Celebrating its 90th anniversary, the UK’s largest bartenders’ organisation has launched a fresh search for the nation’s top cocktail maker.
The UK Bartenders’ Guild has held its National Cocktail Competition more than 30 times in its long history, most recently in 2021, and the competition returns in 2024 as both a celebration of the guild’s past and a look to the future of UK mixology.
Entries for the UK competition close on August 12th, with the final scheduled to be held in London on September 9th, with the eventual winner going on to represent the nation at IBA World Cocktail Competition finals in Madeira in October.
The competition brief states that entrants should be inspired by UKBG’s ‘heritage, founders, and its current era’ and incorporate elements that reflect the organization’s history as an IBA founder member.
Each entrant will need to demonstrate both technical skills and creative vision, using a mix of spirits and bases to develop ‘a unique set of cocktails that balance flavour, aesthetics and style’ to impress the judges.
President of the UK Bartenders’ Guild, Claudia Carrozzi, said: “The UK has some of the most creative and skilful bartenders in the world. Innovation and talent are ingrained in our national bartending culture, and it’s always a thrill to see what the country’s best can bring when they’re put to the test.
“Competitions like the NCC and WCC are vital to the continual development of our industry. The levels of professionalism and experience are a great showcase to both the UK, and the rest of the world, of the opportunities available for bartenders and mixologists, and help to promote the wider hospitality industry as well,” said Carrozzi.
“Our competitors always bring such an exceptional level of skill and talent that makes it a true joy to witness them at work. We’re really excited to see who becomes our next breakout star of the UK’s mixology industry and to see them take on the best the world has to offer when they compete at the IBA World Finals in October.”
The 2024 National Cocktail Competition is being sponsored by Incognito Spirits, Mrs Betters Bitters, Fabbri and Everleaf. Entries can be made here.
