craft Kitchen and Cocktails
- Otto’s High Dive
- The Drake
- The Moderne
- The Nectar Room
- Southern California
- Accomplice
- Cane Tiki Room
- The Alchemists’ Garden
- The CanTiki
- Good Neighbor Bar
- Kings Row Pub
- Real Charmer
- The Mermaid
- Tampa, FL
- M.Bird Tampa
- The Punch Room
- Boulon Brasserie and Bakery
- Wild Child
- Intermezzo Coffee & Cocktails
- Duff’s Famous Wings
- Lobby Bar – The Tampa EDITION
- Hotel Bar
- Alter Ego
Up to eight top entrants from each market will advance to local Coquito Throwdown events, taking place January 1–31, 2026, in Atlanta, Austin, Boston, Chicago, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Nashville, New York, Orlando, Tampa, and Northern and Southern California.
Competition Timeline
- September 2025: Registration opens online
- October 24, 2025: Registration closes online
- November 1 – December 31, 2025: In-bar education, menu placements, and blind judging
- December 19, 2025: Coquito Throwdown qualifiers notified online
- January 1 – 31, 2026: Coquito Throwdown events in Chicago, Dallas, Miami, Tampa, SoCal, NorCal, Boston, Nashville, Atlanta, New York, Austin, Houston, and Orlando
- March 2026: Winners’ educational trip to San Juan, Puerto Rico
The competition is open to bartenders aged 25 or older currently working at bars in California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois, Massachusetts, New York, Tennessee, or Texas. Full eligibility details, recipe requirements (including the required use of BACARDÍ Ocho), and official rules are available online.
Bartenders can submit their recipe and photo at https://talesofthecocktail.org/get-involved/holiday-coquito-competition. Participation is limited.
About Tales Of The Cocktail Foundation
Tales of the Cocktail Foundation is a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering the global hospitality industry through education, advocacy, and community support. As the world’s leading spirits education platform, the Foundation provides year-round programs and initiatives that foster professional growth and drive meaningful change. Each July, the industry gathers in New Orleans, the beating heart of cocktail culture and hospitality, for a one-of-a-kind conference that blends education, networking, and celebration like no other. Guided by its core pillars—Educate, Advance, and Support—the Foundation’s impact extends far beyond the U.S. reaching professionals and communities around the world. Tales of the Cocktail will take place in New Orleans July 19-24, 2026. #totc2026
ABOUT BACARDI USA
About BACARDÍ® Rum – The World’s Most Awarded Rum
In 1862, in the city of Santiago de Cuba, founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó revolutionized the spirits industry when he created a light-bodied rum with a particularly smooth taste – BACARDÍ. The unique taste of BACARDÍ rum inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world’s most famous recipes including the BACARDÍ Mojito, the BACARDÍ Daiquiri, the BACARDÍ Cuba Libre, the BACARDÍ Piña Colada and the BACARDÍ El Presidente. BACARDÍ rum is the world’s most awarded spirit, with more than 1000 awards for quality, taste and innovation. Today, BACARDÍ rum is made mainly in Puerto Rico where it is crafted to ensure the taste remains the same today as it did when it was first blended in 1862 www.BACARDÍ.com
The BACARDÍ brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.
LIVE PASSIONATELY. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.
©2025. BACARDÍ AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE TRADEMARKS.
