Hot News – January 2015

Updated: January 15, 2015

USBG/IBA WORLD COCKTAIL CHAMPIONSHIP USA QUALIFIER 2015
Press Release

The USBG/IBA World Cocktail Championship USA Qualifier will be happening Tuesday March 31, 2015 in Las Vegas during the Nightclub & Bar Show!

That’s right… It’s back! The IBA USBG World Cocktail Championship 2014 will be back bigger and better for 2015. The USA qualifier to see who will represent the United States Bartenders’ Guild at the Kempinski Hotel, Sofia, Bulgaria will be in Las Vegas March 31, 2015. This invitation only competition will be limited to 10 Flair bartenders with the top overall winner being sent to Sofia, Bulgaria to represent the United States Bartenders’ Guild in the World Cocktail Championship and second place overall will be sent to Argentina for the Pan-Am Games to represent the United States Bartenders’ Guild. To register to be invited to compete in the USA qualifier…

REGISTRATION IS NOW OPEN USING THE LINK BELOW.

Simply answer some basic questions along with submitting an original recipe showcasing your mixology skills, a Youtube link to a Flair video of yourself and answer the question… “Why you think you would be a great USBG National Representative in the IBA WCC or PanAmerican Competition?”.

Simple, easy now get it done. Deadline for entries are 11:59pm on Monday, January 26th. So don’t hesitate.

Good Luck!

https://docs.google.com/…/1Xm8l2QO-0CvLwLbc39ismI…/viewform…

To learn more you can CLICK HERE!

USBG WORLD CLASS U.S. COMPETITION SPONSORED BY DIAGEO
Press Release

If you are interested in entering into World Class, please follow these simple instructions to get started.

-If you are already a member within the USBG platform, please log into your account on USBGPulse.

-If you are a Non-USBG Member, please sign up with the 90-day membership to access USBGPulse, by Clicking Here.

-Once you have registered for your 90-day membership, or have entered into USBGPulse, please visit the “World Class” virtual lounge by Clicking Here.

-After accessing The World Class lounge, you will see “How to Register” as well as “Seminar Information“,

-”How to Register / Entering World Class” will go over the qualifications, terms and conditions, and will provide links to the recipe submissions page & the required learning page.

Deadline for submission, March 3rd.

-You may either take ONE of the two on-line learning tracks OR attend a live event.

-If you are interested in attending a live event, the “Seminar Information” page will provide dates and locations for upcoming events. Please click on a date to be taken to the calendar event. Once you click an event below, you will be taken to the calendar event where you can RSVP, and will receive a confirmation e-mail.

Contact

Questions? Problems?
Email worldclass@usbgpulse.org
or call 855-655-8724, x102.

For more info CLICK HERE!

LUCID ABSINTHE COCKTAIL COMPETITION
Press Release

Mixologists, cocktail enthusiasts and consumers will be able to submit an original recipe using Lucid Absinthe. Five ‘winning’ cocktails – selected by a judging panel – will be featured in the 2015 Lucid Cocktail Guide, each will receive a cash prize from Bartender magazine and be included in a featured article in that publication’s April issue. Recipes can be submitted via a tab on the brand’s Facebook page or by email. Entries will be judged based on (i) taste, (ii) creativity, (iii) originality, (iv) presentation, (v) and on-premise practicality.

Deadline is February 9, 2015.

To enter you can start by CLICKING HERE!

NEW PERMANENT CEO AT BACARDI: MIKE DOLAN
By James Wilmore

Bacardi has installed Mike Dolan as its permanent CEO after he was first appointed on an interim basis in May.

The privately-owned spirits and wine firm confirmed to just-drinks today that Dolan was handed the role on a permanent basis in November. The news was disclosed in a letter to shareholders, but not announced publicly.

“Mike Dolan has agreed to become the permanent CEO,” said Bacardi chairman Facundo Bacardi in the letter. “Having used his brief period of initiation in the interim CEO role to gain an even deeper insight into the company’s brands and its people, we are delighted that the confidence Mike gained in the company’s potential to succeed encouraged him to take on the role permanently.”

Dolan, the former head of global sports, fashion and media company IMG Worldwide, was appointed to the role on interim basis after the departure of Ed Shirley last year. Dolan has been on Bacardi’s board since 2009.

just-drinks has also learnt that Bacardi’s VP for corporate communications, Patricia Neal, has left the company. Neal, who had been with the company for 12 years and as communications VP since early-2005, stepped down in October. It is not immediately clear where she has moved to.

The company has no plans to replace her.

Yesterday, the Bermuda-based group appointed Dmitry Ivanov as its chief marketing officer with immediate effect.

To learn more about Bacardi Rum, you can start by CLICKING HERE!

