Julio Cabrera (Regent Cocktail Club) and Michael Parish (Broken Shaker) are heading to the Big Apple to represent the 305 in one of the country's most prestigious bartending competitions -- the U.S. Bartenders' Guild (USBG) and World Class U.S. "U.S. Bartender of the Year" competition. Both Miami mixologists won a coveted place in the competition for their superior original cocktails.
The two-day competition starts today, June 3, and will pit 20 of the nation's finest mixologists against each other for five rounds of challenges.
The challenges test each bartender's knowledge of spirits, mixing skills, showmanship, and creativity, including a "Retro Chic" challenge (where bartenders will be tested on their knowledge of classic cocktails and their ability to create original cocktails based on classics); a "Food Pairing" challenge; a "Ritual Theater" challenge (where bartenders will present judges with a signature bottle serve inspired by the holiday of their choice); a "Cocktails Against Clock" challenge; and a "Brand Mastery" challenge.
The winner of the event will be crowned the 2013 U.S. Bartender of the Year and will represent the nation against 49 bartenders from around the globe in the international competition, set to take part on the Azamara Club cruise ship, sailing along the French Riviera from July 4-9, 2013.
