The UK’s Rusty Cerven will be competing against semi-finalists picked from 66 countries to become Bols Bartending World Champion 2013.
The Bols Around the World competition is one of the biggest worldwide competitions, now in its 7th year, and with a prize of an all expenses paid 8 day bar trip to 4 cities of their choice and a trip to Tales of the Cocktail the prize is certainly worth fighting for.
16 regional winners will be head to Amsterdam on May 1st to fight it out over a series of challenges for 11 spots in the Grand Final on May 7th. They will be joined by the winner of the Young Talent competition who have already been narrowed down from the 500 entrants. This fantastic innovation in the competition helps to celebrate the best bartenders under the age of 22 across the world.
The judging panel for the Semis and Finals is an impressive line-up and whoever manages to impress them will well and truly deserve their victory.
This year’s judging panel includes:
Malika Saidi, Head Trainer at the Bols Bartending Academy
Anistatia Jared & Jared Brown, Directors Mixellany Limited
Hidetsugu Ueno, owner and bartender of Bar High Five in Tokyo
Jeff ‘Beachbum’ Berry, Global Tiki Expert
Ago Perrone, Head Mixologist at the Connaught Bar
Gabor Onufer, Bols Bartending World Champion 2012
Rusty Cerven from The Connaught Bar beat off the competition from the other UK bartenders over a series of three cocktail tasks. Amongst the challenges was the creation of a video showcasing their Bols inspired cocktail. Rusty’s slick creation, based on his cocktail the Columbus Punch, was obviously a hit with the judging panel so we thought we’d share it with you.
Congratulations to Rusty and all of the other semi-finalists below on making it this far and good luck next month in Amsterdam.
Canada: Jenner Cormier, The Middle Spoon, Noble
USA: Tom Richter, The Beagle, NYC
Central America & Caribbean: Luuk Gerritsen, Vegas 360, Curacao
Argentina: To be announced 17th April
UK: Rusty Cerven, The Connaught Bar, London
Scandinavia: Leszek Stachura, The Union, Copenhagen
Germany: Andre Pintz, Steigenberger Grandhotel Handelshof, Leipzig
Italy: Tiziana Borreani, Café del Mar, Savona
Western Europe: Ciro de Georgio, Dvars, Amsterdam
Eastern Europe: Alexandru Tudor, Barmania, Bucharest
Russia: To be announced 12th April
Poland: Mateusz Szuchnik, Pies Czy Suka Pure Bar, Pogorzel
Japan: Michie Nishida, Bar Open Door, Osaka
Middle East & Africa: Jimmy Barrat, Zuma, Dubai
Asia: Seongha Lee, Kap Bar & Dining, Seoul
Australia & New Zealand: Benjamin Tua, Mechanics Institute, Perth
Young Talent Holland: Stefan van Zuijlen, Jersey, Goes
Young Talent Europe: Fanni Lajko, Boutiq’ Bar, Budapest
Young Talent Americas: Jose Kennedy Nascimento, MyNYbar, Sao Paolo
Young Talent Australia & Africa: Nokoy Mak, Quinary, Hong Kong