Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum International Bartender Challenge 2012

Bartenders from nine key Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum  markets around the world recently competed for the coveted title of Champion of the prestigious 2012 Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum International Bartender Challenge.  At the end of a hard fought battle of the shakers Richard Tring from The Milk Thistle, Bristol in the United Kingdom was crowned the 2012 Appleton Estate International Bartender Champion.

Held at Kingston’s Wyndham Hotel on October 26, which was two days after Hurricane Sandy passed over Jamaica, the Challenge saw the nine bartenders go shaker to shaker in a unique competition where 500 specially invited guests were the judge.

Each guest was given an Appleton Estate ‘dubloon’ or coin on arrival at the event and, after an  evening of tasting and listening to each bartenders’ explanations and descriptions, they then used their coin to vote for their favourite bartender.   The coins were then counted and the bartender with most coins, in this case Richard Tring, won the competition.  For his efforts behind the bar Richard won an all expense paid trip for two to Jamaica.

Other Challenge contenders were:

• Jamaica’s Ryan Mitto;
• Canada’s Jonathan Homier;
• Australia’s Jamie Chesher;
• Seggrett ‘Seggy’ Quizeo of the Cayman Islands;
• Salvador Pacheco representing Mexico;
• New Zealand’s Jason Clark;
• Daniel Melgar competing for Peru; and,
• American Ben Clemons.

In order to qualify for the finals of the Appleton Estate International Bartender Challenge, each finalist won the Appleton Estate Bartender Challenge that was held in their respective country earlier in the year.  Chesher of Melbourne’s EDV, won the Australian final on July 10 with his cocktail, the Neck-Breaker, a mix of Appleton Estate Extra 12 Year Old, Appleton Estate Reserve 8 Year Old, walnut, ruby grapefruit, Demerara and chocolate.

Source: EatDrink, 13 November 2012