IBA Tiki

Lore & Background

The IBA Tiki was invented by Cuban bartender Diosmel Mendoza Medrano in honor of the International Bartenders Association's 69th annual World Cocktail Championship, held in the Cuban resort town of Varadero in November 2022. This was the first championship after a hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Medrano created the cocktail at El Polinesio, a tiki bar at the Habana Libre hotel in Havana that was formerly operated by Trader Vic's.

The recipe was created at the request of the competition's organizers, in honor of the IBA's board. It specifically calls for Havana Club brand rums and Girolamo Luxardo brand maraschino, both of which were sponsors for the competition. The cocktail was added to the list of IBA official cocktails in March 2024, when it was included as the 101st cocktail in the organization's 101 IBA Cocktails book.

Reader's Guide

The IBA Tiki represents a modern addition to the canon of official IBA cocktails, marking the first new entry in the organization's list since the publication of its 101 Cocktails book. Its creation was tied to a specific event—the 69th World Cocktail Championship in Varadero, Cuba—and reflects the resurgence of international cocktail competitions after the COVID-19 pandemic. The cocktail's recipe, which includes a blend of rums, amaretto, Frangelico, maraschino, passion fruit purée, pineapple juice, lime juice, and muddled ginger, is notable for its use of specific sponsor brands: Havana Club rums and Girolamo Luxardo maraschino. By being recognized as an official IBA cocktail, the IBA Tiki gains a place in the global bartending community's standard repertoire, ensuring its continued presence in bars and competitions worldwide. Its inclusion also highlights the IBA's ongoing effort to update and expand its list of classic and contemporary cocktails.

Did You Know?

• It was created for the IBA's 69th annual World Cocktail Championship in Varadero, Cuba.
• It became the 101st cocktail in the IBA's official list in March 2024.