Beefeater, the world’s most awarded gin, is today announcing the finalists who will battle it out to be crowned Beefeater MIXLDN 7 Global Bartender Champion at the 2018 final in February. Coming from across all four corners of the globe, the 31 talented bartenders have each raised the bar during this year’s national heats, setting the stage for the toughest and most gripping MIXLDN final to date.
The announcement follows the launch of Beefeater’s trends report, ‘Cocktails: The New Golden Era’, which looks into the current renaissance in cocktail culture, and the increasing importance of creativity in the bartending scene. Against this backdrop, the competition will be bigger and better than ever before, with finalists pulling out all the stops to win the once-in-a-lifetime prize – an opportunity to create their own gin with industry icon and Beefeater Master Distiller, Desmond Payne.
During the four-day final held in London, the home of Beefeater Gin, the judging panel will comprise some of the greatest minds in the industry, including Difford’s Guide editor Simon Difford, Ryan Chetiyawardana of Dandelyan, Doug McMaster of CUB, Alessandro Palazzi of Dukes and Desmond Payne himself. Tasked with creating a cocktail inspired by their home city’s urban diversity, the finalists must consider balance of flavours, appearance and originality. In a show stopping finale, they will be challenged with serving their masterpieces for an audience of cocktail aficionados and industry experts, with the winner announced live on 8th February.
Desmond Payne, Beefeater’s Master Distiller, comments: “This year’s competition has already been the toughest yet, with bartenders from all four corners of the globe creating unique and innovative cocktails. We are experiencing a renaissance in cocktail culture, with the profession of bartending seen in a new light. Through competitions like MIXLDN 7 we are helping to put local ‘mixologists’ on the global stage.
“As I celebrate my 50th year in the industry and see the popularity of gin continuing to soar, I can’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate than to showcase the diversity and potential of Beefeater through the eyes of some of the world’s most talented bartenders. It makes complete sense that Beefeater organises such a great event, being the world most awarded gin and distilled at the heart of London, a city renowned for creativity and innovation.”
Now in its 7th year, The MIXLDN 7 Global final will take place in London from 5-8th February 2018. For more information, visit: http://www.beefeatermixldn.com/
MIXLDN 7 finalists:
Canada – Jason Griffin, Bacchanal
Iceland – Jónmundur Borsteinsson, Apotek Restaurant
Croatia – Marino Karinja, Bokamorra
Finland – Clément Cariou, A21 Decades
Slovakia – Miroslav Telehanič, Sky Bar & Restaurant
Serbia & Montenegro – Stefan Ćirković, Balkon
Belgium – Julian Kappert, Mercado Antwerp
Bulgaria – Margarita Dimova, Sputnik
China – Ziyu Zhang, The Peninsula, Beijing
Denmark – Marianna Kozanyiova, Curfew Cocktail Bar
Estonia – Mikk Kelder, Butterfly Lounge
Lithuania – Gabrielė Sasnauskaitė, Alchemikas
Mexico City – Luis Fernando Romero Lopez, Bootlegger
Norway – Maxime Verrier, ISM Oslo
Poland – Patryk Kowalski, Woda Ognista
UK – Alexander Walker. The Beaufort Bar, Savoy
Austria – Manuela Lerchbaumer, Easy Bar in Linz
Brasil – Luciano Guimarães, Pina Cocktails & Co (Speakeasy bar)
New Zealand – Charles Stringer David Gillet, Poplar Social
Cyprus – Pavlos Aslanidis, Columbia Beach
Czech Republic – Hana Graclikova, Bar Super Panda Circus
Greece – Ioannis Alexandros Dontas, Bartesera
USA – Jason Seele
Cuba – Arturo Castro de la Uz, Restaurant
Italy – Corey Squarzoni, Speakeasy Liquid Bar
Japan – Satoshi Sugiura
Peru – Jose Anibal Huayllani, Maido
Argentina – Ariel Figueroa
Hong Kong – Maxim Schulte
Sweden – Simon Epale, Pharmarium
South Africa – Keanu Batista