Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - After over 300 different cocktails had been tasted and elimination rounds had been held at the Hard Rock Hotel Vallarta, the National Auditorium Lunario in Mexico City, and the Hard Rock Hotel Cancun, twelve bartenders moved on to compete in the Karat Vodka Bartender Tournament MX/2013 Grand Finales, held in Cancun July 12th.

Gustavo Limón

Since the contest's inception in 2008, more than 850 bartenders from major consumption centers in the country have participated in the Karat Vodka Bartender Tournament MX, an annual event that is co-hosted by Madrileña, one of Mexico’s finest wine and liquor producers and distributors.

This year, in a salute to those who surprise and amaze us from behind the bar on a daily basis, the bartenders competed in two categories: Traditional Mixology and Molecular Mixology.

"The Karat Vodka Bartender Tournament MX/2013 was born with the idea of being a platform to promote the recognition of bartenders in Mexico, as well as adding more and more experts behind the bar to create colors, flavors and new experiences, thus contributing to the professionalization of the sector," explained Karat vodka marketing manager Alejandra Gallegos.

Diego Jovanni Mendoza

Out of the nearly 70 bartenders who participated in the Puerto Vallarta tournament, three of the four winners were from the Banderas Bay area. And, since the two winners from each category automatically qualified for the finals, they were invited to the National Finals in Cancun.

Considering that the Karat Vodka Bartender Tournament MX is the only launching pad for bartenders in Mexico, and that the winners of each semifinal round were among the 12 finalists, the competition was stiff.

And while the tournament's first place winners came from other major consumption centers in the Republic - with Jose Ruiz Solis from Mocambo Restaurant in Cancun winning in the Traditional Mixology category with his 'Bouquet of Roses' cocktail and Samuel Ayala Hernandez of Mexico City's China Grill taking 1st place in Molecular Mixology with his 'Bloody Shot Karat' cocktail - Banderas Bay area bartenders placed second in both categories.

Gustavo Limón from Raixes Restaurant in La Cruz placed second in Traditional Mixology with his 'Melon Palmer' cocktail, and Diego Jovanni Mendoza from Bar Mezcalini in Puerto Vallarta took second prize in the Molecular Mixology competition with his 'Catarina' cocktail. Both were awarded $15,000 pesos for creating a cocktail with the perfect balance of flavor, aroma, and color.

Everyone here at BanderasNews.com congratulates Gustavo Limón and Diego Jovanni Mendoza for bringing such great talent and creativity to the world of mixology - and to Banderas Bay area restaurants and bars!