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
Austria’s Hofferer scoops IBA WCC 2017 title
Mario Hofferer from Austria has been crowned champion of the International Bartenders Association’s World Cocktail Championships 2017 following a gruelling final in Copenhagen this week.
Austria’s Mario Hofferer stormed to victory in the IBA World Cocktail Championship 2017
Hofferer impressed the panel of judges at the Super Final held on Wednesday (18 October) after winning the Before Dinner Cocktail Competition round
His cocktail, called Rosé Sissy, combined Finlandia vodka, Giffard Sangria, Schlumberger Sparkling Brut, Angostura aromatic bitters and a dash of edible gold.
The Austrian native, who currently lives in Marbella, Spain, was also crowned WCC champion in 2011.
“I was really happy to go the National Championships, to win the National Championships, and to get the theme of Before Dinner,” said Hofferer.
“This year the inspiration behind the cocktail was that I was searching a theme for Austria. I wanted to bring the international flair of the association together and I used the Empress of Austria as my inspiration, using sparking wine from Austria and Sangria from Spain since I am now living there.”
Joining me on the judging panel was David Nepove, special adviser to the US Bartenders’ Guild; Margit Kikas, president of Estonian Bartenders Association; and Pepe Dioni, president of the IBA.
Hofferer competed against five other bartenders in the Super Final, who had also secured a place through the six categories. The finalists were: Czech Republic’s Jan Teska, who won the Sparkling Cocktail round; Slovak Republic’s Ratislav Kuban, who won the Bartender’s Choice round; Denmark’s Damiano Pezzi, who won the Long Drink round, Sweden’s Tommi Komljenovic, who won the After Dinner Cocktail round; and Taiwan’s Chun-Shen Chen, who won the Flairtending Competition.
Next year’s IBA WCC will take place in Estonia, hosted by the Estonian Bartenders Association.
Keep your eyes peeled for the November issue of The Spirits Business magazine for a more in-depth look at the IBA WCC 2017 in Copenhagen, Denmark.