12 barkeeps in regional final

Dwayne Williams is to represent Barbados against 11 regional bartenders in the second International Crafted Cocktail Competition hosted by Remy Cointreau Barbados, to be held at Haymans Market on Sunday.

He will be up against Jamal Hodge (Anguilla), Ashley Henry (Antigua and Barbuda), Gilbert Gomez (Aruba), Derck Blackmon (Bahamas), Siddharth Hedge (British Virgin Islands), Renee Barbosa (Cayman Islands), Vincent Rocal (St Barts), Darko Radisavljevic (St Marteen), Alleem Hosein (Trinidad and Tobago), Quinrico Thomas (Turks and Caicos Islands) and Zoe Newbald (US Virgin Islands).

The competition moved from national challenges to the regional finale, all using the products of Mount Gay parent Remy Cointreau to craft the cocktails.

Mount Gay Marketing Manager Anies Jordan said: “This year we added the challenge of recreating either an Old Fashioned or Martini cocktail with a twist, utilising Mount Gay rums or three brands under our parent company Remy Cointreau’s portfolio – The Botanist, Bruichladdich and Cointreau.

“We had an overwhelming response with more than 100 bartenders across the 12 territories vying for their chance to represent at Sunday’s finals here in Barbados. For this leg of the competition, the contestants will have to create a cocktail using a fresh local ingredient, which they will choose for themselves on Saturday from the Cheapside Market in Bridgetown.”

The competitors are to be judged on brand knowledge, recipe originality, cocktail taste and after-taste, technique and execution and overall presentation. The judges are industry experts Phillip Casanova Antoine, an internationally renowned mixologist, Jean Louis Brocardi, food and beverage head at Wyndham Hotel and Delano Small, general manager at The Cliff & QP Bistro restaurants.

Up for grabs is a title and an all-expenses-paid trip to Tales of the Cocktail, the leading cocktail conference for drink industry professionals, to be held in New Orleans in July.

“Tales is the perfect platform for career advancement for attendees and will give our winner the fantastic opportunity to meet and exchange new ideas, products and techniques with other industry professionals from across the globe,” Jordan said. “They will do this while participating in educational, tasting and networking activities which will definitely enhance their skills and update their knowledge of the industry.”

Opening to free admission at six p.m. Sunday’s finale will climax with an after-party featuring live performances from Lead Pipe & Saddis and Remy Martin ambassadors DJ Ras, DJ Indian and Chris Gayle, and the Legacy Team, Niqo Vybz and Gunner.