By Rebecca Harris
Bartenders around the world are gearing up for the 42 Below World Cocktail Cup 2010, with the UK regional finals being held this week (Aug 17 – 23) and Australian entries opening next month (Sep).
In what will be the competition’s sixth year, bartenders from across the world will compete for their chance to represent their country in teams of three at the World Final in Queenstown, New Zealand in March 2010.
The Northern Ireland regional final held in Belfast last night put three bartenders through to the UK National Final, to be held in February 2010.
Edinburgh and Leeds will host their regional finals this week later this week.
Entries for the Australian heats – to be held in Brisbane (16 November), Sydney (30 November) and Melbourne (14 December) – will officially open on September 22.
Bartenders will be required to enter online, with the top 24 being selected to compete in the heats.
This year’s competition format will be modelled on the 42 Below ‘Ready Steady Shake’ format where contestants are presented with a box of mystery ingredients and challenged to create a unique cocktail using only its contents.
42 Below global brand ambassador and vodka “professor” Jacob Briars will be in Australia for the launch and will also attend each of the Australian heats.