This website uses cookies so that we can provide you with the best user experience possible. Cookie information is stored in your browser and performs functions such as recognising you when you return to our website and helping our team to understand which sections of the website you find most interesting and useful.
News
Brockmans comp winner refused US visa for TOTC
Polish bartender Sebastian Stańczyk, who beat 117 bartenders from 12 different countries to win a trip to Tales of the Cocktail in New Orleans with Brockmans Gin, has been denied entry to the US.
Stańczyk won the International World Gin Day Brocktail Contest (Credit: Brockmans Gin)
The Scotland-based bartender won the International World Gin Day Brocktail Contest, held by Brockmans Gin last month.
However after travelling to London and queuing for hours at the American Embassy for a visa, Stańczyk was denied entry to the US for “not having enough ties” to any country.
Stańczyk, who works at The Spiritualist bar in Glasgow, arrived in the UK from Krakow in 2015.
His cocktail, Ginto the Wild, which blended Brockmans, Sherry, smoked berry ketchup, maple syrup and foraged pine mist, grabbed the top spot with 1808 votes out of 9,100 in total.
Guilherme Kilpp Gonzatti from Berlin and German bartender Anton Maltsev claimed second and third place, respectively and were also both prized with a trip to New Orleans.
Stańczyk is at an emergency meeting at the American Embassy today (10 June) to see if he will be able to appeal the decision in time to attend the annual cocktail festival next week (18-23 July).
“It will be very disappointing if Sebastian won’t be able to attend,” said Jo Jacobius, communications consultant at Brockmans Gin.
“There is still a possibility that he will be able to. We remain optimistic that we will be able to follow the original plan and take him as our guest to Tales of the Cocktail.”
The Spirits Business has contacted Stańczyk for a comment.
UPDATE: Stańczyk has now had his visa approved.