Alīna Leitāne crowned the winner of MONIN Cup Latvia 2026 to represent Latvia at the semi-finals in London

The new winner of the Riga Food 2026 cocktail competition MONIN Cup Latvia 2026 is Alīna Leitāne from Digital Art House with her cocktail Grandpa’s Night Remedy. As a winner, Alīna will now represent Latvia at the MONIN Cup European semi-finals in London, a chance to win a spot in the international finals in Paris later this year.

MONIN Cup Latvia 2026 took place in Ķīpsala in scope of the Riga Food 2026 international food industry trade fair on 10 September. 16 junior bartenders from all over Latvia decided to take part in the competition in this year’s format open to young professionals aged 18-27.

Competition theme, Timeless Twists, encouraged a reflection on classic cocktails from a modern perspective, drawing inspiration from traditional recipes, tastes and techniques, while creating a modern twist. Each of 16 contestants presented jury with cocktail created by them, showing off their ability to match flavours, technical skills and creativity.

MONIN Cup Latvia 2026 won by Alīna Leitāne from Digital Art House and her cocktail Grandpa’s Night Remedy

Runner-up, Roberts Celmiņš from restaurant “Mēle/Tongue”, offered cocktail titled “Still Blooming”, while bronze winner Emīls Lemkens from OlyBet Sports Bar created Echo of 1862.

Latvian finals are not the end of the journey for Alīna Leitāne. She will now go to European semi-finals in London to represent Latvia and attempt to win a spot at the MONIN Cup international finals in Paris.

This is a big year for MONIN Cup in Latvia as a major milestone has been reached – competition celebrates its 20th anniversary in Latvia. Over the years, it has become a strong platform for young, talented bartenders who want to demonstrate their skills, gain experience and climb another step on their career ladder.

Monin Cup Latvia is a national competition organised by Gemoss and Monin together with Latvian Bartenders Federation.