Big congrats to Kalisha Glover, of Published on Main, who took the top spot at the El Tequileño Reposado cocktail competition last week.

The announcement was made at the Tequila and Agave Festival’s Trade Tasting at the Italian Cultural Centre this past Saturday, May 24th. Glover scored two roundtrip tickets to Guadalajara and three nights at Casa Salles Hotel, in nearby Tequila — the heart of El Tequileño country, where blue agave, volcanic spring water and old school copper pot stills have been doing their thing since 1959.

Glover’s winning cocktail, ‘Freedom of Colour’, pulled inspiration from Frida Kahlo’s Still Life with Parrot and Fruit by using the painting’s bold colours and vibrant arrangement of fruit, including watermelon, orange, passionfruit and lime to translate her idea of what Mexico means into the glass. Balance, depth, and story — plus an inventive handmade fruit-forward side garnish – she brought it all! And the judges were into it. That said, the competition was tight, with every bartender bringing thoughtful, interesting, and seriously well-executed drinks to the table.

Scope out the photo gallery below to catch all of the competition the highlights – including shots from behind-the-scenes, and the best pours – and to pick up on the energy that took over Cuchillo when some of Vancouver’s sharpest bartenders squared off in one hell of a cocktail showdown.

Photos by Rubén Nava / LessNoise Studio for Scout Magazine