BARCELONA, July 20 — David Rios, bartender at The Jigger Cocktail in Bilbao, was named Bartender of the Year in the Diageo World Class 2013 Global Finals that culminated in Barcelona.
In the final round, the 28-year-old Spaniard beat 44 international mixologists with a balance of robust flavours and a hint of bitterness in his Basque Gold Punch, a complex cocktail based on Johnnie Walker Gold Reserve, vodka and Amer Picon along with grapefruit and kumquat juices.
This year marked the fifth edition of the Diageo World Class competition, organised by spirits maker Diageo Reserve. Over 15,000 bartenders from around the world were invited to compete, selected from each of the 44 participating countries at national qualifying rounds.
The final was held on the Azamara Journey, a ship that cruised along the Mediterranean coast from Monte-Carlo to Ibiz before dropping anchor in Barcelona for the grande finale. — AFP/Relaxnews
