A new league has been set up to enable bartenders in the BH area to challenge each other in a series of organised events over the course of the year.
The league will consist of monthly challenges at various venues over the course of the year. A different product will sponsor each event where drinks are created based on a certain theme.
Each competitor will vote for their entrants and points shall be awarded in accordance and by December 2013, we will have a winner.
James Fowler, owner of The Larder House in Southbourne, created the league with an emphasis of creating a healthy competition between bartenders in the area.
‘We want to educate bartenders and create a community of bartenders so that they can learn from each other,’ says James, sat in his restaurant whilst overseeing that evenings whisky and game menu.
‘Three of four years ago there was a large close-knit bartending community, but people have drifted away to cities such as Bristol, Bath and London. This has resulted in brand representatives to drift away from Bournemouth and is possibly a reason why less money is being put into Bournemouth.
‘Bristol is on the up and there seems to be a buzz that the brand reps follow. We are hoping that exposure to the Bournemouth Bartenders League will bring those reps back and give a far more local feel.’
As well as creating a community, the competition will create incentives for bartenders in the area to learn and improve their knowledge and products as each competition will be preceded with a lesson in the brand.
‘Training is few and far between in Bournemouth,’ concedes James, ‘so it is a great opportunity to learn. We want to encourage younger bartenders to learn and strive.’
The first competition took place at Smokin’ Aces, sponsored by Monkey Shoulder Whiskey and based around the theme of Burns night.
This is a perfect venue for a whisky based competition after emerging with a decent reputation with their selection of whisky and bourbon.
It has been open for over two years and has developed into a bar that offers cocktail service, interesting beers and premium spirits in a downtown rock ‘n’ roll style.
A lively training based on Monkey Shoulder Whisky precedes the competition.
We are informed how the whisky is made from three single malts (all from Speyside if you really must know), how tasters inspect every batch to ensure continuity and learn how they brand themselves to set themselves apart from other whisky.
Monkey Shoulder gets its name from an injury that occurs when workers turn the malt during production.
The malt is shovelled by hand in order from one line, to another. Sounds like tedious hard work, but you can pay for the privilege of doing this manual labour.
Co-organiser Salvatore Damiano introduces the first round of the competition and emphasises the goals. ‘
This is about the bar tenders, not necessarily the venues. We want the youngsters to learn and build Bournemouth’s reputation as a quality drinking place.’
There are fourteen competitors for the first round, each given five minutes to prepare and present their cocktails.
First competitor Adam Haines from the Urban Beach Hotel sets the standard high early on.
A hearty buttery warm whisky cocktail served in a tankard along with speakers playing Amazing Grace on bagpipes.
Each competitor has their own take on a Monkey Shoulder cocktail and the garnishes and presentations are dramatically detailed.
Tom Pople from The Larder House creates a Bloody Mary garnished with haggis charcuterie, snipped with a cigar cutter in the style of the beheading of Mary Queen of Scots and fresh on the vine tomatoes that have been injected with ingredients.
Student Joe Prout, who also works at Delicious Dining creates a beer inspired drink served in a half pint glass with faux head and bespoke beer mat while Max Read from host venue Smokin’ Aces admits he is more comfortable singing and therefore serenades us in operatic style.
All fourteen competitors took their turns and voted for their top two. Points were tight but Adam Haines shaded first place, followed by Tom Pople.
Joint third went to Joe Prout and Kane Manley from Chewton Glen. There are prizes on the day, but the overall winner who finishes top of the league at the end of the year will win a whole bunch of goods that have been collected over all the competitions.
Each competition also has a separate prize handed out by the sponsor. On this occasion, Max Read’s entertaining display of his self-proclaimed ‘awesome drink’ won himself the sponsor prize.
The next competition will take place at Mai Tai, Parkstone on 12th February. The sponsor will be Tapatio Tequila and the theme is aphrodisiac.
THE BOURNEMOUTH LEAGUE OF BARTENDERS AFTER COMPETITION ONE
- ADAM HAINES, URBAN BEACH HOTEL, 10
- TOM POPLE, THE LARDER HOUSE 5
- KANE MANLEY, CHEWTON GLEN 3
- JOE PROUT, DELICIOUS DINING 3
- DANIEL BOOTH, SMOKIN ACES 1
- ALEX CHARLESWORTH, CAPTAINS CLUB 1
- TERRY DENNIS, URBAN REEF 1
- MATTHEW DUTTON, SMOKIN ACES 1
- LAWRENCE HAXBY, THE LARDER HOUSE 1
- TOM KING, THE LARDER HOUSE 1
- JACK NOBLE, ARUBA 1
- TOMMY QUY, CAPTAINS CLUB 1
- MAX READ, SMOKIN ACES 1
- SHYAM 1
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