There is still time to register your interest to compete in the 2024 Bartender of the Year Competition sponsored by Monkey Shoulder & Hendrick’s Gin, by simply emailing amy@spantonmedia.com with your name, email address and phone number.
There is still time to register your interest to compete in the 2024 Bartender of the Year Competition sponsored by Monkey Shoulder & Hendrick’s Gin, by simply emailing amy@spantonmedia.com with your name, email address and phone number.Like last year, the whole event taking place over one EPIC day – Monday, 9 September. The timetable of the rounds is below but be prepared for a big day of activities if you make it to the pointy end of the comp!
There is also a huge prize on offer thanks to Monkey Shoulder Whisky & Hendrick’s Gin with a trip to Scotland in 2025 to visit the homes of these amazing products. You will also have the honour of being the Australian Bartender Magazine Bartender of the Year.
So make sure you get prepped. We have a big team behind the scenes working on the exams, judging and preparing to challenge you for a massive day. We will post all the mags from the last year as well as the exams from the last two years right here in coming weeks to help with the prep, so stay tunes.
THE BIG DAY
MONDAY, 9th SEPTEMBER
Round 1 — The Exam
Worth 30% of overall mark
Location: The Hook, 13-15 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross @thehooksydney
Time: 10am for 10.15am start
Round 1 involves a one-hour written exam based on general cocktail and spirit knowledge and a lot of stuff that has been in the mag.
The exam will commence at 10:15am. It is your responsibility to make sure that you are there on time.
You are required to bring a pen, and having a spare doesn’t hurt.
After the exam is finished, you are invited to hang out at The Hook, refreshments and drinks will be provided.
The Top 8 will be announced following the marking at The Hook. They will also be announced on our social media. All competitors need to stay for the announcement, as Round 2 commences straight afterwards.
Round 2 — The Top 8 Round
Worth 30% of overall mark
Location: The Hook, 13-15 Bayswater Road, Kings Cross @thehooksydney
Time: 1pm (approx.)
Part one of Round 2 is the blind-tasting round. You will be asked to identify a number of spirits, with marks given for the category, its style, its geographical origin, and the product’s name.
If you have any doubt about how to fill out each section for the spirit, always provide as much information about the spirit as you can.
There is a time limit of 20 minutes for the blind tasting.
Part two of Round 2 consists of the mystery box bartending challenge. You will need to make two drinks: one, a drink on the fly based on ingredients in the box; the other a classic cocktail specified by the judges on the spot.
Competing two at a time, you will have 1 minute to look at and taste the ingredients in the mystery box, followed by 2 minutes with which to make both drinks. The drinks are scored purely on taste and appearance. You are not marked on working clean. This is a speed, memory, and invention challenge.
The Top 3 will be announced at The Hook and online at approximately 4pm
Following the announcement, the Top 3 will be assigned times for the night with the finals kicking off at 7pm
THE FINAL
Rules & Guidelines for The Top 3 (Round 3)
Worth 40% of overall mark
Location: Rooftop, Jackson’s on George, 176 George Street, Sydney
Time: 7pm to 9pm
Each of the Top 3 will compete on stage at Jacksons on George
There will be a supply of William Grant & Sons products on the backbar. Please note that competitors are required to bring all other ingredients they wish to use for their drinks. If you prefer your own kit, please bring it.
Regular, standard, non-bespoke, non-Hoshizaki non-Kold-Draft ice will be available. It won’t be great. You are welcome to bring your own ice, but it very well may melt. There is no refrigeration nor freezers available. There will be a secure space to put all your gear.
We will have a team on hand to help out the Top 3 with any special requirements to help them get ready for the final presentation.
You must make two (2) drinks. One Hendrick’s Gin drink with a minimum of 30ml Hendrick’s Gin. One Monkey Shoulder drink with a minimum of 30ml Monkey Shoulder.
You have a total time of 5 minutes on stage in which to prepare the two drinks. Timing will be crucial. There will be no time extensions permitted. If a drink is unfinished at the end of the 5-minute period, it will be submitted to the judges as is. The judging panel is still being finalised but expect some big names so bring your game face!
The Top 3 round will be judged on the following criteria:
- Cocktail name
- Drink appearance
- Aroma
- Taste (flavour, balance, finish)
- Creativity & originality
- Bar presentation (chat, engagement, technique, etc)
The Bartender of the Year, 2nd place, and 3rd place will be decided based upon the cumulative points received from each round.
The Bartender of the Year will be announced on the night and again at the Bar Awards on Wednesday, 11 September.
THE PRIZE:
Visit Hendrick’s Gin & Monkey Shoulder in 2024
This year’s winner will be crowned Australian Bartender Magazine Bartender of the Year, and a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to head over to Scotland in early 2025 (tbc), hosted by one of the William Grant & Sons BAs.
If you have any further questions please get in touch, Amy Spanton on amy@spantonmedia.com
The Bartender of the Year Competition sponsored by Monkey Shoulder & Hendrick’s is part of the official Sydney Bar Week 2024 line-up.