Eight bartenders from five regional finals held in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester and Nottingham, will go on to face each other in the national final on February 9 in London. The winner and winning cocktail will represent the UK in the global final.
The finalists of the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition are:
- Christian Tirel, Barmageddon with his cocktail - The Merchant
- Samantha Fish, Mojo,Leeds– Cuban Reviver
- Dan Bovey, Sahara,Reading– El Momento Perfecto
- Gordon Purnell, Voodoo Rooms, Edinburgh – Silver Ghost
- Tom Aske, Fluid Movement – The Bacardi Cocktail - Cured
- Pete Jeary, Hawksmoor – Margaux
- Chris Moore, TheSavoy– Encantador
- Jamie Jones, Pin Up Lanes – La Corona de Cuba
The judges also awarded one regional competitor who demonstrated exceptional talent a wild card entry to the UK finals. Jamie Jones of Manchester’s Pin Up Lanes impressed the judges with his account of Bacardi’s history and its contribution to cocktail culture. His recipe, La Corona de Cuba, alongside presence and confidence when presenting got him into the final.
In February, the regional winners will face a panel of judges including past winner Ago Perrone and mixology legends Audrey Saunders, Dale DeGroff and Peter Dorelli. The three most promising bartenders from the national final will then be given a budget and six months to market their Bacardi cocktail in a three-way race to become the UK’s entry to the global final taking place in February 2013.
The winning cocktail will then compete against rival Bacardi concoctions from around the world, in a chance to become part of the legacy of Bacardi original cocktails.
Next year’s competition coincides with the brand’s 150th anniversary celebrations.
For more on bars, see Drinks International's 'The World's 50 Best Bars' and forthcoming in the January issue will be the 'The Best Bar Brands' as voted by some of the world's best bartenders.
