Altos Tahona Society held the fourth edition of its biannual competition calling on the Bar Industry Entrepreneurs from around the world to submit their sustainable business ideas for a $50,000 Grand Prize investment in their vision. In September, 11 Global Finalists traveled to Guadalajara, Mexico from across the globe for coaching and mentorship sessions to fine-tune their business pitches before presenting their project to a live panel of industry Tahona Society experts. With a passionate, forward-thinking and inspiring field of competitors, Bartender, Pastry Chef, and Entrepeneur Christina Mercado of Rhode Island, USA, won the $50,000 grand prize with C-Sweet Syrups.

C-Sweet Syrups, are groundbreaking sugar alternative syrups designed to transform the way bartenders and consumers alike craft and enjoy cocktails. C-Sweet dramatically reduces calorie content and glycaemic impact of syrups used in bar essentials, barista blends and other speciality beverages. For example, with C-Sweet’s simple sugar syrup, a Classic Margarita with Altos Plata drops from 14.4g of sugar to just 1.5g, and from 256kcals to just 151kcals – without compromising taste. With consumers demanding cleaner labels, healthier choices, and more responsible production, C-Sweet is a perfectly timed launch which meets the needs of a new generation seeking both human and environmental sustainability. Christina works exclusively with carbon neutral and carbon positive producers, aligning with Altos’ sustainability values, while also delivering strong value thanks to its competitive price point (outperforming its closest competitor in simple syrups on value).

“C-Sweet is about reimagining sweetness in beverages in a way that respects both people and the planet. It’s about taking the next step towards a healthier future by reducing daily consumption of sugar –  especially hidden sugars,” says Christina Mercado. “Winning the Altos Tahona Society Competition gives me the opportunity to scale this vision. I want to bring healthier, more sustainable choices to bars, coffee shops, retailers and homes worldwide.”

Christina’s win follows several months of dedicated coaching from Valerie Kramis – a leading social entrepreneurship expert and founder of Agenda28 – which culminated in four days of in-person intensive workshops, mentorship and pitch presentations. The result was decided by a panel of leading industry experts including House of Tequila Managing Director Tim Croizat, Altos Co-Founder and Global Ambassador Dré Masso, Lush Life Founder Lindsey Johnson and Founders Coach and Angel Investor Lara Zimmerman.

Recognizing the exceptionally high standard of entries, additional prizes were awarded. Christina Botero of Colombia was chosen as The Crowd Favourite, receiving a $5,000 USD fund plus coaching to help bring Shaking Lives – a project designed to empower young people from vulnerable communities through hospitality training – to life. Meanwhile, Audrey Hands and Lucia Gonzalez of Mexico were awarded The Coaching Prize for Brindemos Bienestar, a technology-driven digital initiative promoting wellbeing in hospitality. In addition, all participating finalists have been selected to join the Tahona Launch Pad, a new program designed to help high-potential projects successfully launch and create real-world impact.

Being Altos Tequila, Tahona Society would not be complete without gathering some of the very best and most influential bar industry talents from around the world to be part of the experience. The Finalists and and attendees were treated to guest bartending shifts and networking opportunities with previous 50 Best Bartenders' Bartender award-winners Iain McPherson (Panda & Sons), Kate Boushel (Barroco Group) and Christine Wiseman, as well as Lorenzo Cyril (Katana Kitten), Mapo Molano (Café de Nadie), Megs Miller (Salon de Agave) and Tara Fougner (Thirsty Media) 

Reflecting the Tahona Society’s commitment to sustainability, this year's competition also achieved an incredible milestone by neutralizing 100% of the measured emissions from the week's festivities. This was made possible through a combination of direct actions, such as green purchases, efficient energy use, and shared transportation, along with certified offset projects. They also implemented a comprehensive recycling practice to ensure 100% separation at source and recycling of all glass waste.

‍Carlos Andrés 'Cha' Ramírez, Global Advocacy & PR Director at Pernod Ricard’s House of Tequila, shares, “Through the Altos Tahona Society Competition we’re inspired by bartenders pushing boundaries to create lasting impact in our industry and beyond. The standard of projects this year has been truly exceptional, and C-Sweet stood out as a perfect example of innovation with purpose – combining health, sustainability and accessibility. We’re excited to support Christina on the journey of scaling this vision and look forward to seeing C-Sweet make a real difference in the drinks industry both on- and off-premise.”

Follow Christina’s journey with C-Sweet over on @CSweetSyrups on Instagram and
https://csweetsyrups.com.
Get more information and join Altos Tahona Society on @TahonaSociety and https://tahonasociety.com.

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