Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge 2013

** Updated 3 March 2014 – Mike Tomasic of Australia has won the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge competition in Trinidad.**

The beach came to a secret Sydney location for the finals of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge for 2013.

Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge

A busload of industry professionals were transported to Soundworks Studios in Marrickville for a make-shift beach party complete with sand, beach chairs and palm trees.

L-R Top: Evan Stanley, Dave Meadows, Luke Redington, then Sean Chow, David Nguyen-Luu, Mike Tomasic

Six of the top bartenders in the country competed for the title over two consecutive days with Luke Redington of Hello Sailor (NSW), Mike Tomasic of The Wild Rover (NSW), Evan Stanley of Black Pearl (VIC), Sean Chow of The Gresham (QLD), Dave Meadows of Eden bar and Dining (SA) and David Nguyen-Luu of Rockpool Bar and Grill (WA).

L-R: Judges Mikey Enright, Chris Cranswick-Smith, Auriane Bourdin, Myffy Rigby

MC’d by Jason Crawley, each contestant prepared a cocktail in the rum category as well as a freestyle drink. Judging the competition were Mikey Enright (The Barber Shop), Chris Cranswick-Smith (Emmilou, Bar Lou Lou, Hollywood and Vine), Auriane Bourdin (island2island) and Myffy Rigby (Time Out).

Mike Tomasic with John Georges (left)

Mike Tomasic of The Wild Rover in NSW took out the title, winning a trip to Trinidad to compete in the Global Finals Cocktail Challenge, $10,000 USD in cash and $5,000 worth of spirits for his venue. Angostura Master Distiller, John Georges presented the prize.

The Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge 2013 bartender competition was held on Tuesday 22 October, 2013.

We’ll have photos of the event later, in the meantime, Like the Gourmantic page to stay up to date.

Photography © by Kevin Burke for Gourmantic – Copyright: All rights reserved.