On National Rum Day today, Chairman’s Reserve Australia is announcing the top 15 bartenders who have qualified to go through to the second round of the Chairman’s Reserve Mai Tai Competition.
For Phase 1, bartenders were tasked with creating their best classic Mai Tai cocktail using Chairman’s Reserve Rum, putting it on their bar’s menu and promoting it on social media.
The 15 finalists of Phase 1 of the Chairman’s Reserve Mai Tai Competition are (in alphabetical order):
- Sam Dennett – Cheddr, Bella Vista
- Dion Ferrario – Donny’s Bar, Manly
- Lachlan Gunner – Della Hyde, Darlinghurst
- Andey Hardwick – So-Cal, Neutral Bay
- Craig Kerrison – The Botanist, Kirribilli
- Ilan Levy – Del Punto, Randwick
- Brayden Lew – Doris and Beryl’s, Newtown
- Mark Lovett – The Cuban Place, CBD
- Ciaran McCool – The Wild Rover, Surry Hills
- Aaron Michael – The Forgotten Cask, Waterloo
- Dan O’Leary – The Dock, Redfern
- Oliver Payne – Bondi Hardware
- Davy Pickard – Della Hyde, Darlinghurst
- Freddy Rayfield – The Wild Rover, Surry Hills
- Lachy Sturrock – So-Cal, Neutral Bay
The next phase of the competition will see bartenders create their own signature cocktail inspired by the Mai Tai Tiki Classic using Chairman’s Reserve Rum. The cocktails will be available at their respective bars and promoted on social media. Five finalists will then be selected to compete in the grand final which will be held at The Forgotten Cask Bar in Sydney on Monday 9 October 2017. The winner will be crowned the Mai Tai Chairman for Australia.
Photo Credit – @flashbarecelona @chairmansmaitaispana Used with permission.
