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Angostura names Global Cocktail Challenge winner

New Zealand bartender Ray Letoa has been crowned winner of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge following a close final in Trinidad and Tobago.

Ray Letoa is the winner of the Angostura Global Cocktail Chaallenge

Letoa battled against 10 other international bartenders in the grand final, and impressed a panel of judges with two signature cocktails he created in under seven minutes.

His drink Deliciousness highlighted Amaro di Angostura, while rum-based cocktail Old Flame used Angostura 1824, Angostura Aromatic Bitters and Angostura Orange Bitters.

According to head judge Mike Ryan, Letoa’s cocktails “best captured the vibrancy and exuberance of the islands of Trinidad and Tobago and of the House of Angostura”.

Second place went to Lebanon-based Johnny Mansoor and third place was awarded to Maximiliano Vallée Valletta of Canada.

France’s Pedro Martinez was awarded the prize for Best Amaro Cocktail and Lebanon’s Mansoor was awarded the prize for Best Rum Cocktail.

For his prize, Letoa took home US$10,000 and will sign a two-year contract as Angostura’s global brand ambassador, representing its portfolio of rums, bitters and amaro.

“Now I’m looking forward to meeting people and telling them about the ethos and the passion of the people that make Angostura’s rums and bitters,” he said.

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