The News
Monin Americas has announced it will host the 2026 Monin Cup qualifying events in North America. The competition, themed "Timeless Twists," will take place in the U.S., Mexico, Canada, and Puerto Rico this summer. Participants will compete for a chance to win the global Monin Cup in Paris, France in December 2026.
Monin’s 2026 Cup invites bartenders under 27 to reinvent classic cocktails, a move that dovetails with recent industry shifts toward premiumization and low‑/no‑alcohol innovation.
This column looks at Monin Americas’ 2026 Monin Cup announcement and its implications for on‑premise mixology, ready‑to‑drink (RTD) pipelines, and distribution planning.
The “Timeless Twists” theme lines up with a projected 14.3 % compound annual growth rate in non‑alcoholic spirits—an area expected to grow from $192.1 million in 2023 through 2030. The Cup invites bartenders 27 or younger to rework classic cocktails, and industry data show that the same generation is driving the fastest‑growing segment of ready‑to‑drink cocktails, which grew 7.2 % in volume last year. Together, these facts suggest the Monin Cup will surface recipe concepts that can be turned into scalable low‑/no‑alcohol offerings.
In 2025, hard seltzers and flavored malt beverages lost 1.8 percentage points of market share while premium spirits and craft cocktails gained 2.3 points. The Cup’s emphasis on skillful re‑imagination matches the trend toward higher‑quality, bartender‑driven menus. Distributors can use this cue to position Monin syrups in new premium cocktail lines and RTD “timeless twist” kits.
Each entry must include at least 10 ml (1/3 oz.) of a Monin product. That standard gives bars a concrete ingredient benchmark for menu planning and lets distributors forecast demand for specific syrups or liqueurs. RTD producers also benefit; the 10‑ml minimum keeps final products balanced without heavy reformulation.
Operators receive early access to a recipe bank that can refresh seasonal menus and support brand storytelling. Sampling North American qualifiers—Mexico City, Toronto, Tampa, Florida—lets bars gauge which flavor profiles resonate across segments before the global finale in Paris. The international scope also hints at future distribution opportunities for Monin‑based products beyond conventional retail.
Although the Cup imposes no exclusivity on Monin’s broader portfolio, it spotlights emerging talent whose creations could become commercially viable mixology waves. Monitoring these developments and aligning inventory with the identified “timeless twists” lets distributors position themselves as early adopters in a niche but growing segment.
Original Press Release
This summer, bartenders across North America will create their own Timeless Twists in Monin’s 2026 Monin Cup, with Monin Americas holding semi-final events across the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Puerto Rico.
Let the competition begin! The famed, biennial Monin Cup will return for its eighth edition in 2026 — this time, with its North America qualifying rounds hosted by Clearwater-based Monin Americas. With this year’s theme being Timeless Twists, participants are encouraged to capture the past while also looking toward the future as they compete for a chance to win the coveted Monin Cup at the global finale in Paris, France this December.
Launched in 2012, the Monin Cup is a global platform for emerging bartenders to showcase their talent. Open to rising professionals around the world, the Monin Cup unfolds in stages, with regional rounds taking place in North America, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia Pacific, Southern America, Greater China and India and satellite countries. During each round, participants in all divisions are challenged to demonstrate technical skill, creativity and storytelling through original beverage concepts featuring Monin products. This year, competitors will use modern tools and a unique perspective to revive forgotten flavors, reinvent classic beverages and uncover stories behind iconic serves — while adding their own timeless twists.
The journey for North American competitors will begin virtually, with registered participants in the U.S., Canada, Mexico and Puerto Rico submitting an original recipe inspired by the Timeless Twists theme, along with a brief bio highlighting their experience and inspiration. A panel of Monin beverage experts will review entries and select the top submissions from each region to advance to the live, in-person semi-final rounds taking place this summer across North America and the Caribbean.
“Monin Americas is honored to curate these events, but more importantly, to learn from our industry’s rising stars and play a role in highlighting their talents,” said Sabrina Godfrey, Director of Marketing Communications at Monin Americas. “Our team is committed to supporting emerging talent, and this competition offers a meaningful platform to do so on a global stage. After years of the Monin Cup being hosted around the world, we’re excited to represent North America and be part of this next chapter.”
The North American semi-final rounds will begin on July 14 in Mexico City for Mexico participants, followed by July 30 in Toronto, Ontario for Canada participants and August 11 in Tampa, Florida for U.S. and Puerto Rico participants. During these rounds, finalists will present their timeless twists live to a panel of judges, showcasing both creative vision and technical skill. The finalists from these rounds will then go on to compete in the global finale on December 8 in Paris. Semi-final participants will receive prize packages and a cash award in recognition of their performance. At the international finale, winners will receive €5,000 for first place, €3,000 for second and €2,000 for third.
Competitors must be working bartenders or bar school students, as well as 27 years or younger to compete. All stages of the competition will be conducted in English only.
As the bar world continues to evolve, MONIN Cup 2026 serves as a reminder that innovation is not about abandoning the past, but reinventing it—one twist at a time.
Sources consulted (web research):
- Monin Cup 2026 Registration
- Monin Cup 2026
- Everything Bartenders Need To Know About The 2026 Monin Cup
Source: BevNET