G’Vine launches 2013 Gin Connoisseur Programme

G’Vine gin is launching the Gin Connoisseur Programme (GCP) 2013, the Ambassador Edition, in a global quest to find the world’s best bartender to become the spirit’s ambassador.

First launched in 2010, the GCP will see twelve national winners from the UK, the US, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Australia and Japan, plus three wild card winners from countries where preliminaries are not held, flown to Cognac, France in June where the winner will be crowned at the G’Vine bartenders ball.

The winning bartender will receive a cash prize of US$3,000, plus a tailor-made training programme taught by Philip Duff – winner of the Golden Spirit Award 2012 and Tales of the Cocktail’s Best Presenter, media training and the opportunity to present seminars at both Tales of the Cocktail 2013 and Bar Convent Berlin 2013.

Duff said: “G’Vine takes the long view – the more knowledgeable gin bartenders and ambassadors there are out there, the better this great spirit category will be viewed by everyone. That’s why I feel privileged to be asked to help run this contest, every year.”

European first round competitions will be held on 11 March at the Epernay bar in Manchester and on 25 March at Paramount bar in London, where entrants will be judged on bartending skills, gin knowledge and etiquette.

Further preliminaries will be held in Berlin, Madrid and Barcelona and each competition will feature an industry-leading seminar and a cocktail challenge.

The deadline for entries is 1 March. Interested bartenders can register at www.legcp.fr.