Mahendra Ramkellawan clinches Guyana title at El Dorado rum heritage cocktail competition on 3rd attempt

Mahendra Ramkellawan, from LEHR Inc, has been named the winner of the 2026 Guyana leg of the El Dorado Rum Heritage Cocktail Competition, which took place on Friday at Demerara Rum Heritage Centre, Plantation Diamond.
Ramkellawan stood out among the finalists with his cocktail “Toma-soul” – a creative play on tomato, crafted with a vintage El Dorado Six Year Deluxe, clarified “invisible” tomato juice, and a touch of MSG to enhance its umami profile, inspired by the abundance of fresh tomatoes in the local market and nostalgic memories of his mother returning home on Sundays to prepare stew or tomato choka.

The runners-up were Omani Rodrigues from Yugo Japanese Restaurant with his cocktail “Mani Daiquiri” using El Dorado Three-Year-Old Rum and El Dorado 12-Year-Old Rum, who finished in second place, and Christopher Johnson from the Guyana Pegasus Hotel with his cocktail “Sorrel Sensation” using El Dorado Three-Year-Old Rum, who placed third.
The other finalists were Joseph Tenpow (Froggy’s Grill), Komal Harcharan (Cara Lodge), Jose Diaz (Realm Sky Bar and Steakhouse), Kenrick Williams (Four Points by Sheraton), Joanna Seaward (Guyana Marriott Hotel), Francis Albert (Amici Restaurant and Bar), Shawn Munroe (Palm Court) and Johnny Bryan (Original Sheriff Bar).
The Guyana leg of the competition was judged by Oren Coleman, internationally acclaimed UK mixologist; Santi Dady, El Dorado brand manager (USA); and Raveena Mangal, El Dorado brand manager (Guyana).
As the winner of the Guyana leg, Ramkellawan will advance to the Global Finals, where he will compete for the top prize of US$5000 and a collection of rare El Dorado Rums. The global competition, held in Guyana at the renowned Diamond Distillery, Guyana’s last remaining distillery, will see eight bartenders from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, Barbados, Netherlands, Norway, and Guyana compete for the title.
“As they say, the third time’s the charm. I gave it another try, put my best forward, and won. I reflected on where I fell short before, made the necessary adjustments, and came back stronger. I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate in this competition and am very proud to have won, and I look forward to learning even more from my fellow competitors in next week’s competition,” Ramkellawan related.
“The completion of the Guyana leg of the El Dorado Rum Heritage Cocktail Competition reflects our commitment to investing in local talent and supporting the creativity of our bartending community. Each year, we are inspired by the innovation and passion displayed, and we are proud to provide a platform that allows Guyanese mixologists to showcase their skills on a global stage. We congratulate this year’s winner and look forward to seeing Guyana represented at the global finals,” Marketing Director, DDL, Sharda Veeren-Chand stated.

In addition, Manager of Training & Licensing, Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), Chetnauth Persaud posited, “The Guyana Tourism Authority is proud to partner with Demerara Distillers Limited on this growing initiative, which continues to strengthen the tourism and hospitality sector by providing local bartenders with a platform to refine their craft, expand their knowledge, and showcase their creativity using Guyana’s finest rums.”
The Global Final offers participants a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Guyanese culture, lifestyle, and heritage before showcasing their final creations to a panel of esteemed judges. This competition will take place in Guyana, at the Diamond Distillery, home of El Dorado Rums, from April 13 to 17.
The Global Finals of the El Dorado Rum Heritage Cocktail Competition will be tasted and judged by Sharon Sue-Hang-Baksh, Master Blender at DDL; Daniele Dalla Pola, International Rum and Cocktail Specialist (USA); and Sasha Siegel, bar owner and celebrated bartender (Canada).