Hobart bartender Rohan Massie has won the Oceania final of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge.
Massie, who is venue manager at Rude Boy, was up against five other bartenders from Australia and New Zealand on Monday night at Smoke Bar at Barangaroo in Sydney.
He made two cocktails; one using Angostura’s rum portfolio and the other using Amaro di Angostura, with both cocktails featuring its iconic bitters range.
Massie said: “I can’t believe it. The competition was so tough, I was certain one of the others would get it. Full respect to everyone else but man, it feels great to win! It’s a tough comp this one; you only get seven minutes to make two cocktails and because it’s all about the quality of your drinks and your chat, there’s nowhere to hide. I’m truly humbled.”
Head Judge Dan Gregory, who is the previous winner and Australian Brand Ambassador, said: “Any of tonight’s competitors would have done us proud at the global finalists in Trinidad. I’m looking forward to see how Rohan goes. His drinks were first class and his presentation was flawless. I think he could stand a good chance of taking out the global title.
“Being brand ambassador has been a once in a lifetime experience and I wish Rohan all the best for the next year. Strap in, it’s a wild ride!”
Massie pockets $10,000 as well as a year’s contract as the Oceania Angostura Brand Ambassador and will move on to the global final of the competition, held in Trinidad & Tobago.
There he could win the ultimate prize of the title of “Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge Champion”, $US10,000 and a two-year contract as Angostura’s Global Brand Ambassador, representing Angostura’s iconic bitters, award winning rum and amaro portfolio.
Second place went to Andrea Marseglia from Madame George in Auckland with Taylor Matthews from Beneath Driver Lane in Melbourne taking out third. The other three finalists competing were Campbell Nicol, also from Rude Boy in Hobart; Storm Evans from Cobbler in Brisbane and Jordan Davies from Los Banditos in Wellington.
The judging panel for the Oceania final included 2017 Australian winner, Dan Gregory; Australia’s Rum Expert and Director of Rum Club Australia, Tom Bulmer; and 2010 Australian/2011 Global winner, Andy Griffiths, who flew in from Singapore for the night.
Rohan’s rum cocktail “Doctor's Orders” included Angostura 5 Year Old Rum, basil leaves, strawberry cordial, mandarin juice, coconut milk, fresh lime juice and Angostura orange bitters
His Amaro cocktail “Hidden Perfection” featured Amaro di Angostura, sparkling banana wine, beetroot soda, parsley tincture and Angostura orange bitters.
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