Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum hosted their UK Bartender Challenge finals at the Ruins at the Mona Visitor’s Lodge and they certainly raised the bar.

Dubbed the world’s toughest bartending competition, the preliminary rounds of the Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum UK Bartending Challenge was held in the United Kingdom last year with the top three finishers travelling to Jamaica to contest the finals.

On Tuesday, June 3 Paul Mant and Rich Hunt of Mahiki Bar in London and Bruce Hamilton of Tigerlily in Edinburgh faced off at the Mona Visitors’ Lodge for what would be the ultimate test of a bartender – a one and a half hour stint behind the bar with a huge crowd of enthusiastic consumers eager to try their delicious cocktails.

On arrival each guest was given a gold Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum coin and just before MC Francois St Juste introduced the three finalists he explained that the guests would choose who they thought should be the Champion Bartender by dropping their coin in the bucket at each of the finalist’s bartending station.

As the showdown began, the level of excitement grew as each finalist turned out drinks from a pre-selected cocktail menu as well as some of their own signature cocktails which they created from Jamaican products that they purchased during visits to our local supermarkets and fruit stalls.

Paul Mant served up Appleto, Estate V/X Mai Tais and Coconut Daiquiris as well as slices of a watermelon that had been infused with Wray & Nephew White Overproof Rum and sprinkled with sugar, amongst other cocktails.

Bruce Hamilton, who is originally from Trinidad, wowed with his special coconut water punch as well as his array of martinis, which he garnished with his foam machine that he brought from Edinburgh especially for the occasion.

Rich Hunt’s Appleton Estate V/X tamarind martinis rimmed with sugar, chili pepper and ground coriander seeds had everyone talking, as did his Jamaica Tea Time which consisted of Appleton Estate V/X Jamaica Rum, Ribena and a tea bag which he left in the drinks for just a few minutes.

At the end of the showdown, Rich Hunt’s glass bucket had the most tokens and therefore by popular vote he was crowned the Appleton Estate V/X UK Bartending Champion.

The Appleton Estate V/X UK Bartender Challenge was conceived by Ben Reed and Paul McFadyen of IP Bartenders in London. IP Bartenders is the largest and most successful provider of bartender training in the UK, and Ben Reed is one of the industry’s best-known mixologists. He has also hosted a series on the BBC called Shaker Maker and has published several books including Cool Cocktails; The Art of the Cocktail; and his latest release, The Bartender’s Guide.

Also visiting Jamaica for the event was last year’s Champion Gregor de Gruyther who served on the judging panel for this year’s competition, as well as Richard Woods of La Floridita in London who was also a judge and J Wray & Nephew Limited’s Samantha Burke.

Following the finals, the bartenders visited the Appleton Estate where the finest rum in the world has been made since 1749, and after they headed to Negril to get some well-earned R&R as well as experience some of Jamaica hot spots including Ricks Café and the Chukka Adventure’s Canopy Tour.