From Coamo to the spotlight—Carlos Borges turned BarMuseo into a must-visit cocktail destination and shook his way to victory in Discover Puerto Rico’s newest original series. Boricua Twist: Cocktail Challenge, developed exclusively for YouTube, showcased the Island’s creativity and craftsmanship through a fast-paced, reality-style competition.
Boricua Twist: Cocktail Challenge, a Show of Originality with Three Puerto Rican Mixologists
Premiering August 12, 2025, just ahead of National Rum Day, the series brought together three of Puerto Rico’s top mixologists to craft original cocktails using rum and seasonal fruits. With ingredients dramatically unveiled in a handcrafted artisan box, the challenge blended culture, flavor, and entertainment—reaching new digital audiences while celebrating Puerto Rico’s signature spirit.
The participants in this first edition were: Nicole “Nicky” Fas from Pantera in Caguas; Giovanni Budet from Antiguo 26 in San Juan; and Carlos Borges from BarMuseo in Coamo.
Each bartender had three minutes to design and present their cocktail on camera. Episodes were released on Discover Puerto Rico’s YouTube channel on August 12, 14, and 16.
In addition, a dedicated landing page was created on the organization’s website, featuring the videos, exclusive interviews, and detailed recipes.
“Cocktail culture and nightlife are an essential part of Puerto Rico’s tourism offering, and this project not only showcases our rums and local fruits but also the energy and creativity of our bartenders. We want visitors to experience, from wherever they are, the authentic flavor of Puerto Rico,” said Janid Ortiz, Director of Industry Affairs at Discover Puerto Rico.
This is the first in a series of thematic content initiatives for YouTube, which will also explore competitions in fashion and art, further expanding the destination’s storytelling through local talent and unique experiences.
“With Boricua Twist we are launching a sustained effort to grow our YouTube channel with exclusive, platform-specific content. We’re betting on new ways to tell Puerto Rico’s story, beyond our beaches and landscapes, while spotlighting our local partners as the true faces of the destination,” explained Miguel Bahri, Social Media Coordinator at Discover Puerto Rico.
In addition to the international reach YouTube provides, this type of initiative offers free, high-impact exposure to participating establishments, connecting them directly with potential visitors.
“This project represents the natural evolution of Discover Puerto Rico after years of digital marketing innovation. We have been at the forefront of original content creation, from pioneering virtual experiences during the pandemic to now setting the pace with strategies that differentiate Puerto Rico from other destinations,” added Ortiz.
The Boricua Twist: Cocktail Challenge series is available in English with integrated subtitles and aimed primarily at visitor audiences. Filmed in the participants’ own bars, it offers an authentic look into Puerto Rico’s local experiences.