Puerto Vallarta, Mexico - Since December 2009, "Made with Love" has been working hard to build a new kind of event for bartenders in North America. Our goal is to promote talents and the art of mixology by creating an exciting and pleasurable evening. Our last events were described by our guests as a unique and very entertaining way to discover mixology and new cocktail flavors. This is exactly what we are aiming to do with Made with Love!

Democratizing Cocktail Culture

Made with Love is putting together an event that gives you the opportunity to showcase your cocktail creations in a stunning local venue, with great music and good food. We are democratizing the industry’s regular contests by allowing guests to judge the competition, plus we want new people to discover our passionate world, in a fun and festive atmosphere! In our previous Made with Love events, we’ve seen and tasted many amazing creations, and that is what people always talk about after each event. As the bartenders, you are at the heart of the event’s success!

The Business Side

We have all worked in the industry for many years and we know how it is. To get the support of the media and the sponsors, we have to guarantee them a successful event. This year, our spirit sponsors believe in the event's success, and they're 100% committed to each of your efforts. Let’s work together and show our Mexican public that we can build a successful event in Puerto Vallarta based on this amazing culinary passion!

Let's promote and invite as many people as we can, through Facebook, Twitter, word-of-mouth, and most importantly through our friends, family, and customers. Our goal is to have a sold-out event with 350 guests! Our guests will be very happy to have attended.

Everything has been organized in a way to make this event worth the price of admission for everyone. Tickets, flyers, and posters will be available in the next weeks. Stay tuned for the location where to pick them up.

Vallarta's Sheraton Buganvilias

The Event

• Cost: $400 pesos
• Date: Monday, February 25th
• Venue: Beach of Sheraton Buganvilias Hotel
• Time: 6 pm - 10 pm (Arrival time for competitors is between 2 pm and 4 pm)

Mission: Serve 350 amazing cocktails in a 2-3oz format (total liquid) using 0.50 oz of alcohol per cocktail. No cocktails can be served on fire.

Materials Provided to Each Competitor

175 oz of your chosen base spirit (see below), you can use other spirits to complete your cocktail but they have to be distributed by Groupo Campari or Grant and Sons. Those additional products (if needed) will be provided by you. Every brand has to be showcased during the event.

• Ice
• Glassware (Old Fashion)
• 6 foot bar

Your Choice of Base Spirit

• Appleton Rum
• Campari Bitters
• Hendrick's Gin
• Skyy Vodka
• Milagro Tequila

Be Sponsored!

At previous events, many bartenders were sponsored by the establishment they work for. The night of the event and during the promotion period, there will be a lot of possibilities for you to advertise and promote the restaurant or bar you represent. Being sponsored by your establishment can help you create a larger budget to complete your recipe and incite your co-workers and managers to come and encourage you and be part of the fun!

The Competition and the Prize

Made with Love organized an entertaining and friendly competition where two winners will be announced:

1. Winner of the Judges’ Panel

The competitors will be judged on the originality, the presentation, and the taste of their cocktail. The competitors who will receive the most points will win an all included trip to Quebec City in May 2013 to the Made with Love event to showcase a cocktail.

2. Winner of the Public’s Choice

All the guests attending the event will wear dogtags. They have to taste all the cocktails and give their dogtag to their favorite competitor. The bartender with the most dogtags will win an all included trip to Quebec City in May 2013 to the Made with Love event to showcase a cocktail.

Competitors

• Ricardo Hernandes - Grand Mayan
• Carlos Saldeco – Melia Puerto Vallarta
• Juan Carlos Perez Carrizales – De Santos
• Fernando Gregor Gaona - Cafe des Artistes
• Oliver James Atkins – St Regis - Punta Mita
• Orlando Cano Gómez - Punto V Puerto Vallarta
• Rafael Lagunas Ruiz - La Regadera Karaoke Bar
• Israel Abisai Diaz Pelayo - Restaurant Sandzibar
• Ulises Armenta - Sunset Plaza Beach Resort & Spa
• Armando García - Hotel Four Seasons Resort Punta Mita
• Omar Fernando Rivera Carretero - Hotel Boutique Landmark
• Diego Jovanni Mendoza Ramos - Restaurante Bar El Dorado Beach Club

Made with Love has been putting on some great events that have ballooned in size over the past 3 years to help promote cocktail culture, build relationships, and help promote a budding scene in every city that’s plays host to one of their events. It’s a great opportunity for restaurant foodies and cocktail hounds to come out and enjoy one-of-a-kind creations, held in a beautiful environment, with a social atmosphere where having a cocktail and talking food and drink culture is celebrated!