Valentin Olivon wins the Virginia Cocktail Games in Paris
Valentin Olivon, a bartender at Mama Shelter Paris, won the inaugural Paris edition of the Virginia Cocktail Games with a cocktail made with Ironclad whiskey.
During Wine Paris 2026, Valentin Olivon, a bartender at Mama Shelter in Paris, won the inaugural Paris edition of the Virginia Cocktail Games, held February 9 by the Virginia Spirits Board at the Hôtel de Talleyrand.
His creation, the Crimson Sour, with notes of hibiscus, charred lemon, raspberry, and toasted coconut, featured whiskey from Ironclad Distillery (Newport News, Virginia) and secured the win over four other Paris bartenders: Lola Bichelberger of Dirty Lemon, Mattéo Daroso of L'Ours, William Deschamps of La Mezcaleria, and Eliot Naud of Shake'n Smash.
Photo: Osmany Tavares
As his prize, he’ll receive a complimentary trip to Virginia to explore more than 400 years of distilling history and meet the local community of distillers, farmers, and grain producers.
