Bacardi Legacy selects top three UK bartenders

Three bartenders have been named “most promising” in the UK final of the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition, with one set to compete in the final next year.

Bacardi Legacy has chosen its three “most promising” bartenders from the UK

Scooping the top three spots were Iain Griffiths from Dandelyan, with his cocktail called Carta Switchel made using Bacardi Carta Oro; Oliver Pluck from The East Village in Leeds, with his drink called Amistat made with Bacardi Carta Oro; and Santiago Michelis from Happiness Forgets in London, with his concoction titled The Knot, which used Bacardi Carta Blanca.

The trio will now be given a budget to generate a promotional campaign for their Bacardi Legacy cocktails over the next few months, before an overall winner is chosen in March 2016.

That bartender will then have the chance to represent the UK in the global final of the Bacardi Legacy Cocktail Competition in San Francisco next April.

“Huge congratulations to all the bartenders who competed in the UK final of Bacardi Legacy, the standard was once again incredibly high,” said Metinee Kongsrivilai, Bacardi UK brand ambassador.

“However there can only be three most promising and Iain, Oli and Santi not only showed off their mixing skills, but the stories behind their cocktails also showcased great imagination.

“It’s going to be great to see the guys show their creativity and entrepreneurial spirit as they get the marketing campaigns for their Legacy cocktails underway in the next few months.

“The fight for that prestigious position as the UK’s representative in the global final is truly on, so from everyone at Bacardi we wish our three most promising all the best of luck.”

Last year, French bartender Frank Didieu was crowned champion of the Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition 2015 following a close final in Sydney, Australia.