1st PCG has been successfully held by P.A.N.D.A and Lucas Bols Cocktail Academy

1st Edition P.A.N.D.A Cocktail Game - Gentle Touch of the Oriental Taste and Tradition with Baijiu

On February 18, 2025, the first PANDA Baijiu Cocktail Competition in the Netherlands was successfully held at the Bols Cocktail Academy in Museumplein, Amsterdam. A total of 14 outstanding bartenders from historic and cultural cities across the Netherlands participated in this competition. Ultimately, Luca Acquaviva from Italy won the championship and will embark on a Baijiu cultural journey to China in April 2025.

Background

Baijiu is a historic and traditional spirit deeply rooted in Chinese culture. In terms of production and consumption, it is the most consumed spirit in the world. However, Chinese Baijiu remains relatively unknown outside of China. According to 2020 data from the General Administration of Customs of China, only 0.24% of Baijiu production was exported internationally.

The reasons behind this limited global presence are complex, but Baijiu is not the only national and traditional spirit facing this challenge. Many other high-quality, culturally significant traditional spirits remain underrepresented on the global stage. Addressing this issue is essential—not just for the promotion and sales of these spirits but also for the preservation of distillers’ passion and dreams and as a key starting point for cultural exchange between regions.

P.A.N.D.A. aims to change this. As a young organization, it seeks recognition and support to expand its mission. Acknowledging its current limited resources, P.A.N.D.A. strategically selected Baijiu as the central theme of its first cocktail competition, using the event as a platform to create exciting and innovative Baijiu cocktail recipes. With the trust and support of talented bartenders, these recipes will be shared with Chinese cocktail enthusiasts, fostering the development of China’s cocktail culture.

At the same time, P.A.N.D.A. seeks to connect with bartenders in Europe who are interested in Baijiu and wish to collaborate in blending cultures through cocktails. By encouraging grassroots cultural exchanges, P.A.N.D.A. hopes to contribute—however small—to world peace through the universal language of spirits and cocktails.

Participants

The event was organized by P.A.N.D.A., founded by Hans Ngo Wurfbain, a renowned international promoter of Baijiu. P.A.N.D.A. (Premium Alcohol Network & Distilleries Alliance) was established to support the promotion and sales of National and Traditional spirits worldwide.

• Total Registrations: 15

• Actual Participants: 14 (including 3 female bartenders)

• Participants, Bars and Cities:

⚠️the table shows participants in the alphabetic order of the 1st letter of given name.

Nationalities Represented:

• 🇳🇱 Netherlands

• 🇮🇹 Italy

• 🇺🇦 Ukraine

• 🇲🇫 Sint Maarten (Dutch Caribbean)

• 🇬🇷 Greece

• 🇸🇾 Syria

Collaborating Partners

• Lucas Bols, founded in 1575 in Amsterdam, is one of the oldest spirits brands in the world, specializing in genever, liqueurs, and cocktail craftsmanship. With over 40 premium liqueurs and a deep-rooted influence in mixology, it continues to shape the industry through innovation and the Bols Bartending Academy.

• Nederlandse Bartenders Club (NBC), founded in 1949, is the professional association for bartenders in the Netherlands and a founding member of the International Bartenders Association (IBA). Dedicated to enhancing bartending skills and fostering industry networking, NBC organizes national and international competitions, masterclasses, and workshops, collaborating with beverage brands and hospitality professionals.

With over 75 years of history, NBC remains a pillar of the Dutch bartending community. The current NBC president, vice president, and board members provided technical guidance for the PANDA Cocktail Competition. Given Hans’ previous experience in non-governmental organizations, P.A.N.D.A. voluntarily accepted NBC’s oversight to ensure the fairness and integrity of the competition.

The event’s competition rules were adapted from NBC’s National Cocktail Competition held in September 2024, with minor adjustments based on discussions and feedback.

Sponsoring Brands

Shuntun Baijiu: Bridging Tradition and Innovation

Shuntun Baijiu (顺屯白酒) is a 3-year-aged premium Baijiu from Mianzhu, a renowned 浓香 (Strong Aroma) Baijiu-producing region in China. Crafted using traditional techniques by Hans Ngo Wurfbain, the 22nd-generation inheritor of Luzhou-style Baijiu, each bottle captures the essence of centuries-old craftsmanship. Despite its young brand history, Shuntun Baijiu has gained recognition in the Netherlands, featured in award-winning cocktails at Nederlandse Bartenders Club (NBC) competitions. With its smooth yet complex profile, it pairs well with modern ingredients like ice-cold grape juice, making it a versatile choice for both traditional sipping and contemporary mixology. Shuntun Baijiu connects Eastern heritage with Western spirits culture, offering a unique Chinese flavor to liquor enthusiasts worldwide.

Wynand Fockink, founded in 1679 in Amsterdam, is one of the Netherlands’ oldest distilleries, renowned for its traditional genever, artisanal liqueurs, and bitters. Using age-old recipes and classic distillation methods, it offers over 70 unique liqueurs and the iconic “Kopstoot” genever ritual. Nestled in Pijlsteeg Alley, its historic proeflokaal (tasting room) provides an authentic Dutch spirits experience, preserving centuries of craftsmanship for enthusiasts worldwide.

Fever-Tree

Fever-Tree is a premium mixer brand founded in 2004 in the UK, known for its natural ingredients and commitment to quality. With the motto “If ¾ of your drink is the mixer, mix with the best,” it offers a range of tonic waters, ginger ales, and other carbonated mixers, enhancing the flavors of premium spirits. Loved by bartenders and connoisseurs, Fever-Tree elevates every drinking experience with purity and balance.

Foamee is a modern, plant-based foaming agent designed for cocktails, mocktails, and culinary applications. Created by Alexandr Afrikanov, it provides a long-lasting, creamy foam with just a few drops, eliminating the need for egg whites. Vegan-friendly, safe, and shelf-stable, Foamee enhances both texture and presentation, making it a favorite among bartenders and mixologists worldwide.

Judging Panel

• Peter R. Lageveen – Board Member of the Dutch Cocktail Association, with over 20 years of bartending experience and extensive expertise in cocktail competition judging.

• Ivar de Lange – Director of Lucas Bols Cocktail Academy, a seasoned professional with 20 years of industry experience and a track record of mentoring top bartenders.

• Thijs van der Toom – Co-founder of Next Port Holland (NPH), committed to fostering cultural exchange and trade between East and West.

• Julie Zhao – Director of the Confucius Institute Maastricht, specializing in cross-cultural communication and educational exchange between China and Europe.

Competition Winner

• Champion: Luca Acquaviva (Italy)

• Current Role: Head bartender & owner of Rosalia’s Menagerie (Speakeasy bar in Amsterdam).

• Prize: A cultural exchange journey to China (Beijing, Xi’an, Chengdu) for bar takeovers and baijiu distillation training, with the opportunity to become the first overseas inheritor of baijiu craftsmanship through a traditional apprenticeship process.

Post Event Tasks

1. Reflection of the Event: The organiser now collecting feedback from all kinds of participants to form an action list to make the event better. This is 67% done by the last day of February.
2. All Cocktail Recipes will be published together with Shuntun Baijiu Cocktails created earlier by bartenders in the Netherlands. The 1st Edition P.A.N.D.A Cocktail Guide will provide about 120 recipes, 60 from the Netherlands, 60 from China.