Mixologist Rex Yuasa of US Grant Hotel San Diego Wins Botanist x VINEPAIR Negroni Nation 2025

By Mallory Ambrose | April 21, 2026

Rex Yuasa, Chief Mixologist at the US Grant Hotel in San Diego, has been crowned the winner of the 2025 Negroni Nation competition, hosted by The Botanist Gin and VINEPAIR. Yuasa’s winning cocktail, EXOTICA, captured the San Diego market with its innovative, terroir-inspired twist on the classic Negroni.

The annual Negroni Nation competition challenges bartenders nationwide to reinterpret the iconic Negroni with local flavors. Through an interactive map, consumers can browse unique riffs in cities across the U.S. and vote for their favorite creations. Winning bartenders earn the opportunity to travel to Islay, Scotland, the home of The Botanist, to further explore the craft of gin-making.

 

EXOTICA reflects the vibrant cultural landscape of Southern California. “I wanted to honor the Southeast Asian communities in San Diego,” Yuasa explains. “Thai basil was infused into the sweet vermouth, while tropical fruits like oranges and banana inspired the infusion of banana peel, cacao nibs, and a hint of cloves into the Italian bitter liqueur.”

Yuasa also shared how his philosophy aligns with The Botanist’s ethos: “Adam Hannett, head distiller at The Botanist, said, ‘The Botanist is a representation of the place we are from. It is a way of communicating our place in the world and our love for it.’ That resonates with me. At the US Grant, we craft cocktails that tell the story of our region, and we want our guests to leave with a piece of that place and its history.”

EXOTICA

Crafted with The Botanist Islay Dry Gin, banana peel, cocoa nib, & clove-infused bitter red aperitivo, Thai basil-infused sweet vermouth, garnished with an orange wedge with crystalized bitter red aperitivo

EXOTICA, Cocktail Developed by Rex Yuasa

Yuasa’s victory in the 2025 Negroni Nation highlights both his technical skill and his ability to create cocktails that celebrate culture, community, and local flavors, raising the bar for bartenders nationwide.