Citadelle Gin launches Citadelle Guardians, its first cocktail competition!
Win the title of Citadelle Guardian 2026 and a trip to Barbados to discover the Stade’s Rum Distillery, the birthplace of Citadelle Bajan.
To celebrate its 30th anniversary, Citadelle Gin invites bartenders to create a cocktail inspired by both the French terroir and their own local terroir. Let yourselves be inspired by an iconic product, a culinary tradition, a craft gesture, or regional expertise, and imagine a cocktail where Citadelle Gin is the main ingredient.
Your creation must express a strong identity: we are looking for a proposal that fuses the richness of your own local terroir with the essence of the French terroir, creating a bridge between taste, history, and the contemporary vision of Citadelle’s craftsmanship.
Online registration is now open. Submit your application by June 30, 2026.
How to participate?
Create your cocktail
Imagine an original cocktail that highlights the richness of the French terroir through iconic ingredients, artisanal skills, or culinary traditions.
Since its creation, Citadelle Gin has been built around creativity, nature, and taste. We look forward to cocktails that tell a story, celebrate the uniqueness and knowledge of each terroir, and reveal the full character of Citadelle gins.
Post your creation
Post a photo of your cocktail, accompanied by a video where you introduce your team, on your Instagram accounts using the hashtag #CitadelleGuardians and tagging the profile @citadellegin and @chiara_maisonferrand.
For your photo or video, make sure your creation and its presentation are clearly visible. We need to see: the final appearance of the cocktail, the chosen glassware, the garnish, and the service ritual (if it is part of the experience). You may show the preparation steps, but they are not mandatory.
Register on the Citadelle Guardians platform
Once you have posted your videos on social media, it is mandatory to finalize your entry by registering on the Citadelle Guardians platform via the button below. On that platform, you can share more details about your creation: the full recipe, the step-by-step process, and the story or inspiration behind your concept. You can also insert the Instagram link of your post to illustrate your proposal.
This step is essential: if the registration on the platform is not completed, your entry cannot be considered for the competition. The deadline to register is June 30, 2026, at 23:59 (local time).
Validation of your entry
Once your application is submitted, it will be reviewed by the jury based on the following criteria:
Creativity
Presentation
Storytelling quality
Respect for the theme
Flavor consistency
Find the full details of these criteria in the FAQ below.
Key Dates
Registration: May 13, 2026 – June 30, 2026
Semi-finalist announcement: July 1, 2026 – July 14, 2026.
Final: September 27 – 29, 2026
The final will take place at the Citadelle Gin Distillery, at Château de Bonbonnet in Ars, France.
Q&A
- For the 6 selected finalists teams: invitation to the Citadelle distillery at Château de Bonbonnet (Cognac) to participate in the Grand Final. They will enjoy a three-day trip and immersion into the heart of the Citadelle Gin universe.
- For the winning team: A trip to Barbados (€3,000 value) to discover Stade’s Rum Distillery, the birthplace of Citadelle Bajan.
- Fill out the registration form: Provide your personal info, bar details, and cocktail recipe/story.
- Post on social media: Tag @citadellegin and @chiara_maisonferrand and use #CitadelleGuardians.Selected participants will be contacted between July 1 and July 14, 2026.
You can use :
- Citadelle Original
- Citadelle Jardin d’Été
- Citadelle Rouge
- Citadelle Vive le Cornichon
If any other spirits from the Rum, Cognac, or Triple Sec categories are used, Maison Ferrand expressions must be prioritized.
Participants must:
- Live and work in Spain or Portugal.
- Be of legal drinking age (18+).
- Be a professional in the bar or mixology industry.
- Be fluent in English
- Be available for the final in Cognac (Sept 27–29, 2026).
- Have a public social media profile.
- Creativity: Originality and personal interpretation.
- Storytelling: Clarity and relevance of the concept.
- Theme: Connection to French terroir and Citadelle’s DNA.
- Flavor: Balance and enhancement of the gin.
- Team Spirit: A seamless connection and two different stories blending into a perfect harmony.
The jury includes: Fannie Thibaud (Deputy Master Blender at Maison Ferrand), François Monti (Journalist & Chairman for World’s 50 Best Bars) and Santiago Ortiz Jacome (Co-owner of Bad Company 1920 and Don Mozzarello in Madrid).
Each cocktail is evaluated based on several criteria: creativity, presentation, storytelling quality, respect for the theme, and flavor consistency, as well as its ability to embody the DNA of Citadelle Gin.
