El Dorado Rum will host the global final of its El Dorado Rum Heritage Cocktail Competition over the next two days, bringing together ten world-class bartenders from around the globe with Kitty Hawk’s Daniel Hilton representing Australia.
Taking place from 9-10 April, the competition provides an opportunity for bartenders to capture their own journeys and interpretation of the brand’s heritage, which dates as far back as 1670.
Following regional competitions, winners from each participating country have been flown to Guyana in South America to compete in the global final and enjoy an all-expenses-paid trip to Diamond Distillery – the home of El Dorado Rum and Guyana’s last remaining distillery.
The global finals will see the following bartenders compete for a grand prize of $5000 USD and a collection of rare El Dorado Rums:
- Andreas Ording, Boho House, Norway
- Benedetta Paris, Happiness Forgets, United Kingdom
- Charles Portail, Sauvage, France
- Daniel Hilton, Kitty Hawk, Australia
- Erick Lerch, Mother Cocktail Bar, Ontario, Canada
- Fabio Kaufmann, Residenz Heinz Winkler, Germany
- Nizel Waldron, Ace Bar Services, Trinidad
- Romel Persaud, Therapy Cocktails, Guyana
- Shelley Bowers, House of Bamboo, California, United States
- Steven Huddleston, Stir (by SQ1), Florida, United States
Today and tomorrow, finalists will gain an in-depth understanding of Guyanese culture, lifestyle and heritage before presenting two cocktails to a panel of renowned industry professionals.
The first round of the competition tasks finalists with presenting their winning cocktails from the regional finals, telling a story that reflects their legacy and El Dorado Rum’s heritage. In the second round, finalists will present a new cocktail that incorporates ingredients found in a local market visit and highlights the complexity and depth of El Dorado Single Still Rums.
The judging panel features Shaun Caleb, Master Distiller at Demerara Distillers Limited; Marie King, internationally recognised rum and cocktail specialist; and Timo Janse, Co-owner of Belly of the Beast and celebrated bartender.
