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Hot News – March 2015

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Updated: March 1, 2015

USBG/IBA FLAIR IT UP! 2015
Press Release

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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 CLOSED.

To see the full list and videos of the 10 finalists you can CLICK HERE!

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BELVEDERE VODKA MARTINI CHALLENGE
Press Release
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THE CHALLENGE: TO CREATE A LEGENDARY MARTINI COCKTAIL

The competition is running globally, including the UK, and offers the grand prize of a week’s holiday for two on the luxury island resort GoldenEye in Jamaica – once home to Bond creator Ian Fleming. The winner will also see their recipe promoted globally as a new signature cocktail and served at VIP events tying in with the release of Spectre, which is due out in November this year.

Deadline for submission, April 12th, 2015.

For more info CLICK HERE!
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DISARONNO MIXING STAR COMPETITION
Press Release
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The Program

The Mixing Star is Disaronno’s Global Cocktail Program open to the best professional bartenders.
Create an original recipe based on Disaronno Originale and enter the Program for a chance to be The 2015 Mixing Star of the United States of America.

THE MIXING STAR 2015

Joining The Program

Registration is open from 6 p.m. (GMT+1) on the 18th of February 2015 to 6 p.m. (GMT+1) on the 22nd of April 2015.
To enroll in the program, register here, by filling out the form with your data and a complete description of your original Disaronno cocktail recipe.
You can register now and then come back to complete or modify your recipe until 5:59 p.m. (GMT+1) on the 22nd of April 2015. Once confirmed and sent, you will not be able to modify your recipe. You can register only once and upload only one recipe.

Selection Of Recipes

The selection of all valid submitted recipes will be held by April 28th 2015.

The Casting

The casting will take place on the 14th of May 2015 in New York City.

The Technical Jury

The technical jury will be composed of 4 members:
1 Mixologist (bartender or mixology expert) of national/international relevance
1 trade journalist
1 Promoter’s representative (USBG)
1 Disaronno Brand Representative

The Winner

The sole winner of the program will be the competitor that has gained the highest score after combining the technical jury’s ranking with the votes given by the people’s jury.

Rules For The Recipe

The recipe must be your original creation. It must contain a minimum of 0.5 oz. of Disaronno and have a maximum of 7 ingredients that are clearly described.
The recipe should preferably be inspired by the history, the origins and the personality of Disaronno.
The recipe can be easily prepared within a short timeframe, even for an audience or clients at a bar.

Only 6 recipes will be selected for the live Casting.

Cocktail Presentation

During the casting you will have to prepare your original cocktail in front of the technical jury and the selected people’s jury, according to the procedures stated in the rules.
The technical jury will pay particular attention to the quality of your performance at the bar, to your knowledge of Disaronno, your ability in describing the recipe, and your inspiration and your choice of ingredients.
Create a story for your cocktail and win the jury members over!
After the technical evaluation alongside the other competitors, you will prepare your drink for the people’s jury, which will vote on its taste.

The ExperienceTalustry.

Apply

To join the program, register and upload your original recipe.
You can come back to complete or modify your recipe at any time, but remember to submit it by the 22nd of April.

Deadline is April 22,, 2015.

To enter you can start by  CLICKING HERE!

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NEW HORNITOS SPICED HONEY
Press Release

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Beam Suntory has lined up the launch of a flavoured extension of its Hornitos Tequila brand. Hornitos Spiced Honey comprises 100% blue agave Hornitos Plata Tequila, natural honey flavour and a spice blend.

The release makes Beam Suntory “the first major player to debut a honey Tequila product”, the company claimed.

