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Edinburgh bartender wins Talisker’s Race to Skye

Andrew Lennie of The Printing Press Bar & Kitchen in Edinburgh has been crowned winner of Talisker’s inaugural bartending competition, Race to Skye.

Andrew Lennie (far right) has won Talisker’s Race to Skye competition

Lennie secured the win following a close final held at the distillery’s home of the Isle of Skye.

Launched earlier this year, the competition invited bartenders from Edinburgh, Glasgow, Manchester, Bournemouth, Bristol and London to create a cocktail that embodied Talisker’s Made by the Sea campaign.

Lennie competed against Rebecca Bevvy of The Laundrette Group in Manchester; Dave Ali of The Finneston in Glasgow; Daniel Bovey of Be at One in Bristol; Mike Pendergast of East London Liquor Company in London; and Charles Roche from Scout, also in London, during a series of challenges.

The final consisted of four rounds: the cocktail-making Loch Ness Mixer round; the Talisker Brainstorm round, where finalists were quizzed about Talisker; the Map of the Skye, which tasked bartenders with identifying the flavour profiles of four Talisker expressions and deconstructing a Talisker cocktail; and the Hip Flask round, in which bartenders created a cocktail before travelling to Skye, where it was then judged.

“I’m incredibly excited to be named the first ever Race to Skye champion,” said Lennie. “It has been an amazing couple of days and competing in the heart of Skye has been unforgettable.

“It’s been a truly rewarding experience and I have learnt so much more about Talisker and Scotch throughout this journey. I’m looking forward to working with this wonderful Scotch brand to tell its rich story in my new honorary ambassador role.”

As winner, Lennie will act as a brand ambassador for Talisker during at least three paid events throughout this year, and will also have a PR campaign to enhance his own profile in the industry.

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