Bacardi Legacy names Australian top eight

The top eight bartenders, who will go through to the national semi-final of Australia’s 2017/2018 Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition have been selected.

Bacardi brand ambassadors Loy Catada, Andy Wren and Peter Hollands, reviewed the top 30 entries from around the country, making each drink and reviewing the recipe videos submitted by the countries’ leading bartenders. The competitors were judged against set criteria including taste, aroma, innovation and inspiration and Catada said that he was impressed with the professionalism displayed by the competitors.

“They were very passionate, the drinks were positively delicious, and their preparation and enthusiasm for the competition came across in every entries’ video,” Catada said.

The top eight bartenders advancing to the semi-final are:

• Ella Rhodes, Cobbler, QLD
• James Irvine, The Swillhouse Group, NSW
• Leroy Martin-McEwan, The Gresham, QLD
• Matthew Blackburn, Hotel Harry, NSW
• Oliver Churcher, Ramblin’ Rascal, NSW
• Vini Wang, Hains & Co., SA
• Will Krepop, The Palm Royale, VIC
• Zachary Underwood-Mynott, Canvas Club, QLD

The top eight will now head to Melbourne on 1 November for the national semi-final, where they will present their cocktail as well as the original Bacardi Daiquiri in front of an independent judging panel. The semi-final will see Australia’s top three most promising announced, and they will then be mentored by a dedicated brand ambassador and will partner with Bacardi to market and promote their cocktail.

Based on the success of their drink and overall campaign, one of the top three will be selected as the 2018 Bacardi Legacy Australian Cocktail Competition Winner at the national final which will be held in February 2018.

Following that the winner will then head to Mexico City to compete for the ultimate title in the Bacardy Legacy Global Cocktail Competition Final.