BACARDI Superior rum Legacy Cocktail Competition

4th of Feb, 2010

The Ultimate Winner of the BACARDI Superior rum Legacy Cocktail Competition 2008 and the 2009 Three ‘Most Promising’ Winners are announced.

February 4th, 2010: BACARDI Superior rum’s 148th Founder’s Day: Agostino Perrone of London’s Connaught Hotel Bar has become the first ever Ultimate Winner of the BACARDI Superior rum Legacy Cocktail Competition. Awarded by competition judge and bar legend Peter Dorelli in the spectacular surroundings of One Marylebone in London, Agostino was declared the winner by the competition judges for the success and promotion of his sublime BACARDI rum cocktail, the Mulata Daisy, throughout 2009.

David Paskins, Senior Brand Manager for BACARDI Superior rum said: “Ago’s dedication to the competition was fantastic and his approach to marketing his drink was inspired, including the production of his own limited-edition photo-essay booklet that told the story of the inspiration behind his cocktail and the journey that he has embarked upon with it. Each of the Three Most Promising finalists from 2008 took great initiative over the past 12 months but Ago is a deserved victor and we are proud to award him the title of the first ever Ultimate Winner, and to celebrate the Mulata Daisy as part of the BACARDI rum cocktail legacy.”

Agostino was presented with a beautiful bespoke cocktail shaker, designed by David Redman, in front of a gathered crowd of more than 200 of the bar industry’s most illustrious guests who also attended the prestigious event to watch the National Final of the 2009 competition, where seven new finalists battled it out for a place as one of the Three Most Promising for the next 12-month cycle of the Legacy Cocktail Competition.

The competition, which challenges the best bartenders from the UK and Eire to create the next BACARDI Superior rum Legacy Cocktail, attracted more than 240 initial entries. After an extensive judging process spanning three months, just seven national finalists (one from each region) were chosen to compete.

During the day each of the seven National Finalists presented a 12-month marketing plan to a panel of five judges - UK bartending legend Peter Dorelli; David Cordoba, BACARDI rum’s Global Brand Ambassador; Rebecca Seal, Assistant Editor of the Observer Food Monthly; Ian Burrell, The UK’s Rum Ambassador; and Jake Burger, owner of the Portobello Star.

At 6.30pm the doors of the art-deco inspired venue were thrown open to more than 200 guests who came to enjoy legendary Bacardi family hospitality and sip from a selection of classic BACARDI rum cocktails. The competition kicked off shortly afterwards and each of the seven National Finalists presented their drinks in turn on a magnificent stage, telling the story of their cocktail and the inspiration behind it to the judging panel and audience.

After two hours of intense competition the judges retired to deliberate on the final decision, taking into account the marketing plans of each of the finalists as well as the taste, appearance and inspiration of each cocktail creation, and their presentation on the night. Ian Burrell then announced the Three Most Promising of 2009: Matthew Dakers from The Hoxton Pony, Scott Tyrer from Bibis Italianissimo, and Erik Lorincz from The Connaught Bar.

All three were rewarded with a Bill Amberg-designed BACARDI rum bar roll, and will visit the family archive in Miami and the Catédral de Ron BACARDI in Puerto Rico on a VIP tour during March 2010. They will then receive marketing support from BACARDI rum across the next 12 months to help them promote their drink and work their way towards becoming the next Ultimate Winner.

The competition final was hosted on February 4th, the 148th anniversary of the founding of Bacardi & Cia in Santiago de Cuba in 1862.

Event design, production and management -
Boutique - +44(0)020 7017 1782