At the annual gathering of world cocktail champions in Port of Spain, Trinidad, Angostura Aromatic Bitters today announced the winner of their 2013 Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge. Among dozens of top competitors from many countries, local Trinidadian Daniyel Jones took top honors, along with a $10,000 prize and the opportunity to represent the brand as an ambassador for one year.
It was the eighth cocktail challenge held by Angostura over the years and the first time that someone from Trinidad and Tobago has won. Head Judge and world-renowned bartender Salvatore Calabrese said the presentations by competitors were of a high standard. "I was very surprised at the professionalism that Daniyel displayed. He was creative and produced complex cocktails while displaying all the traits of an excellent mixologist. He showed that he was a bartender, a mixologist, and an actor that commanded the stage in front of the judges."
There was much excitement as each competitor prepared a rum cocktail as well as a cocktail with a spirit of their choice in just 7 minutes.
Winning the Rum Category was Stanislav Mukhin of the Ukraine. Daniyel Jones won the Freestyle category. All competitors received a medal of participation and gained the experience of seeing the beautiful island and the facilities where the famous Angostura aromatic bitters and Angostura rums are made.
The theme of the challenge this year's Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge was "Dimanche Gras" and the House of Angostura was turned into an 18th century plantation house, with ladies and gentlemen of the court in residence, showing their visitors the Waltz. Various traditional carnival characters appeared in the courtyard -- Pierrot grenade, Jab Molassie, Dame Lorraine and soca artist Fyah Empress performed to the large crowd.
Robert A. Burr is the National Rum Examiner. He publishes Rob's Rum Guide and hosts the Miami Rum Renaissance Festival and Rum Renaissance Caribbean Cruise, in addition to organizing the International Rum Expert Panel (RumXP).
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