The postponed 2020 Bacardi Legacy Global Final is set to finally go ahead, with a re-worked format to offer all competitors the opportunity to secure a US$5000 grant, in addition to competing for the global title in a virtual final in June.
The grant comes on the back of the huge impact the COVID-19 pandemic has had across the world of bartending and will fund each competitor’s time to devise and develop a project or enterprise that supports the industry’s recovery.
Dickie Cullimore, Global Brand Ambassador for Bacardi Rum said: “We are happy to confirm that our amazing competitors from 2020 will finally have their opportunity to compete for the title, and I’m so proud that the Bacardi Legacy Gran Familia will be putting its arms around them and some real support behind them this year as they persist in an industry that has suffered great challenges.
“It really felt like we needed to do something that offers them a real and immediate boost and also a springboard towards the recovery our creative and resilient industry will surely achieve. We have all missed Bacardi Legacy this last year, but we can’t wait to bring the Gran Familia together again virtually in 2021 for an incredible week of education, friendship great cocktails and competition.”
The El Coco grants – named after the iconic palm tree planted outside the first Bacardi distillery in Cuba that came to symbolise strength and resilience – will be paid directly to each of the 2020 global finalists upon receipt of their project idea in order to ‘seed’ their initiative and allow it to grow.
The competitors will also then be invited to bring their original ‘Legacy’ cocktail to the world and compete for the global title in a virtual competition to be live-streamed, with the winner announced on June 30.
The 2020 Global Final was scheduled to happen in Miami last May, but could not go ahead because of the pandemic. Since announcing the postponement Bacardi has maintained its intention to reschedule the event and enable all involved to showcase their hard work and talent on a global stage.
In delivering this promise with the addition of the El Coco bartender grants, Bacardi said it hopes to offer real financial support to the competitors who have worked so hard to develop and promote their unique Legacy cocktails, while also helping them to germinate innovations and solutions to boost their careers and the hospitality industry as it looks to recover from the troubled past year.