Appleton Estate Bartending Challenge in association with Funkin
The UK Final
On the day of the Class Awards the IPBartenders Bar was thrown open to the 8 remaining finalists in the Appleton Estate Bartending Challenge for the final 6 rounds of the world’s toughest bartending competition. With everything to play for and in front of a judging panel consisting of Tony Conigliaro, Richard Woods, Gregor de Gruyther and Ben Reed the cream of the country’s bartending talent certainly had their work cut out for them…
The Finalists
Matt Keegan, Blanche House
Rob Poulter, Raouls
Tom Soden, Trailer Happiness
Esther Medina, Ronnie Scotts
Rich Hunt, Mahiki
Danny Murphy, Alma de Cuba
Bruce Hamilton, Tiger Lillys
Paul Mant, Mahiki
 
With 6 rounds to complete over an intense day of testing the finalists were split into 2 groups and on the stroke of 10am set to work.
Classic Cocktail Round
Drawing 1 of 8 classic cocktails at random the finalists each gave a 10 minute presentation demonstrating not only exemplary drinks making skills but knowledge, wit and style too. The calibre of the competitors ensured it was a round decided by the smallest of margins. Rich Hunt’s discourse on the Margarita won the day with Tom Soden’s daiquiri and Esther Medina’s superb Manhattan close behind.
1st Rich Hunt 12 points
2nd Tom Soden 10 points
3rd Esther Medina 8 points
4th Rob Poulter 7 points
Freepouring Test
Next up for the bartenders was the freepour test, a range of measures from 12.5ml to 70ml poured with both hands and assessed by weight. In last years final Freddie Olssen won the day freepouring to within 5g of the target weight, a benchmark achievement assumed to be unbeatable. Step forward Mr Paul Mant to prove everybody wrong with a quite astonishing performance, tipping the scales dead on the 504g target and earning the day’s first standing ovation, all the more surprising as those who witnessed his practice runs will testify. Bruce Hamilton came in second and Rich continued to accumulate points in third.
1st Paul Mant 12 points
2nd Bruce Hamilton 10 points
3rd Rich Hunt 8 points
4th Matt Keegan 7 points
IPB Knowledge Test
Rob Poulter of Raoul’s in Oxford lived up to the city’s reputation as a seat of learning by running away with the bartender’s knowledge test scoring a superb 56.5 and managing to look distinguished doing it. Tom Soden and Matt Keegan came in second and third respectively while Rich added another 7 points to his total, quietly coming in 4th.
Here are some samples from the 71 question test. See how you do.......
9. On which island is the Cruzan distillery?
13. In which country is Conde de Cuba produced?
27. Name 2 of the master blenders at Appleton involved in the creation of the ‘Master Blenders Legacy’?
33. How long does the average body take to process 1 unit of alcohol?
38. Which classic cocktail originates from Puerto Rico?
39. Who was MW Heron?
49. What is the difference in abv between the old Pussers blend and the new one?
70. What was the secret ingredient in the ‘Flaming Moe’?
1st Rob Poulter 12 points
2nd Tom Soden 10 points
3rd Matt Keegan 8 points
4th Rich Hunt 7 points
Round 6 – Presentations
Testing a bartender’s presentation skills in front of such a distinguished judging panel was always going to prove to be the acid test and the finalists mostly stepped up and delivered. Asked to deliver a ten minute training session on a randomly chosen rum producing country all the presentations were excellent - with the (dis) honourable exception of Paul Mant, who managed a 5 minute presentation on the rum’s of Jamaica without mentioning the island’s biggest distiller (and competition sponsor!).
Tom Soden’s passionate presentation on Trinidad, it’s rum’s, it’s traditions and his own holiday snaps blew everyone away and left him a clear winner.
1st Tom Soden 12 points
2nd Rich Hunt 10 points
3rd Bruce Hamilton 8 points
4th Rob Poulter 7 points
Mystery box round
Working in pairs our, by now flagging, bartenders were tasked to create a decent cocktail with the devilish mix of ingredients the cocktail gods (well, Ben and Paul that is) had provided for them in their mystery box. Working from such inauspicious beginnings, as exampled below, Rob Poulter displayed a keen creative mind to squeeze home ahead of Matt Keegan and Bruce Hamilton.
Example Box 5
Pineapple Funkin Puree
Branca Menta
Ground All Spice
Amarula
Tabasco Habanero
1st Rob Poulter 12 points
2nd Matl Keegan 10 points
3rd Bruce Hamilton 8 points
4th Rich Hunt 7 points
Final UK Round – Personality
After 7 gruelling rounds of technical, intellectual and creative testing the judges had to decide which bartender had the X factor. The personality, charisma, style and humour essential for a bartender to bring to a team and a bar full of customers. This they duly did. But not without some heated debate and minor fisticuffs. We’ll leave the result of this round to your imagination.
The UK Final
After the 8 incredible rounds the judges chose their winners to accompany them to Jamaica in Feb for the final competition and announced their top 3 at the Class Awards Ceremony.
1st Place and Appleton and Funkin Bartender of the Year 07 UK Winner
64 Points - Rich Hunt from Mahiki
A deserving and popular winner of the title, Rich displayed not only superb technical ability but a breadth of knowledge and bartending style in order to head an immensely talented field – now he just has to finish it off in Jamaica…
Joint 2nd Place
63 Points - Bruce Hamilton from Tiger Lillys – Bruce put in a really solid all-round performance and richly deserves his shot at the title in the Jamaican final.
63 Points - Paul Mant from Mahiki – recovering well from his presentation round and riding the crest of an immaculate freepour test Paul joins Rich and Bruce for the ultimate in bartending challenges.
The Jamaican Final
So now we know that Paul, Rich and Bruce will be flying to Jamaica in February for the ultimate bartending test. The 3 lads will have to work a 4 hour shift in a beach front bar in front of 250 guests. At the end of the night each guests will vote, using a silver token, for their favourite bartender. Who is the quickest, funniest, slickest, most entertaining – in short who is the best bartender – the guests will decide in the ultimate Bartending Challenge.
|
|
