By James Wells
Australian bartenders have less than one week to enter the local leg of the Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail competition, which will be judged by a panel of local industry experts and Bacardi Global Brand Ambassador, David Cordoba, next month.
This year is the first time Australians have been able to participate in the competition in its five-year history and bartenders wishing to be involved must email: legacy@bacardilion.com to submit their expression of interest and return their registration form before Monday 30 September.
Bacardi announced today that Global Brand Ambassador, David Cordoba, will be the national judge for the competition and will be travelling throughout Australia at the end of October and throughout early November to taste the short-listed Legacy drinks in conjunction with a local judging panel.
Cordoba will work with his panel to select one bartender from each of the five regionals who will be known as Australia's first 'Five Most Promising' and these bartenders will compete at a National Final to be held in Sydney in March 2014.
One of Latin America's leading bartenders, Cordoba, was born in Argentina and is best-known for working as bar manager at Edinburgh bar Bramble before becoming the global brand ambassador for Bacardi five years ago.
According to Bacardi senior brand manager, Demetrius Giouzelis, Australian bartenders entering the competition should create a drink which is "balanced and refreshing" and that "endures the test of time such as the true original Bacardi drinks – the Mojito, Daiquiri and Cuba Libre".
"Bacardi Legacy is one of the true grand slams of competition bartending, and we are delighted it's open to Australian bartenders for the first time. Australian bartenders are internationally recognised for their innovation and creativity, and I can't wait to see an Australian bartender representing us in Moscow," Giouzelis said.
Bacardi Legacy will respond to bartenders to ensure Registration forms are received by midnight on the 30 September deadline, ahead of the regional heat.