This April and May, 14 bartenders from all around the Cayman Islands threw themselves back into the competitive arena and took part in the prestigious World Class bartender competition.
The rounds focussed on the Diageo portfolio of high-end spirits and showcased different global and local trends.
A press release stated that this year’s competition was one of the most exciting yet, “with almost equal numbers of men to women taking part. Traditionally, mixology-style bartending has been dominated by men so it’s encouraging to see so many talented and confident women stepping forward.”
On 24 May, the final was held in the lobby of Bevvy, in what used to be the Margaritaville Resort. The top 10 bartenders were cut down to the top five, who then had to participate in an epic speed round, while thrilling guests and judges alike, finishing with perfectly balanced cocktails. These competitors had to present six classic cocktails with their own twists in six minutes.
The cheering audience featured a ‘who’s who’ of the hospitality industry and the judges panel was comprised of 2013 World Class Cayman winner Simon Crompton, owner of Door Number 4; 2021 World Class Cayman Winner Yuleidy Sanchez of Backroom; executive chef of Blue Restaurant Thomas Seifried; and Diageo Reserve Ambassador Amba Lamb, who was also the 2017 World Class Cayman winner.
Mike Keane from Agua drew first spot and started off the competition in style. Angelo Solimando from Silver Palm at The Ritz-Carlton was up next with a gorgeous array of vintage glassware, a library theme and six beautifully presented cocktails.
Then, there was Luke Ridge from Next Door with an energetic performance and speedy hands; Renee Barbosa from Lloyd’s Smokehouse, who had spectacular performances, finishing all six cocktails with flair and finesse; and Christina Barlow of The Bird, who had a huge crowd following and a ‘Back to the Future’ pop-up bar theme.
The competitors were not only judged on getting the drinks out in the six minutes, but also on whether each drink was perfectly balanced, their own creative spins on the drinks, and their stage presence and interaction with the judges and crowd.
At the end of the evening, when the last shaker had been shook and the last cocktail sipped, the top three were announced.
Third place was Luke Ridge; second place went to Angelo Solimando; and the winner was… Christina Barlow from The Bird!
Barlow will go on to represent Cayman in the global final in Sydney, Australia this September.
For more information on the World Class Bartending Competition, visit the website here.
Related Videos
