Angostura Brings World’s Best Mixologists to Compete in T&T
On Carnival Sunday February 7, 2016, in Trinidad and Tobago, twelve of the world’s finest bartenders will compete for a grand prize of US$10,000 and the prestigious title of Angostura® Global Brand Ambassador in the 8th edition of the Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge!Each finalist has survived the fierce rivalry of the early rounds of the Challenge, in which 287 participants, drawn from 900 entrants, competed from 36 countries. Only the best of the best have made it to T&T and it was James Irvine from Baxter Inn who won the hotly contested Australian National Final, hosted by island2island, and will represent Australia!
“Heading into the Global Final I feel prepared, excited and accomplished to be able to say that I’m travelling to the Caribbean to represent Australia, doing what I love doing,” said Irvine. “And that feeling of accomplishment could only be topped by winning the AGCC Global Final. In doing so, it’ll mean back-to-back Australian champions and an overall fourth crowning. Quite the feat.
“I look forward to competing on the global scene and seeing what the other contestants bring to the table. I’m expecting the creativity, presentation and the all round experience to be the best in the business. It’s no secret that the AGCC is one of the biggest cocktail competitions in the world and to be a part of it truly is a feather in the cap. Not to mention, the closing party is Carnival!
“Here’s to a successful endeavor in the Caribbean. Let there be fun, sun and rum!” he said.
Now, in the final round from which only one true champion can emerge, the contestants must make two cocktails in just seven minutes: A “Freestyle Cocktail” which must feature ANGOSTURA® orange bitters combined with any type of alcohol, and a “Rum Cocktail” made with one or more of Angostura’s® International rums and ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters.
The overall winner will receive the Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge Trophy and the coveted title of “Angostura® 2016 Global Cocktail Challenge (AGCC) Champion,” which includes a two-year contract as the Angostura Global Brand Ambassador for ANGOSTURA® Bitters, Angostura® Rums and Amaro di Angostura®, taking over from Mike Tomasic who currently holds the global title. Individual trophies will also be awarded for the “Best Rum Cocktail” and the “Best Freestyle Cocktail.”
Judging the competition will be a world famous panel led by renowned drinks personality, author and leading mixologist, Jeff “Beach Bum” Berry, who was named one of the “25 Most Influential Cocktail Personalities of the Past Century” by Imbibe magazine. Other members of the panel include celebrated chef Kathy Kasey, who is listed as one of 25 “hot new American Chefs” by Food & Wine magazine; London-based world renowned career bartender, Esther Medina Cuesta; Australia’s Michael Tomasic, winner of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge 2014, and; Carol Homer, Senior Manager – Quality Assurance, at Angostura Limited. Cocktails will be judged on the taste of the drink, presentation, appearance and aroma.
The 12 finalists include Neal Ramdhan of Trinidad and Tobago, Cameron Attfield of New Zealand, James Irvine of Australia, Daniel Vestman Erikkson of Sweden, Manachain Monaghan of the UK, Seo Yong Won of South Korea, Matheus de Freitas Cunha of Brazil, Jonathan Strokowski Ross of Canada, Nikita Khlopyanov of Russia, Dino Jose Batista of South Africa, Paul Peterson of St. Maarten and Elizabeth Mickiewicz of the USA.
The competition will be held at The House of Angostura in Laventille.