After a series of state-specific heats, five bartenders have earned the right to compete in this year’s Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge national final, where each will fight for the title of Australian brand ambassador.

The national finalists are:

NSW – Jimmy Irvine, Baxter Inn

WA – Joe Sinagra, Bobeche

SA – Roman Tazhdynov, The Bibliotheca Bar

VIC – Paul Ramsay, Dutchess

QLD – Alex Boon, Jahh Tiger

Brittany Page, island2island Brand Manager, says:

“We’ve met some incredibly passionate and talented bartenders on this whirlwind tour of the country. We’ve been impressed but the creativity and the skills of everyone who has competed in the state heats.”

The winner of the national final will not only take home $10,000 in prize money, but will also win the job of Angostura’s Australian Brand Ambassador for the coming year. The winner will also represent the country in a global final to be held in Trinidad early next year.

“ At this stage of the competition, [the competitors] will have to be more innovative and demonstrate their capacity to create well-balanced cocktails to stand out from the other finalists. They will need to think about the fact we are also looking for something to represent Angostura as an ambassador, so professionalism and presentation is key. We are looking to send the best to Trinidad to compete.”

Island2island will host the Australian final in Sydney on Monday 31 August.