Bristol bartender wins Appleton Estate cocktail challenge

A bartender from Bristol, UK has won the 2012 Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum International Bartender Challenge, beating competition from around the world.

Joy Spence, master blender for Appleton Estate, presents the challenge trophy to Bristol bartender Richard Tring

Richard Tring from The Milk Thistle won the annual competition held at the Wyndham Hotel in Kingston, Jamaica, just two days after Hurricane Sandy passed over the island.

Nine bartenders from around the world presented their cocktail creation, made using local ingredients, to a crowd of 500 judges, who voted for their favourite drink and presentation.

“This is an awesome win,” said Tring. “It’s been a difficult competition with so many strong bartenders all in one place, but I am very happy about this.

“Of all the competitions around at the moment, the Appleton Estate Global Bartender Challenge remains one of the most prestigious, partially because the competitors got to integrate with the Jamaican public, and partially due to the quality and pride of the company itself.  It’s an honour to win amongst such fierce competition”.

The other bartenders participating in the final of the Appleton Estate Bartender Challenge, each of whom had won a preliminary round in their home country earlier this year, were: Ryan Mitto, Jamaica; Jonathan Homier, Canada; Jamie Chesher, Australia; Seggrett ‘Seggy’ Quizeo, Cayman Islands; Salvador Pacheco, Mexico; Jason Clark, New Zealand; Daniel Melgar, Peru; and Ben Clemons, US.

Every finalist was handed a bottle of Appleton Estate Original Creation rum, while Tring also received an all-expenses-paid trip for two to Jamaica.