Mount Gay regional cocktail showdown

BARBADIAN Dwayne Williams will represent the island at the Mount Gay Regional Cocktail Competition on National Rum Day tomorrow in Barbados at the Halo Ultra Lounge at 6 p.m.

He will be going up against nine other bartenders and mixologists from across the Caribbean who all won the local leg of the competition in their respective countries.

They are Ed Richard – St. Lucia, Derrick Blackmon – Bahamas, Ronel Charles – Turks and Caicos Islands, Elise Agoha – St. Marteen, Everson Rawlins – British Virgin Islands, Justin Ballantyne – Trinidad, Arthur Gilbert – St. Barts, Kanto George – Antigua and Angelo Solimando – Cayman Islands.

Mount Gay Market Manager Anies Jordan explained. “This competition attracted over 90 industry professionals from 10 countries across the region and on Tuesday we will be hosting the mixology event of the year as it will feature the top mixologists from each island.

“All 10 of them will be bringing their A game as they showcase their skills in the bid for bragging rights as the creator of the Best Cocktail in the Caribbean utilising our Mount Gay XO or Black Barrel rum.

“The lucky winner will also walk away with an all-expenses paid trip to the London Rum Festival in October where they will have the amazing opportunity to participate in a number of activities including exhibitions, private tastings and master classes at this signature event.”

Jordan noted that the competitors will be judged by a panel of industry experts including, Miguel Smith, Mount Gay Client Experience Manager – Brand; Trudiann Branker, Mount Gay Master Blender and Keiani Thomas, Remy Cointreau Business Development Manager- Bahamas, Turks & Caicos and Jamaica on criteria including overall presentation, knowledge of the Mount Gay brand, recipe originality, cocktail taste, technique and execution.

“To celebrate the winner and the other finalists we will end the evening with an after party featuring Marzville, DJs Indian and Chris Gayle and Ras. So we want to encourage Barbadians to come out and witness and support the impressive talent that exists in the industry,” Jordan noted. (PR)