In Scotland’s second big sporting upset of the summer, our team at a top UK bartenders domino tournament progressed to the final only to be beaten by the English.
Mangrove Global and St. Lucia Distillers rum brand Bounty Rum organised their inaugural Bounty Domino Tournament around three regional heats – in Glasgow at VEGA; in Manchester at Side Street Studio; and in London at the Burlock Rum Room.
Topping that Scottish heat were a team named ‘The Domi-Hoes’, comprising Ross Campbell of The Ivy in Buchanan Street and Johnny Morrison of VEGA, who then travelled to London’s Dalston Rooftop for the final.
There they faced the southern heat winners, Holly Raffill and Becky Malik, collectively the ‘Scissor Sisters’, from Incipio Group, and the northern English contingent, ‘Lieutenant Nescafe’, comprising Momona and Gemma Wade of Manchester.
Surrounded by colleagues and supporters, the three teams played the strategic game against each other twice, battling to earn the top prize of a trip to Saint Lucia.
Supported by chef SavJointz and DJ Lightning, alongside the St. Lucian Association of London, the evening also involved Bounty Rum cocktails and punch, which may have been a factor in the shock defeat of the Scotland squad, who were ultimately bested by the Scissor Sisters, who will now make their way to Saint Lucia for the Caribbean trip of a lifetime.
Brand ambassador for St. Lucia Distillers, Dave Marsland, said: “We had a fantastic response across the UK with fun heats and a lively Saint Lucian final in London as we celebrated the island’s love of dominoes, paired with the flavoursome Bounty Rum range!
“It’s been great bringing the two together for the first time in the UK, and I look forward to hosting many more over the coming years.”
In Saint Lucia, it is said that you’ll find Bounty Rum behind every bar, where locals traditionally enjoy it while playing dominoes. Bright red and yellow painted rum shacks sport the Bounty Rum brand colours across the island.
Distilled in the Roseau Valley, one mile away from the Caribbean Sea, Bounty Rums are produced from start to finish in the island’s only distillery, using molasses. Tropical rainwater is harvested on top of the roofs of the facilities and used to blend the rums, creating a smooth product.
Nick Gillett, MD of Mangrove Global, which distributes Bounty Rum in the UK, said: “This was an unbelievable evening and we were able to bring light to dominoes which is a game we probably all learnt to play at some point in our childhood.
“It helped demonstrate to those in the hospitality trade that Bounty is here, and how wickedly fun it is to play dominoes. I’m so proud to be instilling this integral Saint Lucian tradition and we intend to keep building our wonderful Saint Lucian and Caribbean community here in the UK, with more Bounty Rum events.”
