Beefeater Gin announces finalists for its global bartender competition

Beefeater Gin has announced the names of the 31 finalists who will battle it out to become the Mixldn Global Bartender Champion 2018 in February.

Last year’s champion, Evelyn Chick with Beefeater master distiller Desmond Payne.

The 31 hopefuls, hailing from countries including Canada, Iceland, China and Brazil, will compete for the chance to create their own gin with Beefeater’s Master Distiller and recent MBE recipient, Desmond Payne.

During the four-day final due to be held in London, the judging panel, comprised of industry experts including Difford’s Guide editor Simon Difford, Ryan Chetiyawardana of Dandelyan, Doug McMaster of CUB, Alessandro Palazzi of Dukes and Desmond Payne himself, will put the finalists through their paces.

Each bartender will be tasked with creating a cocktail inspired by their home town’s urban diversity with a focus on the balance of flavours, appearance and originality.

For the finale, they will serve their creations to an audience of cocktail and bartending aficionados, with the winner announced on 8 February.

Desmond Payne, Beefeater’s Master Distiller, commented: “This year’s competition has already been the toughest yet, with bartenders from all four corners of the globe creating unique and innovative cocktails. We are experiencing a renaissance in cocktail culture, with the profession of bartending seen in a new light. Through competitions like MIXLDN 7 we are helping to put local ‘mixologists’ on the global stage.

“As I celebrate my 50th year in the industry and see the popularity of gin continuing to soar, I can’t think of a more fitting way to celebrate than to showcase the diversity and potential of Beefeater through the eyes of some of the world’s most talented bartenders. It makes complete sense that Beefeater organises such a great event, being the world most awarded gin and distilled at the heart of London, a city renowned for creativity and innovation”.

The seventh edition of the Mixldn Global Final will take place from 5 to 8 February 2018 at The Bike Shed, 384 Old St, London EC1V 9LT.

This year’s finalists are:

Canada – Jason Griffin, Bacchanal
Iceland – Jónmundur Borsteinsson, Apotek Restaurant
Croatia – Marino Karinja, Bokamorra
Finland – Clément Cariou, A21 Decades
Slovakia – Miroslav Telehanič, Sky Bar & Restaurant
Serbia & Montenegro – Stefan Ćirković, Balkon
Belgium – Julian Kappert, Mercado Antwerp
Bulgaria – Margarita Dimova, Sputnik
China – Ziyu Zhang, The Peninsula, Beijing
Denmark – Marianna Kozanyiova, Curfew Cocktail Bar
Estonia – Mikk Kelder, Butterfly Lounge
Lithuania – Gabrielė Sasnauskaitė, Alchemikas
Mexico City – Luis Fernando Romero Lopez, Bootlegger
Norway – Maxime Verrier, ISM Oslo
Poland – Patryk Kowalski, Woda Ognista
UK – Alexander Walker. The Beaufort Bar, Savoy
Austria – Manuela Lerchbaumer, Easy Bar in Linz
Brasil – Luciano Guimarães, Pina Cocktails & Co (Speakeasy bar)
New Zealand – Charles Stringer David Gillet, Poplar Social
Cyprus – Pavlos Aslanidis, Columbia Beach
Czech Republic – Hana Graclikova, Bar Super Panda Circus
Greece – Ioannis Alexandros Dontas, Bartesera
USA – Jason Seele
Cuba – Arturo Castro de la Uz, Restaurant
Italy – Corey Squarzoni, Speakeasy Liquid Bar
Japan – Satoshi Sugiura
Peru – Jose Anibal Huayllani, Maido
Argentina – Ariel Figueroa
Hong Kong – Maxim Schulte
Sweden – Simon Epale, Pharmarium
South Africa – Keanu Batista