Shake your stuff all the way to the top of the Eiffel Tower at R & B Bar Masters

The search is on for the nation’s next cocktail star. Get your blenders and shakers at the ready and start preparing for a world class experience!

Entries for Bar Masters 2012 are now open. The competition, sponsored by Monin, is back for the second year and will be staged at the Restaurant & Bar Show 2012. It is part of a global competition which sees the world’s leading cocktail shakers competing for the ultimate title of Bar Master 2012.

This is also the New Zealand leg of the Monin Cup where twelve finalists will take the stage for the competition and the winner will be flown to Kuala Lumpur to compete in the semi-final against others from around the globe. From there, the top bartenders get a chance to shake and stir it on top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.

In 2011, New Zealand’s most exciting talent wowed the judges with their creativity and flair but ultimately it was Hannah Walters (ex Mea Culpa) who won them over with her clever cocktail titled ‘Je Ne C’est Quoi’ – French for ‘I Don’t Know What’

Head judge, Croation born Tomas Vikario, an international cocktail connoisseur, will be looking for the most perfectly made and presented cocktail and will make the final decision along with a panel of respected local judges including Frankie Walker of Lion Nathan and Ben Stuart of Beam.

Nominating your favourite bar tender is easy.  Simply enter their details on Facebook by following http://www.facebook.com/barmasters and follow the voting process to ensure that they are in the top five chosen to compete. Nominations are now open (June 22) and everyone who votes goes into win a $100 bar tab.

Cocktail making has evolved over the past few years to become an art form. Bartenders are using science to prepare and perfect drinks including the use of foam, liquid, gels, mists and heat in their creations. It is known as molecular mixology and has taken the world by storm.

Regional events will take place in Queenstown and Wellington next month. Winners from each of these events will be flown to Auckland for the final.

Everyone in the hospitality industry is invited to come and watch the Bar Masters competition at the Restaurant & Bar Show on Sunday August 19 (3pm) with the finals on Monday August 20 (3pm) at ASB Showgrounds.

Registration is free and is open now via the show website www.randbshow.co.nz. Also join us on Facebook http://www.facebook.com/randbshow or follow us on twitter @BEFestivals with the trend #R&BShow

NOMINATIONS OPEN
Date: Friday 22 June, 2012

FINALS
Date: 19 – 20 August, 2012
Venue: ASB Showgrounds, Auckland