THE ROADHOUSE UK FLAIR COMPETITION

Roadhouse is an American themed bar & diner in the heart of London’s Covent Garden. Known throughout the world for its phenomenal bartenders and elite bar team, Roadhouse is also reputable for its recruitment process where only the ‘best of the best’ bartenders are selected to grace their presence & skill – making their own contribution to the success of the world famous Roadhouse.
That was then……..the year of 1999. Roadhouse identified the interest on Flair through the bartenders’ skills fast becoming a competitive game on shift, that we recognised the potential of bar teams all over London & beyond that we hosted an in-house Flair competition against another fellow Flair bar team, TGI Fridays. The night was so successful Roadhouse decided to develop the idea and open it up to the public…..this was the night where it all started.

Over the years the competition has been tweaked and molded to move with the times. People change, and so does the face of Flair. Roadhouse remains the leader in this field with the innovation of multi objects and strategic judging criteria. Still working on a ranking system and part of a league, Roadhouse utilises every month to make sure that the grand final holds host to the biggest names of flair in the world.
A special recognition must go out to Brett Seychelle who identified and pursued the interest in Flair to develop the Roadhouse Flair Competition. In addition to all who have participated, competed or contributed to Roadhouse Flair, we also thank previous organisers Troy, Andy Collinson, Lord Tugworth and Jay Du Toit for their involvement and promotion of the Roadhouse Flair competition, for whose efforts have made this competition the biggest in the world!!

FLAIR CALENDAR

January

26th Roadhouse World Challenge

Open to all international competitors. 2 places will be available for the Grand final in November.

(UK entrants will have their scores separated from international competitors and will be measured against their UK peers for the UK final in August. 3 spaces will be available for the UK Final)

February

23rd Roadhouse World Challenge

Open to all international competitors. 2 places will be available for the Grand final in November.

(UK entrants will have their scores separated from international competitors and will be measured against their UK peers for the UK final in August. 3 spaces will be available for the UK Final)

March

30th Roadhouse World Challenge

Open to all international competitors. 2 places will be available for the Grand final in November.

(UK entrants will have their scores separated from international competitors and will be measured against their UK peers for the UK final in August. 3 spaces will be available for the UK Final)

April

13th Chicks with Flicks

Roadhouse will be holding the third ALL FEMALE flair competition in 13 years. Its a chance for all the great female flairers out there to show off their moves, and compete against an all girl line up. First place will win a whopping £1000, and a place in the Grand Final in November. Its a day not to be missed!!

27th Roadhouse World Challenge

Open to all international competitors. 2 places will be available for the Grand final in November.

(UK entrants will have their scores separated from international competitors and will be measured against their UK peers for the UK final in August. 3 spaces will be available for the UK Final)

May

18th Roadhouse World Challenge

Open to all international competitors. 2 places will be available for the Grand final in November.

(UK entrants will have their scores separated from international competitors and will be measured against their UK peers for the UK final in August. 3 spaces will be available for the UK Final)

June

29th Roadhouse World Challenge

Open to all International competitors. 2 places will be available for the Grand Final in November.

July

27th Roadhouse World Challenge

Open to all international competitors. 2 places will be available for the Grand final in November.

August

31st Roadhouse UK Final – UK Only

Every year, the UK’s finest dominate the Roadhouse stage to earn their UK ranking order. Battling it out live on the stage, we witness 25 of Britains Finest Bartenders going head to head, to see who will be crowned the UK champion.

September

14th – Chicks with Flicks

Roadhouse will be holding the fourth ALL FEMALE flair competition in 13 years. Its a chance for all the great female flairers out there to show off their moves, and compete against an all girl line up. First place will win a whopping £1000, and a place in the Grand Final in November. Its a day not to be missed!!

28th – Invite Only

October

26th October Roadhouse World Challenge and ZANTE REUNION

The Zante reunion has been a summer workers tradition thats working its way into its 8th year. After 6 solid months of drinking and working 7 days a week in the bar industry in the sunny island of Zante, all the workers meet up at Roadhouse for one last celebration to raise a glass to a great summer and to cheer on their favourite bartenders/conquests in true Zante style. This is a day NOT to be missed!

November

29th November Roadhouse World Challenge Grand Final

DAY 1
The first day of the Grand Final runs between 1pm-5pm, and will see all the World Final competitors completing a working flair drink, and getting their rankings for the next days exhibition flair.

30th November Roadhouse World Challenge Grand Final

DAY 2
The Grand Final will be in full swing, with the Best in the World competing for a whopping £10 000 1st prize!!!!!

For more info you can CLICK HERE!

SPEED RACK ALL FEMALE BARTENDING COMPETITION 2015
Press Release

Speed Rack – Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero

The service industry can sometime be thought of as a man’s world. With Speed Rack, which they founded in February of 2011, Mix and Marrero have been able to shine a spotlight on female mixologists thriving behind bars around the country; and while they are at it, raise money for breast cancer research, education, and prevention.

The two got Speed Rack off the ground after Mix brought her concept of an all-female speed bartending competition to Marrero, the president of the NY chapter of LUPEC (Ladies United for the Preservation of Endangered Cocktails – an organization that promotes women in the spirit industry while raising funds for local and national charities.). The idea was to create a cocktail competition for the ladies -one that celebrated women, was created by women and supported women; in and out of the spirits industry. In their first year, Speed Rack met over 200 bartenders across the country and raised over $69,000.