MIAMI, June 4, 2014 /PRNewswire/ --
World's best cruise line bartenders from Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises fight for a place in the DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS™ Global Grand Final
As one of the world's most prestigious cocktail competitions draws closer, four cruise line bartenders who have been victorious over 5,500 other floating mixologists are busy perfecting their cocktail mastery in the hope of securing a coveted place in the grand final.
The final four will go head to head at the DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS™ Global Travel semi-final event, in the deluxe Diageo Bar 396 in Miami, Florida on 12^th June. The cruise line winner will then go forward to compete at the star-studded DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year global final in London, competing against the best bartenders from around the globe.
The four, who will face-off at the glitzy global travel semi-final in Miami on 12^th June, are:
*Princess Cruises*: Carlos F Lintag Jr, 42, from The Philippines is Bar supervisor on the Pacific Princess. Carlos' favourite drink is TANQUERAY^® No.TEN™ Gin and it features in his signature serve, the 'ABCD: Amazing Bartender Cocktail Drink.'
*Norwegian Cruise Line*: O'Neil Anant James Pandit, 33, from India is Assistant Beverage Manager on the Norwegian Getaway. O'Neil has been selected as a semi-finalist for the second year in a row and will conjure up the 'Botanical Wave,' featuring TANQUERAY No.TEN Gin, as his signature cocktail.
*Royal Caribbean International*: Shekhar Grover, 27, from India is Lead Bartender on board the Oasis of the Seas. His inspiration to become a mixologist stems from a fascination with the mystery of how a carefully created concoction can transport consumers to a state of bliss. His signature serve is the 'French Royale,' featuring CIROC^® Vodka.
*Celebrity Cruises*: Agus Gandu Adyana, 27, from Bali is a Flaring Bartender aboard the Celebrity Century. He was inspired to get into mixology by his father, and mentor, and his signature creation is the 'Don Spicy Mangorita,' made with DON JULIO^® Tequila.
Each has proved themselves the best in the cruise line bartender business, winning a series of heats during completion of the DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS training program. This is the biggest year yet for the global travel leg of the competition, with 15 times the number of bartenders taking part (5,500) from four cruise lines than in 2013 when 400 took part from two cruise lines.
Mario Seijo, World Class Global Winner for Latin America & Caribbean 2013, led the training program this year coaching onboard bartenders in showmanship and the latest cocktail-making trends such as 'Mediterranean Mastery,' a theme inspired by the botanicals and culinary influences of the Mediterranean, and an exploration of 'Gin and the Secrets of Distillation' and the impact these have on resulting cocktail creations.
He said: "The Diageo World Class programme has provided cruise line bartenders with advanced mixology training in the most cutting-edge cocktail trends. It takes their craft to the next level, unlocking amazing onboard fine-drinking experiences for passengers. Now, in order to impress the judges, these semi-finalists will need to put everything they learned and the flair they have developed, into creating show-stopping high-end cocktails, using some of the world's leading portfolio of fine spirits - the Diageo Reserve Brands portfolio. I remember my WORLD CLASS experience well and I wish the four competitors the best of luck in reaching the final".
Mario will be joined by two other celebrities in the world of mixology, Enrique De Colsa, Master Distiller at Don Julio Tequila and Arturo Savage, one of Diageo's Senior Reserve Ambassadors, to make up the panel of industry-leading judges who will put the semi-finalists through their paces.
If one of the cruise line bartenders is successful at the Global Final, becoming the Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year, it will set them on a life changing journey. Previous winners of Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year have become recognized industry names, travelling the globe as WORLD CLASS Ambassadors, participating in international high-profile events such as Petra Ecclestone's lavish wedding and consulting on the James Bond film, Skyfall. Reported by PR Newswire Asia 3 days ago.
World's best cruise line bartenders from Princess Cruises, Norwegian Cruise Line, Royal Caribbean International and Celebrity Cruises fight for a place in the DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS™ Global Grand Final
As one of the world's most prestigious cocktail competitions draws closer, four cruise line bartenders who have been victorious over 5,500 other floating mixologists are busy perfecting their cocktail mastery in the hope of securing a coveted place in the grand final.
The final four will go head to head at the DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS™ Global Travel semi-final event, in the deluxe Diageo Bar 396 in Miami, Florida on 12^th June. The cruise line winner will then go forward to compete at the star-studded DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year global final in London, competing against the best bartenders from around the globe.
The four, who will face-off at the glitzy global travel semi-final in Miami on 12^th June, are:
*Princess Cruises*: Carlos F Lintag Jr, 42, from The Philippines is Bar supervisor on the Pacific Princess. Carlos' favourite drink is TANQUERAY^® No.TEN™ Gin and it features in his signature serve, the 'ABCD: Amazing Bartender Cocktail Drink.'
*Norwegian Cruise Line*: O'Neil Anant James Pandit, 33, from India is Assistant Beverage Manager on the Norwegian Getaway. O'Neil has been selected as a semi-finalist for the second year in a row and will conjure up the 'Botanical Wave,' featuring TANQUERAY No.TEN Gin, as his signature cocktail.
*Royal Caribbean International*: Shekhar Grover, 27, from India is Lead Bartender on board the Oasis of the Seas. His inspiration to become a mixologist stems from a fascination with the mystery of how a carefully created concoction can transport consumers to a state of bliss. His signature serve is the 'French Royale,' featuring CIROC^® Vodka.
*Celebrity Cruises*: Agus Gandu Adyana, 27, from Bali is a Flaring Bartender aboard the Celebrity Century. He was inspired to get into mixology by his father, and mentor, and his signature creation is the 'Don Spicy Mangorita,' made with DON JULIO^® Tequila.
Each has proved themselves the best in the cruise line bartender business, winning a series of heats during completion of the DIAGEO RESERVE WORLD CLASS training program. This is the biggest year yet for the global travel leg of the competition, with 15 times the number of bartenders taking part (5,500) from four cruise lines than in 2013 when 400 took part from two cruise lines.
Mario Seijo, World Class Global Winner for Latin America & Caribbean 2013, led the training program this year coaching onboard bartenders in showmanship and the latest cocktail-making trends such as 'Mediterranean Mastery,' a theme inspired by the botanicals and culinary influences of the Mediterranean, and an exploration of 'Gin and the Secrets of Distillation' and the impact these have on resulting cocktail creations.
He said: "The Diageo World Class programme has provided cruise line bartenders with advanced mixology training in the most cutting-edge cocktail trends. It takes their craft to the next level, unlocking amazing onboard fine-drinking experiences for passengers. Now, in order to impress the judges, these semi-finalists will need to put everything they learned and the flair they have developed, into creating show-stopping high-end cocktails, using some of the world's leading portfolio of fine spirits - the Diageo Reserve Brands portfolio. I remember my WORLD CLASS experience well and I wish the four competitors the best of luck in reaching the final".
Mario will be joined by two other celebrities in the world of mixology, Enrique De Colsa, Master Distiller at Don Julio Tequila and Arturo Savage, one of Diageo's Senior Reserve Ambassadors, to make up the panel of industry-leading judges who will put the semi-finalists through their paces.
If one of the cruise line bartenders is successful at the Global Final, becoming the Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year, it will set them on a life changing journey. Previous winners of Diageo Reserve WORLD CLASS Bartender of the Year have become recognized industry names, travelling the globe as WORLD CLASS Ambassadors, participating in international high-profile events such as Petra Ecclestone's lavish wedding and consulting on the James Bond film, Skyfall. Reported by PR Newswire Asia 3 days ago.