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Greger Lindberg, the Swedish bar manager of Viking Cinderella, wins the Bacardi Bartender of the Year title for his Rocks/Highball cocktail, Jinx, inspired by Bombay Sapphire Gin |
US. Bacardi Group crowned the winners of the Fourth Bacardi Cruise Competition at an exclusive awards gala on Fisher Island, Florida. The contest offers cruise and ferry line bartenders and chefs the opportunity to showcase their talents.
Greger Lindberg, bar manager of Viking Cinderella, was named the Bacardi Bartender of the Year for his Rocks/Highball cocktail, and Alex Hekimov, pastry chef of Silversea Cruises, received the Bacardi Chef of the Year title for his dessert.
Selected from a group of ten semi-finalists (five cocktail and five culinary), the two top prize winners each received cash scholarships, presented in co-operation with competition partner the Marine Hotel Association.
“The Fourth Bacardi Cruise Competition continues to see an increase in global popularity as this year three European lines were named as semi-finalists and cocktail category winners,” said Bacardi Travel Retail Division Americas Vice President José Chao. “This international growth is a testament to the exceptional bartenders and mixologists that are found on ships worldwide.
“Furthermore, this was the first year international celebrity mixologists judged the cocktail entries to choose our five category winners, adding an impressive global element to the judging process. We are thrilled to highlight these talented cocktail and culinary artisans.”
During the awards gala, guests could vote for their favourite cocktail and culinary dish, thereby choosing a bartender and chef to receive the People’s Choice Award. This year’s winners were Remigiusz Labus of Unity Line for his apple mojito cocktail, and Trevor Fernandes of Carnival Cruise Lines for his meat entrée.
Changes to this year’s contest included the addition of Cazadores Tequilas, and the Signature Cocktail category required the use of pineapple. To highlight the range of Bacardi rum and flavoured rums, a new Bacardi Mojito cocktail category was added.
Bacardi Mojito’s global popularity has grown since the award-winning Bacardi Mojito Lifestyle Experience programme expanded to airports worldwide in 2008, the company said.
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Alex Hekimov, pastry chef of Silversea Cruises, is named Bacardi Chef of the Year, for his dessert |
THE WINNING ENTRIES
BACARDI BARTENDER OF THE YEAR
Rocks/Highball Cocktail:
– Greger Lindberg, Viking Line, for his Jinx cocktail, inspired by Bombay Sapphire Gin
Cocktail category winners:
Martini Cocktail:
– Larysa Shlyapina, Cunard Line, for Appearance Martini Cocktail, inspired by Grey Goose La Poire Flavoured Vodka
Signature Cocktail:
– Bebin Joseph Kurian, Norwegian Cruise Line, for Bar-Breeze, inspired by Cazadores Anejo Tequila, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Bacardi Coconut Flavoured Rum
Frozen:
– Kiran Aguiar, Norwegian Cruise Line, for Gin-Ger-Rita, inspired by Cazadores Reposado Tequila, Bombay Sapphire Gin, Drambuie Liqueur
Mojito:
– Remigiusz Labus, Unity Line, for Apple Mojito, inspired by Bacardi Big Apple Flavoured Rum.
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Winning dessert: Alex Hekimov’s Citrus and Bacardi Indulgence, inspired by Bacardi flavoured rums |
BACARDI CHEF OF THE YEAR
Dessert:
– Alex Hekimov, Silversea Cruises, for Citrus and Bacardi Indulgence, inspired by Bacardi Flavoured Rums
Culinary Category Winners:
Appetizer:
– Vairavan Ve, Royal Caribbean International, for Bacardi Limón Marinated Seared Tuna and Scallop Tartar, inspired by Bacardi Limón
Fish/Seafood:
– Denis Schnitzler, Royal Caribbean International, for Grilled Scallops with Asparagus and Pancetta Ragout, inspired by Bacardi 8 Year Old Rum
Meat Entrée:
– Trevor Fernandes, Carnival Cruise Lines, for Braised Beef, inspired by Drambuie Liqueur and Disaronno Original Liqueur
Poultry:
– Christian Carbillet, Princess Cruises, for Bacardi and Coke Marinated Spicy Chicken Wings, inspired by Bacardi Superior Rum.
MORE STORIES ON BACARDI GROUP AND BACARDI CRUISE COMPETITION
Top cruise executives gather to judge Bacardi contest – 20/02/09
Bacardi takes to the high seas with fourth annual Bacardi Cruise Competition – 10/11/08
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