A Manchester mixologist was crowned the world’s best gin bartender at a prestigious French competition last week.
Jamie Jones, who works for premier drinks duo The Liquorists, received the accolade on June 13, a week after facing tough competition from some of the world’s best gin bartenders at the annual Gin Connoisseur Program (GPC) in Cognac, France.
As well as being the winner of the program Jamie also took first place in the hotly-contested Cocktail & Spirit challenge, often referred to as the world’s toughest and most highly respected bartending contest.
Jamie said: “It’s absolutely amazing to win this, it hasn’t even really sunk in yet.”
“I’m just so thrilled to have been able to spend the week with such an incredible group of bartenders.”
Other notable contenders included Germany’s Katrin Reitz, who also won awards in different categories.
The GCP attracts hundreds of entries every year from dozens of countries around the world and representatives from continents such as North America, Africa, Europe and Asia-Pacific.
In a move that surprised many, the GCP switched to being an invitation-only contest in 2013.
Organiser and judge Philip Duff said: “GCP, like its sponsoring brand G’Vine Gin, is traditionally unconventional. That means always striving to innovate while remaining of the highest quality.
“There are far too many bartending contests out there now whose success is solely judged by how many bartenders enter.
“Despite the fact that 500 bartenders enter GCP from around the world each year, GCP has never been about numbers, so starting in 2013 we have decided to choose world finalists through a hand-selection process, picking a dozen or so bartenders to compete in each country.
“This has enabled us not only to retain but to further increase the GCP’s reputation as the toughest and most credible contest in the whole world of bartending.”
For more information visit www.g-vine.com
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