The United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) is proud to announce that Lauren Pellecchia of Merchants Club in Newport, Kentucky, has been named the U.S. National Winner of the 2025 Torres Brandy Zero Challenge. This prestigious competition recognizes innovative sustainable projects within the hospitality industry.
The national competition took place in February in San Diego, where finalists showcased their sustainability-driven projects in front of an esteemed panel of judges.
Pellecchia’s project, “Why Trash When You Can Smash?”, addresses the challenge of glass waste by utilizing a glass crusher to repurpose bottles into sand. Collaborating with local farms, gardening groups, and artists, the crushed glass is used for drainage solutions, mixed media art, and other creative applications. This initiative not only reduces landfill waste but also fosters community engagement and environmental sustainability.
As the U.S. National Winner, Pellecchia will advance to the Global Final in Barcelona, Spain, at the end of March, representing the United States in this international competition.
About Torres Brandy
The Torres winery was founded in 1870, but it was not until 1928 that Juan Torres Casals first began to distill and age brandy at the family winery. The distillery is family owned and run to this day by the 5th generation of the Torres family. All Torres brandies and liqueurs are handcrafted by Master Distillers in this same family winery in Penedès, Spain. They are unique in the world of brandy because of the grape varietals and distillation method used and they are also multi-award winning. For more information, visit https://us.torresbrandy.com/ or on social @torresbrandyofficialus
