The Monin Cup, Explained: Inside the UAE's Bartending Proving Ground
If you follow Dubai's bar scene, you have probably heard of the Monin Cup. It is one of the most respected competitions in the business, and the syrups at the centre of it are ones we supply across the region. Here is what it actually is, and how the UAE has shown up over the years.
What the Monin Cup is
Launched in 2012 and run every two years across more than 80 countries, the Monin Cup is a global competition built specifically for young bartenders, those aged 27 and under. Competitors create an original drink that must feature a Monin product, then present it through local and regional rounds, with the best advancing to an international final. This year's final takes place in Paris in December 2026.
This year's theme: Timeless Twists
Each edition has a theme, and 2026 is "Timeless Twists", which asks bartenders to take a classic cocktail, a forgotten flavour or a traditional technique and reinvent it with a modern hand. It is a smart brief, because it rewards craft and restraint over gimmicks, the same things that separate a good bar from a great one.
The UAE has a real history here
The UAE leg has produced strong champions. In 2014, Kathlene Magday of Mint Leaf took the national title in Dubai before representing the country at the global final. In 2021, Leslie Kuzmenko of TORO+KO won the UAE final, coming through a field drawn from more than a hundred entrants. More recently, names like Il Borro's Emirhan Avanoglu have reached the UAE finals, a sign of how deep the talent pool here has become.
Why it matters beyond the bar
Competitions like this lift the whole scene. They push young bartenders to think harder about flavour and technique, and the ideas that win tend to filter onto menus across the city within months. For anyone serious about drinks in Dubai, the Monin Cup is worth watching.
We are the people who keep those syrups on the shelf. Addtocart.ae carries the full Monin range and the rest of the brands behind the region's best bars, for home enthusiasts and, at trade pricing, for venues through fnb.addtocart.ae. Whatever you are building, start with the syrups the professionals trust.