The Kingston Industrial Garage (KIG) showroom came alive on Tuesday October 15 when representatives from corporate sponsors of the Jamaica Food & Drink Festival (JFDF) muddled and mixed ingredients as they prepared drinks to be judged in the Cocktail Clash 2019.

The competitors each brought along their cheering squads — some larger than others — who joined guests as they quaffed signature drinks from the Johnnie Walker, National Baking Co Ltd, Appleton Estate and Absolut booths. The anticipation intensified as guests continued to stream into the expansive showroom to witness the showdown. With two prior stages that garnered much social media attention, the competition has become an event that JFDF loyalists look forward to.

The proceedings got underway with a message from JFDF director Alicia Bogues, who called for the competition to become a part of the official schedule of events. After a quick recap of the rules and an introduction of the judges, Barcode Consulting Manager Wynton Hudson took to the stage to begin his demonstrations.

The competition had three preliminary rounds, with four competitors who were tasked with recreating a drink originally prepared by the competition’s chief mixologist Wynton Hudson. Each competitor had the chance to taste Hudson’s cocktail before preparing their own. With time limits that varied based on the complexity of the drink, competitors scrambled to complete their drinks as the crowd snapped photos and shouted in excitement.

In round one, the judges preferred the taste of Sagicor Bank SME Business Banker Terri-Anne Wood’s Johnnie Walker mix. Caribbean Teas Export Manager Jonothan Mahfood emerged the round two winner with his Absolut Watermelon chiller cocktail and round three went to the Appleton Estate Island Spice Daiquiri prepared by Kingston Industrial Garage (KIG) Human Resource Manager Monique McBean-Stanberry.

As the three winners prepared for the finale, guests sampled treats from Tamarind Indian Cuisine and tried mixed drinks from the booths.

A quick palate cleanse courtesy of Wata from Wisynco put the judges in good stead to sample the concoctions the finalists were eager to prepare. The contestants were given 120 seconds to prepare the Absolut Mango Spice. It was a peppery dash to the end as Wood, Mahfood and McBean-Stanberry competed for the cocktail crown. In the end, it was McBean-Stanberry’s concoction that had the perfect balance of sugar and spice to earn her the winning title.

The celebratory mood of the KIG team was infectious as they partied with the other competitors, the JFDF team and other guests to the sounds of DJ Rio. The JFDF Cocktail Clash 2019 was an entertaining evening of camaraderie and cheer.