Global bartenders compete for title in Cape Town

Some 60 bartenders from around the globe are to battle it out this week for the title of World Cocktail Champion of the Year at an industry-hosted, star-studded event in Cape Town, South Africa.

Bartenders from around the world will battle it out this Thursday in the final of the World Cocktail Championship

Bartenders, who have each won a regional heat in their own country, will be mixing live on stage in front of an excited crowd for the chance to be crowned the best bartender in the world.

The competition, which is run by the International Bartenders Association and is now in its third year, will be held throughout this week at the Cape Town International Convention Centre (CTICC).

Each country’s bartenders; guild has brought up to two bartenders to the final, one who will compete in one of the cocktail categories – Before Dinner, Sparkling Cocktail, Fancy Cocktail, Long Drink and After Dinner – and one flairtender.

The flairtending competition will take place today (1 October) from 11am GMT, and will be streamed live at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AgU9ICWGahU.

The cocktail competition will be held on Thursday 2 October, and will also be streamed live from http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BjHVvNSV12U.

The winner of each category will be put head-to-head in the Super Final, from which just one victor will be named.

Last year’s winner was Greta Grönholm of Loimann Seurahuone in Loimaa, Finland. Her Sparkling Cocktail My Green Summer, featuring Midori and sparkling wine.

She won a trip to this year’s competition in Cape Town plus an additional prize of a trip to Moscow on behalf of the Russian Bartending Guild.

The overall winner of the 2014 competition will be announced on Thursday 2 October.