Lauren Pellecchia wins Licor 43 Bartenders & Baristas Competition with her Passionately 43

United States winner of the Licor 43 Bartenders & Baristas Competition is Lauren Pellecchia bartender and Chilled 100 Member from Cincinnati, Ohio. Lauren won with her original cocktail named Passionately 43.

 

 

Over 150 people from across the United States entered the competition, with ten finalists competing at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles. Pellecchia will now join her fellow finalists in the Canary Islands, competing for first place by showcasing the imagination they bring to the art of coffee cocktail creation. The global finals will take place on Oct 19, 2022.

Licor 43, the Spanish liqueur brand once again called on cocktail and coffee professionals around the world to showcase their expertise and creativity in the art of pairing Licor 43 and coffee, with the U.S. joining countries around the world in running live regional rounds.

 

Licor 43 has a very special place in my cocktail journey. For years I’ve celebrated many milestones with my friends and family- birthdays, new years, graduations, anniversaries- by toasting with Mini Beers. When I started creating cocktails Licor 43s beautiful flavor profile made it a favorite to work with and it’s still a favorite today. My bartending, mixology, journey is tied to Licor 43. From being introduced to it when I was a guest at the bar where I would end up working for over ten years, to it becoming a staple of my home bar, the ‘secret ingredient’ in my baking projects, and then one of my favorite spirits to build with- being able to look back at some of my earliest Licor 43 Cocktail creations and see just how far I’ve come in my craft. Winning the Bartenders and Baristas Challenge means the world to me. I’ve been on cloud 9 since I heard my name announced–I still don’t think my feet have touched the ground. I have so much love for this brand, and to be recognized by them in this way is incredible.

Returning to the judging panel in the Global Finals is International Barista Champion Merijn Gijsbers, who has worked with the competition since 2019. Joining him for this year to find the best new Licor 43 coffee cocktail recipe will be American bartender Lynnette Marrero, known for creating the world’s first all-female speed bartending competition, ‘Speed Rack,’ and Thalita Freire, the 2021 Bartenders & Baristas Challenge Champion from Brazil who won with her drink, “Tropicália.”

The 2022 global winner will receive a bursary to put towards professional equipment and career development courses, will take their place on next year’s judging panel and will become the Licor 43 Coffee Master for 2023, appearing with the brand at key international shows.

Congratulations Lauren! Check out her winning recipe here.

 

 

 

Passionately 43

Ingredients:

• 30 ml Licor 43
• 22 ml Passionfruit Puree
• 15 ml Lemon Juice
• 15 ml Allspice Dram 15ml
• 15 ml Macadamia Nut Liqueur
• 45 ml Cold Brew Coffee

Preparation: Shake with a large ice cube. Double strain into a chilled coupe. Serve with white chocolate dipped shortbread cookies.

 

For more info CLICK HERE!