By Rebecca Harris
The first three bartenders through to the grand final of the Bols ‘Gods of Flair’ flair bartending competition were announced last night at Nevermind in Sydney’s Darlinghurst.
In what was a thrilling heat, eight bartenders competed in two rounds of working flair, in which bottles were twisted, bounced and spun around to produce three cocktails.
Dan Farr, Robbie Stowe and Joao Paulo Rodrigues emerged as the top three, earning them a place in the three-day final to be held at the Thredbo ski fields in July.
The grand prize will include a trip to Amsterdam, along with a ‘VIP Bartending Experience’ at the Lucas Bols Academy.
Local flair bartending company Twisted Liquid director and judge Leeroy Petersen said that it was an “amazing” competition.
“It was by far one of the hardest competitions Australia has seen to date, with some of our top [flair bartenders] competing in one night,” he said.
Industry experts Dan Woolley, Jason Crawley and Dylan Howarth and Bols brand ambassador Michael Dackiw, made up the rest of the judging panel.
Bols ‘Gods of Flair’ flair bartending competition is being held in association with TheShout and bars&clubs magazine, and the second heat will be held in Sydney on May 26.
Stay tuned to TheShout for more details on the next heat.