 

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

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THE ROADHOUSE UK FLAIR COMPETITION
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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
January Results

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Points
Competitor
Representing

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343
Luca Valentine
Exquisite Bar Solutions
289
Miika Mehtio
VIP Bartenders
272
Vaclav Abraham
Independent
265
Alex Searle
Independent
210
Nico
VIP Bartenders
197
Andre Lenes
Independent
188
Bryan Levato
Independent
150
Oliver Deak
Independent
100
Vito
Roadhouse
89
Pter Findl
Medusa Club
79
Alex Bouas
Bar Flair School.com
58
Dave Tsouvallaris
Birmingham Flair Club

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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

 

February Results

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Points
Competitor
Representing

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321
Deniss Trifanovs
Olympic Voodoo Casino
294
Matteo Melara
Independent
289
Sikky
Sikky.com
287
Andre Lenes
Independent
202
Pietro Monaco
Independent
168
Alex Mihai Ardeleanu
Flying Cocktails Agency
187
Filipo Tadai
Independent
175
Vito
Roadhouse
106
Kristof Vandenabeele
Startending
99
Daniele Russo
Flair Studio
97
Steve Parsons
Roadhouse
85
Jorge Santos
Octopus
83
Alex Cavà
Independent
80
Al Bouas
Bar Flair School
64
Harry Dennis
Thirst

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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

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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

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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

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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

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29th Roadhouse World Challenge

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

July

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27th Roadhouse World Challenge

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

August

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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

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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

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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

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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!

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DAVID BECKHAM, DIAGEO AND THE ALLURE OF THE LUXURY POP-UP
By Andy Morton
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On Sunday night, ex-footballer and modern-day whisky impresario David Beckham held a party in central London.

Or so I’ve been told.

The event – the start of a week-long VIP pop-up at Wellington Arch for Beckham and Diageo’s Haig Club Scotch whisky – was so exclusive that not even just-drinks was invited.

But then exclusivity is the watchword behind the Haig Club residency. Guests for the week are invitation-only and, according to Diageo, just 200 will enter the three-room bar and restaurant inside the arch. I don’t expect to be one of them.

A few months ago, however, I did secure admission to a luxury pop-up – and learned why they have become the go-to marketing weapon for global spirits brands.

La Maison Rémy Martin opened late last year on Greek Street in London’s Soho district. For two weeks, the five-floor venue hosted celebrities including Idris Elba and Yasmin Le Bon, held work shops on crafts such as guitar making and perfumery and served up specially created Remy Martin cocktails from two fully-stocked bars.

Like the Haig Club residency, La Maison Rémy Martin was invitation-only, meaning that just a few hundred people could experience it.

But why are Diageo and Remy Martin-owner Remy Cointreau spending what must surely be a lot of money targeting a relatively small number of people?

A Remy Cointreau spokesperson, and my guide at La Maison, claims exclusivity is a major motivation. “It’s mainly about being creative, and giving people a different experience,” says the spokesperson, who did not want to be named. “We want to challenge people’s perceptions of the brand.”

The spokesperson also says that unlike with traditional marketing campaigns, luxury pop-ups give instant results through social media chatter. “Before we would have had to wait about six months to judge if the campaign was a success.”

Matthew Bennett, chief creative officer & founder of UK marketing agency ZAK Media Group, however, sees it differently.

According to Bennett, the past year has seen the rise of the luxury pop-up because they are great value for money and offer complete control of the consumer experience. Rather than rely on a high-end city-centre bar, companies can create their own – and have the all-important bartenders on their payroll.

“The way spend has gone, the only pure brand experience (alcohol companies) have other than TV – which nobody is investing in any more – is the pop-up bar,” Bennett says. “It’s a cost-effective way to reach out to people and to get them to talk about your brands in a positive way.”

It also gives the chance to connect with the late-20s/early 30s age bracket, a group that grew up with the pop-up experience and is now ready for a more bespoke service.

“This is an audience that is a bit more discerning, and has a bit more spending power,” Bennett says. “The time is ripe to get them converted into brand loyalists.”

Will we see more of them? Of course, says Bennett.

“It is expensive,” he admits. “But companies will make that money back in PR value alone.”

“Plus,” he adds, “it’s cheaper than shipping everyone to Cognac.”

Back at La Maison, guests are dropping in to the top-floor bar for an after-work cocktail. Jimmy the barman, a veteran of the scene who seems to know everyone in the room, gives his take.

“The main thing is about getting the drink into someone’s hand,” he says, while pouring a Remy Martin version of a brandy sour.

David Beckham couldn’t have put it better himself.

69
Sha

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SPEED RACK ALL FEMALE BARTENDING COMPETITION 2015
Press Release
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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.

 

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Playoffs run from November 2014 through June 2015.

 

To enter you can Click Here!
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