THE 2016 Chairman’s Reserve Cocktail Challenge Bartenders’ Competition was held at The Royal St Lucia Resort &Spa last Saturday.
This exciting cocktail Challenge is an annual “Drinks Mixology” competition organized by Barbay Limited and fully endorsed by the St. Lucia Hotel & Tourism Association. With a hiatus last year, the participants for this year’s competition were very excited.
It showcased the professionalism and creativity of St. Lucian career bartenders and also promoted the use of products made by St. Lucia Distillers. These products included several well-known local rum brands especially the Chairman’s Reserve range, creams and other rum-based liqueurs.
A total of 10 professional bartenders representing the top-end restaurants and leading hotels on the island included Adonigier Wilfred (Sandals Halcyon Beach Resort), Benjamin Joseph (The landings St Lucia Hotel), Dacia Martin (Cap Masion), DedaniJn Baptiste (AnseChastanet/Jade Mountain), GermainJouavel (St James Club), Germaine Sydney (Le Sport Hotel), JavinMoise (Delirius), Makeda John (Rendezvous Hotel), Nigel Willie (Royal by Rex), Rhette Cox (Keebees).
Each participant was required to prepare two different cocktails (signature cocktail and mystery basket). Each cocktail was judged separately on taste, overall presentation and on the ease of preparation. In the end the grand prize winner was Germaine Sydney (Le Sport Hotel). The second and third place winners were Dacia Martin (Cap Masion) and Makeda John (Rendezvous Hotel) respectively. The bartender who won people’s choice was Nigel Willie with his cocktail Twisted Nuts.
The judges for the competition were invitees from U.K. who were made up from mixologists and representatives from Chairman’s distributor emporia. They came with a wealth of experience, knowledge and love of the local product.