By Sacha Delfosse
Some of the most skilled bartenders from across the globe gathered in tropical Trinidad earlier this month (March) to battle it out at the biennial Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge – with a Melbourne mixologist taking out the top prize.
Australian bartender Andy Griffiths emerged as the grand champion and received $10,000 in prize money as well as a one year contract as Angostura’s global brand ambassador.
Griffiths started out his hospitality career as a chef but has been bartending for over 10 years and is currently the cocktail bar manager at Cookie Bar and Restaurant in Melbourne.
Andy Griffiths: Calypso King
For the competition finals, he created two winning drinks, The Orinoco Flip and Scarlet Ibis, with the judges commending his excellent preparation, creativity and presentation skills.
“I am very happy. There was tough competition so winning the title is a huge honour. I was stoked when my name was announced. I knew I’d given it my best shot but didn’t know if it was enough to win or not,” Griffith said.