Argentine women are shaking up the global cocktail scene

Argentina just scored a global bartending first when a Buenos Aires-based mixologist ranked in the highest position ever in one of the world’s most challenging cocktail contests.

In the 17-year history of the annual World Class competition, Argentina has qualified for the global final numerous times. National-level winners such as Francisco Vaccalluzzo, from The Green Light bar in Córdoba, and Martín Tummino, formerly of The Harrison Speakeasy in Buenos Aires, have gone on to compete on the global stage against representatives from around 60 other countries.

But this year, Guillermina Usqueda broke through various barriers: not only did she finish in the global top 12, becoming the first Argentine to ever get this far, but she was also the first woman to represent Argentina.

It takes nerves of steel to perform before the gaze of eagle-eyed judges, a panel composed of the world’s finest mixologists and bar trailblazers, but Guillermina’s diverse experience had prepared her for this mission. From cruise ships to Patagonian hotels, and today at their recently opened Mansión Mihura at the Recoleta Grand in Buenos Aires, the beverages director has worked in varied environments over her career. That experience, combined with meticulous groundwork that began with the Argentina competition, set the course for Guillermina’s near-flawless performance.

“Even if you’re an excellent bartender, preparation gives you the foundation to act with sound judgment and confidence,” says Guillermina. “And when that translates onto the stage, it makes a massive difference.”

Practice makes perfect To first win at home, she dedicated countless hours to perfecting her skills, practicing the Speed ​​Round Challenge dozens of times. After winning locally in June, she then had five months leading up to the global competition to really focus on fine-tuning. She started by tasting each cocktail — adjusting their flavours and balance — and getting feedback from seasoned professionals.

“I wanted to ensure that every concept in my presentations was coherent,” she explains.

Besides precision in the glass, thorough planning was also part of her game plan – and little escaped her. “I put my heart and soul into every detail: I personally designed labels, animations, a holographic box, and other elements, paying meticulous attention to every aspect,” she says.

Last week, Guillermina headed to Scotland with Martín Mondragon, Diageo’s brand ambassador who coordinates the annual Argentina competition and wipes the sweat from weary brows. One of 49 bartenders in Edinburgh to prep, stir, shake and mix under pressure for two days, Guillermina’s reaching the final 12 was a milestone, the first Argentine to ever do so. Despite being the opposite, as she says, of shy and withdrawn, with hindsight the biggest challenge to overcome in Scotland was maintaining her self-confidence. 

“I’m not a nervous person, but in an environment that brings together competitors from all over the world, it’s easy to fall into the false belief that you’re ‘less’ than others,” she says.

 “Fortunately, I had an incredible team who taught me to firmly believe in the work I’ve been doing for years, and I will always be grateful for that.”

Monkey business October turned out to be solid for the cocktail industry. At the start of the month, Tres Monos and its sister establishment, Victor Audio Bar, both scored well in The 50 Best Bars 2026 awards, respectively in positions 21 and 31. The latter made its debut in the list (and as always, I like to clarify that I hold a position as a regional academy chair for South America for the entity), a welcome addition and refreshingly sophisticated contrast to the Monos’ elevated party vibes. (There’s a time and place for everything!). A third Palermo-based bar, CôChinChina, led by Inés De Los Santos, also made the cut in the extended 51-to-100 list to rank 56, its fifth year in the field.

Then this week, and a lot further afield than even Edinburgh, a Bangkok cocktail bar with an Argentine edge ranked ninth in Thailand’s 20 Best Bars 2026. I was in the Thai capital to see La Pampa transplant Delfina Figueroa and her team at Vesper pick up an award at the inclusive, voter-led ceremony that looks beyond booming Bangkok to include bars on the islands.

While Delfina has been acting manager for just a few months, her leadership is proving successful, so here’s hoping yet another Argentine woman has a positive and lasting impact on the global cocktail stage.