Rum cocktail champs put on a show in Jamaica

The spectacular sunken centrepiece of the Hope Botanical Gardens in Kingston Jamaica was the setting for the major Appleton Estate Jamaica rum 2010 International Bartender Showcase event - a masterclass appreciation of the fine art of cocktail making from ten of the top international markets of Appleton Estate rum.

These ten champions, who had previously won through heats and finals in their own countries, set up individual bars in the gardens using Appleton Estate Jamaica rum to create world class cocktails. Each bar station was constructed around a stylised archway that had a TV monitor bearing their name and nation, together with images of the champion within their home bar environment. This was truly the best of the best creating amazing rum cocktails from ingredients gathered the day before from the fruit and vegetable markets of down-town Kingston.

Pictured: L-R Francisco Bretau – Spain, Josh Ivanovic – UK, Carlos Morelos – Mexico, Serena O’Callaghan – Australia, Joy Spence (Appleton’s master blender), Jamie Lawton – New Zealand, Steve Fanning – Cayman, David McConnell (Appleton’s MD, global marketing), Gerry Jobe – Canada, Manuel Cigarrostegui – Peru, St. Aublin Kidd – Jamaica, and Brian Miller – US

1 December 2010 - Felicity Murray