Ultimate bartender challenge announced by Free Lanka

• Commences on 1 August
• Competition will be more challenging this year
• Opportunity to represent Sri Lanka in international competitions

By Poorabi Gaekwad

In yet another endeavour to attract the youth of Sri Lanka into the hospitality trade, Free Lanka Trading announced the 25th National Mixology Challenge 2017. 

Acknowledged as the ultimate mixer’s challenge by the entire hospitality industry, this contest is scheduled to begin on 1 August, and will reach its climax at the Finals, which will be held at The KingsburyColombo on 23October.

“Our ultimate goal of the National Mixology Challenge 2017 is to train and develop talents of the youth of today to match international hospitality standards,” said Free Lanka Trading Head of Sales and Marketing and a Member of the Judging Panel Asela Kumaranathunga. 

“At a time when Sri Lanka is focusing on its tourism trade, we are pleased to be part of a competition like this to attract the youth of today to join the hospitality trade. We hope likeminded Sri Lankans enter the trade for their personal betterment as well as the development of the economy of the country.”

The 25th National Mixology Challenge is being held in association with The Hotels Association of Sri Lanka, as well as other international brands like Marie Brizard, and SKYY. 

The panel of judges for the regional competitions comprise of eminent personalities in the beverage sector from Sri Lanka and abroad. In their journey of more than two decades, the judges have had the tedious task of looking for someone with a superior taste and nose, someone who can prepare and dish out cocktails in front of the judges with a flair and showcase his/her skills while also being stylishly dressed.

The competition will be conducted island-wide, with seven major regions like Colombo, Negombo, Down South, Kandy, Cultural Triangle, and North East, having preliminary rounds and seminars soon. These are open to all personnel employed by the Sri Lankan Tourism Board approved hotels, restaurants and other catering establishments involved in bar tending as well as students of various Hotel Schools in the country. Among the participants, six winners of each region will be able to do WSET Level 1 Awards in Spirits free-of-charge, basic courtesy of Free Lanka Trading. 

Semi-finalists selected at the preliminary contests will battle it out in the Finals while displaying razor-sharp skills in the ‘Classical Challenge’ and the ‘Flaring Challenge’. Apart from winning numerous cash prizes, rewards, as well as trophies, the winner of the Classical Challenge will get an opportunity to travel to France and represent Sri Lanka in the ‘Marie Brizard World Championship Seminar and Competition 2018’ in France; while the winner of the ‘Flaring Challenge’ will get the opportunity to travel to Dubai and represent Sri Lanka in the ‘Flair Championship’ in Dubai. 

“It becomes the duty of the people in the country who are involved in the industry to put more and more effort to support young people,” said Beverage Academy International Sri Lanka CEO Joseph Kenny,who is also one of the judges. “Our intention is to uplift the standards of our young boys and girls who are in the beverage industry.”

With last challenge being a success, and also because this year is the Silver Jubilee of the Mixology Challenge, the judges expect a far better and talented pack of contestants.

Pix by Lasantha Kumara