Marie-Louise Roy-Bilodeau, a Montreal bartender and the reigning Canadian Ultimate Bartender Champion, has officially claimed the Ultimate Bartender Championship Americas title, beating out 26 of the top bartenders from North, South and Central America.
Hosted by Monkey Shoulder, the Ultimate Bartender Championship (UBC) is one of the world’s most rigorous tests of real-world bartending skills. Unlike traditional cocktail competitions, UBC challenges competitors across every facet of the job, from knowledge and speed to accuracy, hospitality and technical execution.
This year’s Americas Final was one of the most competitive to date, with an exceptionally strong field of contenders and a packed crowd who watched each bartender advance through six high-pressure skill stages, including: The Quiz, Pouring, Nosing, Table Service, The Perfect Serve and the highly demanding Round Building final.
Roy-Bilodeau excelled across the board, advancing to the semi-finals as the only woman remaining in the top four. In the final round, where competitors are tasked with producing five cocktails and a shot at top speed with flawless technique and balance, she delivered a performance that outpaced the region’s best. Her victory marks a major milestone for Canada on the international bartending stage.
“I wasn’t expecting to win,” said Roy-Bilodeau. “When I saw how many people I was competing against, I was very nervous, but everyone was so welcoming and made me feel included even though I was the only competitor who didn’t speak Spanish! I’m so grateful to Monkey Shoulder for making this competition possible.”
UBC’s signature, “Skills That Pay The Bills,” is a unique bartending competition format as it puts as much weight on service and technique as mixology itself, reflecting the real-world pace and pressure of a working bar. Whether precisely measuring pours to within one millilitre, identifying 10 spirits by aroma alone, or building round after round at speed, consistency is critical.
