Mia Kumari wins Vero Bartender UK final

Amaro Montenegro has named Mia Kumari of The Savoy as the winner of The Vero Bartender UK final, with her cocktail creation Sunita.

After a two-year hiatus due to the pandemic, The Vero Bartender cocktail competition returned this year for its third edition.

The theme for 2022’s competition was ‘Sharing the Essence’. Bartenders were asked to create a large-format sharing cocktail that tells the story of a metaphorical or physical journey or adventure that has inspired them.

A total of 10 finalists were shortlisted and invited to make their cocktail in front of a live panel of judges at The Light Bar in Shoreditch, east London.

The judges comprised global industry veteran Alex Kratena, alongside Cristiana Pirinu who won the UK title in 2019, Hamish Smith, editor of Class Magazine, and Rudi Carraro, Amaro Montenegro’s global brand ambassador.

Kratena commented: “The Amaro Montenegro Vero Bartender Competition is one of the most respected events in the UK’s bartending calendar. The standard of entries this year was exceptionally high and we were lucky enough to taste some amazing cocktails.

“We are proud to announce Mia Kumari as the winner of the UK final and wish her luck in the global finals in Italy.”

Kumari’s winning serve was made with 40ml Amaro Montenegro, 40ml
apricot yogurt washed Pinot Grigio, 9ml Yellow Chartreuse and a dash of citrus balsamic, served over ice from a chilled glass picnic decanter bottle with a slice of citrus soaked apricot as garnish.

She will now compete against other bartenders from around the world in the global final of The Vero Bartender in Italy.

She has also won an Amaro Montenegro residency trip to Italy during the week of the global final to take part in brand experiences and seminars in the region of Emilia-Romagna.

Previous grand finals have been judged by Erik Lorincz, Salvatore Calabrese, Kratena, and Peter Dorelli.