Congratulations to Luis Miguel Cardona and Modesto Isael Lozada Betancourt, the 2025 Mexico National Champions! 

Representing the vibrant heart of Mexico City and the renowned Rayo Cocktail Bar, Luis Miguel and Modesto have earned their place among this year’s global finalists with a cocktail that is much more than a drink, it’s a liquid poem to heritage, transformation, and identity. 

Their creation is a liquid song to the roots that never forget, yet reach toward the sky with each new generation. It’s more than a cocktail, it’s an emotion in liquid form. Not just tasted, but felt, it carries the whisper of ancestral drums and the echo of voices that once crossed oceans, now reborn in kitchens, bars, and dreams. A drink that speaks of memory and movement, of heritage and hope, capturing both the soul of tradition and the spark of what’s to come. 

This year’s Mexican final was judged by a prestigious and passionate panel:
– Rodrigo Iturbide, Havana Club collector and influencer
– Gabriel Gaitán, Ashers Mexico ambassador and IBA judge
– Luis Chiu, Chef and owner of Asian Bay, expert in cross-cultural gastronomy  

A tribute to memory, rhythm, and transformation 

Cocktail
– 30 ml Havana Club 7 Años infused with chai tea and milk-washed with taro
– 60 ml Lacto-fermented Plantain Cordial 

Garnish
– Banana leaf circle
– Chocolate-taro coin
– Fuchsia flower or Queen’s Earring blossom