Over the last month Monin have been traveling the country to find the next generation of bartenders to represent the UK at the Global Final.
The Monin Cup is a competition close to our hearts for its focus on young bartenders. To enter the competition bartenders had to be aged 18 – 27 and to underline the fact it is for up and coming bartenders one of the heat winners was entering her first ever cocktail competition.
Across the heats each bartender had to create a cocktail and mocktail serve highlighting the Monin product range and present both drinks to a panel of judges. Here we have a look at each of the 8 finalists and how they got through their heats.
Shea Campbell, Orchid Bar Aberdeen
Shea impressed the judges with an assured performance; his innovative Chakai sharing cocktail and Tramonto mocktail – hand-finished with a blowtorch – secured first place in the Leeds heat at Almost Famous.
Carley Carrington, Boilermaker, Nottingham
Carley was a close runner-up in the Birmingham heat, contributing to a very strong showing from the Nottingham contingent. Her fun-filled MACA-MONIN Cheese and Harry Potter-themed MONIN Myrtle earned her a place in the final with extra points awarded for impressively on-brand nail polish.
Robert Kalvan, Haymarket Hotel, London
Competitors at the London heat faced a tough judging panel including the UKBG’s Michael Sweetman, Eric Bouton from MONIN, James Coston from Bulldog Gin and special guest judge, bartending legend Peter Dorelli. Robert Kalvan won them over with his delicate White Pearl cocktail and refreshing non-alcoholic Déjà vu.
Eilidh Macbeth, Rub Smokehouse, Nottingham
Eilidh overcame nerves to take top place in her first ever cocktail competition, winning the Birmingham heat at The Bureau Bar with her Sorrento Memento cocktail and non-alcoholic drink, Spirited Away. Keeping the competition in the family, Eilidh was supported by husband (and MONIN Cup veteran) Joe Macbeth who was runner-up in the 2014 UK Final!
Daradics Barnabas, Loves Company, London
London runner-up Daradics treated the judges to a deliciously nut-themed offering with a Pistachio Mixture cocktail and Exotic Nuttiness mocktail.
Alex Heppel, Last Chance Saloon, Nottingham
Alex was the close runner up at the Leeds heat, earning his place in the final with a Bubblegum Sazerac and Two Teas and La gueule de Bois.
Matyas Busek, Mr Fogg’s Residence, London
Matyas’s performance at the London heat was impressive enough to see him put through to the final as a wildcard entry. His Sober Pirate cocktail and Oliver Fizz mocktail made particular use of elegant floral and herb garnishes.
Peter Nyugen, Mr Fogg’s Residence, London
Another wildcard entry, Peter’s Darkest Desire and Popcorn and Caramel drinks created an innovative showcase for a range of MONIN’s flavours including the new MONIN Popcorn syrup.
During London Cocktail Week these 8 will be enjoying a series of masterclasses before going head to head on Tuesday 4th October to decide the overall winner who will be heading off to Paris in December to take on the rest of the world at the Global Final.
Daniel Davis, MONIN’s new on-trade brand ambassador, said: “The MONIN Cup is a fantastic event; it enables young mixologists to dip a toe in the crazy world of cocktail competitions in a very supportive and encouraging environment. This is my first experience and I’m completely blown away by the level of talent on display!
We want to uncover the next generation of industry stars, and I’m confident our UK Champion will do us proud at the Global Final in Paris.”
We can’t wait to see what they all produce at the UK final and look forward to supporting the winner at the Global final in Paris. We will of course be bringing you news on the winner very shortly.
The UK Monin Cup is supported by:
