By Rebecca Harris
Two local bartenders have been selected to represent Australia at the annual International Bartending Association (IBA) World Classic and Flair Cocktail Competition in November.
Sponsored by Monin syrups, Finest Call cocktail mixes, Perrier water and Absolut vodka, the national final was held at The Lincoln, Kings Cross last Sunday (19 Sep) and consisted of two sections – one classic and one flair.
Ivy’s Pierre Fajloun took out the classic component for the second year in a row, with his ‘Jackass’ cocktail, made from Absolut Vanilla, Monin butterscotch syrup, lemon juice, thyme and passionfruit, while Twisted Liquid’s Jay Jay Karanouh won the flair.
Fajloun described the competition as a “humbling experience”.
“You learn so much by entering competitions like these,” he said. “They really test your skills and abilities as a bartender.”
Each competitor in the Classic section had six minutes to make their cocktail, which were then blind-tasted by a team of four judges, consisting of Finest Call’s Greg MacDonald and Bob Jones, Australian Bartending Guild (ABG) board member Nick Braun and bars&clubs magazine editor Rebecca Harris.
Both winners will now fly to Singapore to represent Australia against 55 other countries.