Rohan Massie of Rude Boy, Hobart has won the Oceania final of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge. Rohan was up against five other bartenders from Australia and New Zealand on Monday night at Smoke Bar at Barangaroo in Sydney.
Rohan has been venue manager of rum bar, Rude Boy in Hobart for the last three years and is no stranger to the comp circuit. He now adds Oceania winner of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge to that list.
A fan of Angostura’s products, he says, “I can’t believe it. The competition was so tough, I was certain one of the others would get it. Full respect to everyone else but man, it feels great to win! It’s a tough comp this one; you only get seven minutes to make two cocktails and because it’s all about the quality of your drinks and your chat, there’s nowhere to hide. I’m truly humbled.”
The judges faced a difficult decision. According to Head Judge, Dan Gregory, who is the previous winner and Australian Angostura Brand Ambassador, “Any of tonight’s competitors would have done us proud at the global finalists in Trinidad. I’m looking forward to see how Rohan goes. His drinks were first class and his presentation was flawless. I think he could stand a good chance of taking out the global title.”
About his run as the Australian brand ambassador, Dan adds, “Being the Angostura brand ambassador has been a once in a lifetime experience and I wish Rohan all the best for the next year. Strap in, it’s a wild ride!”
Rohan pockets AU$10,000 as well as a year’s contract as the Oceania Angostura Brand Ambassador and will move on to the global final of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge 2020, held in Trinidad & Tobago. Here he could win the ultimate prize of the title of “Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge Champion”, US$10,000 and a two-year contract as Angostura’s Global Brand Ambassador, representing Angostura’s iconic bitters, award winning rum and amaro portfolio.
Second place went to Andrea Marseglia from Madame George in Auckland with Taylor Matthews from Beneath Driver Lane in Melbourne taking out third. The other three finalists competing were Campbell Nichol, also from Rude Boy, Hobart; Storm Evans from Cobbler in Brisbane and Jordan Davies from Los Banditos in Wellington.
The judging panel for the Oceania final included 2017 Australian winner, Dan Gregory; Australia’s Rum Expert and Director of Rum Club Australia, Tom Bulmer; and 2010 Australian/2011 Global winner, Andy Griffiths, who flew in from Singapore for the night.
Rohan made two knock-out cocktails that blew the judges away; one using Angostura’s award-winning rum portfolio and the other using Amaro di Angostura, with both cocktails featuring Angostura’s iconic bitters range.
Rohan’s rum cocktail “Doctor’s Orders” included:
50ml Angostura 5 Year Old Rum
10 basil leaves
20ml strawberry cordial
40ml mandarin juice
30ml coconut milk
5ml fresh lime juice
2 dashes Angostura orange bitters
Whilst his Amaro cocktail “Hidden Perfection” featured:
30ml Amaro di Angostura
60ml sparkling banana wine
20ml beetroot soda
2 dashes parsley tincture
2 dashes Angostura orange bitters
For more information about the competition, visit www.AngosturaGlobalCocktailChallenge.com.