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Montreal is raising the bar.
One Montreal bartender is the reigning Canadian Ultimate Bartender Champion, claiming the Ultimate Bartender Championship (UBC) Americas title in Columbia.
Marie-Louise Roy-Bilodeau outperformed 26 of the top bartenders from across North, Central, and South America.
Having worked at Montreal institutions like Cloakroom, 132 Bar Vintage and Nestor, Marie-Louise Roy-Bilodeau calls Cantina Concha home—a hotspot inspired by traditional Mexican cantinas, tucked away in Old Montreal.
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What is the Ultimate Bartender Championship?
Hosted by Monkey Shoulder, the Ultimate Bartender Championship is widely regarded as one of the most demanding tests of real-world bartending skill.
This competition is a major international event highlighting skill and speed, with Roy-Bilodeau's victory marking a significant milestone for Canadian mixology.
Unlike traditional cocktail competitions, UBC evaluates every dimension of the craft: knowledge, speed, accuracy, hospitality, and technical precision.
Picture a packed crowd watching competitors advance through six high-pressure stages: The Quiz, Pouring, Nosing, Table Service, The Perfect Serve, and the notoriously gruelling Round Building finale.
Representing Canada, Roy-Bilodeau advanced to the semi-finals as the only woman remaining in the top four. In the final round, where bartenders must produce five cocktails and a shot at top speed with flawless balance and technique, she delivered a performance that surpassed everyone else.
Her win marks a significant milestone for Canada on the international bartending stage.
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What is Monkey Shoulder?
Monkey Shoulder is the original 100% Speyside blended Scotch whisky created for mixing, designed to introduce a new generation to Scotch.
Known for its smooth, rich, and versatile profile, it’s a staple behind the bar and the driving force behind global bartender-led events such as the Ultimate Bartender Championship.
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