Tahona Society: discover the winner of the sustainable competition 2025
The Tahona Society once again inspired the global bartender community with a competition that goes far beyond cocktail-making. Its 2025 edition, held from September 8 to 11 in Guadalajara, Mexico, not only celebrated creativity behind the bar, but also the positive impact bartenders can create through sustainable ideas.
This year’s competition stood out by featuring 11 finalists from 9 markets—including the United States, Australia, Colombia, Canada, the United Kingdom, and Italy—and three winning projects that reflect commitment, innovation, and a forward-thinking vision for the industry.
What is the Tahona Society and its Sustainable Vision?
The Tahona Society is an international community founded by Altos Tequila, dedicated to empowering bartenders beyond their craft. Since its creation in 2009, its goal has been to build a network of professionals who share knowledge, inspire one another, and develop projects with social and environmental impact.
In 2025, the Tahona Society reaffirmed its commitment to sustainability through its biannual bartender competition, which rewards ideas that create real change in communities, aligned with values of responsibility and well-being.
Altos Tequila and the Values that Inspire the Competition
Tahona Society not only celebrates creativity behind the bar, but has also become a hub for social innovation thanks to the support of Altos Tequila. The brand brings its commitment to responsible production—including efforts to reduce environmental impact—into the heart of the competition and into the professional development of bartenders.
Each participating project reflects not only a shared vision of community and responsibility, but also the potential to transform hospitality into a more conscious and sustainable industry.
Winner of the Tahona Society Competition 2025
This year, the $50,000 USD grand prize was awarded by a panel of experts to Christina Mercado for her project C-Sweet Syrups, an emerging sustainable syrup brand based in the United States.
C-Sweet Syrups offers an innovative alternative to industrial sugar, using locally sourced ingredients and conscious production methods. The brand not only reduces environmental impact but also aims to make high-quality ingredients accessible to small bars and underserved communities. Its commitment to sustainability, health, and quality made it the clear favorite among judges.
Key Highlights from the Bartender Competition
In addition to the grand prize, other impactful projects were also recognized:
- Coaching Prize: awarded to Audrey Hands and Lucia González for their project “Brindemos Bienestar” (Cheers to Wellbeing), which promotes safety, wellness, and sustainability in Mexico. This prize includes personalized mentoring to support the project’s development.
- Crowd Favorite: went to Cristina Botero from Colombia for her initiative “Shaking Lives”, a training program that aims to empower 200 at-risk young people in Chile and Colombia. She received $5,000 USD through popular vote.
Each of these projects proves that bartenders are powerful changemakers within their communities.
Tahona Society and the Future of Sustainability
The 2025 Tahona Society Competition reinforces the idea that the future of mixology is deeply connected to social and environmental responsibility. Today’s bartender is not only a creator of flavors but also a leader looking to leave a lasting, positive mark on the world.
Through these inspiring initiatives, Altos Tequila and the Tahona Society continue building a global community that values purpose-driven innovation. Most importantly, they remind us that every cocktail served has the potential to spark meaningful change.