Hailing from Argentina, Juan Sosa has been a celebrated Cantinero for 30 years—20 of which were spent as head bartender of the iconic Mango’s on Ocean Drive. His crowd-pleasing concoctions and excellent customer service have earned him a spot as a Finalist in Bacardi’s Legacy Cocktail Competition 2020, representing Miami, with his brainchild: The Opportunity.
“The Opportunity cocktail is an expression of Cuban culture and its influence on Miami. When I visited El Floridita on my last trip to Cuba, I was inspired by the 200-year-old drink, Daiquiri. I then came up with an idea for reflecting this hybrid atmosphere and added a
tropical twist, using pineapple and sage.”
Sosa also favors pineapple as a symbol of hospitality, with the goal of promoting excellent customer service every time his drink is served.
He chose to donate $1 of every drink sold to The Lighthouse Central Florida Foundation for the Blind and Visually Impaired. The cause is very dear to his heart since his son has overcome congenital visual impairment. “The Opportunity is a reminder to myself that there are endless opportunities for growth, transformation, and productivity if one has the will to recognize it,” says Sosa, when asked about how he came up with the name.
Juan will be competing among the world’s leading bartenders for the title of Bacardi Legacy Champion on January 26th in Puerto Rico.
You can support him by following @Theopportunity20 on Instagram. The competition is open to the public. For more information, visit
https://legacy.bacardi.com/us/en/
