Entries open to Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge 2019

Angostura is putting out a call for bartenders in Australia and New Zealand to enter the ANZ regional final of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge.

This is the 10th edition of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge and historically bartenders from the ANZ region have been the ones to watch, having taken out the top prize four times.

The top six entrants from ANZ will be flown to Sydney to compete in the AGCC regional finals. The winner of the ANZ regional final will receive a 12 month contract as the ANZ Angostura Brand Ambassador as well as AUD $10,000. The regional winner will also be flown to Trinidad on an all expenses paid trip during Carnival in February 2020 to compete against some of the world’s best bartenders in the global finals.

The global winner not only takes out the title of Angostura Global Cocktail Champion but will also receive a further US$10,000 and will become the Global Ambassdor for the House of Angostura for two years.

Often thought of as one of the toughest comps on the circuit, each entrant will need to submit two cocktails, as well as a video, a written entry and complete the House of Angostura’s Theatre of Mixing exam. Entries will close on Sunday, August 18. The top six chosen to compete at the regional finals will be announced on August 26.

Bartenders can take up the challenge by entering at https://angosturaglobalcocktailchallenge.com/how-toenter/?country=australia.

Dan Gregory, current Australian Angostura Brand Ambassador said: “If you’re serious about wanting to be in the comp, enter now. Don’t leave it to the last minute as you won’t have enough time.

“The thing to remember is that the drinks you submit at entry are the ones you present in the regional final and the global final, so work hard on the entry at the start and it takes the pressure off for the rest of the comp. You then just have to focus on perfecting the drinks and your chat.”

Ray Letoa, NZ and global winner, added: “We have some of the most talented bartenders in the world in this region. We’ve held the global title four out of nine times, so we are definitely the ones to look out for at global. “Being the global ambassador has been the gig of a lifetime. I’ve travelled the world, met some amazing people, made life-long friends and it’s certainly raised my profile on the circuit.”

In past years, the challenge has seen some of the most influential bartenders in the industry compete for the title. Previous Australian winners include Marco Nunes, Zdenek Kastanek, Andy Griffiths, Joe Sinagra, Mike Tomasic, James Irvine from Four Pillars Gin.