Media release
17 August 2007

Bartenders Battle for Flair Title

Art, skill, entertainment and exotic cocktail ingredients will mix at Wellington’s Coyote Bar this Monday (August 20) as the region’s bartenders battle it out for the title of Wellington’s Flair Bartending Champion.

Combining flair and entertainment with knowledge of cocktails and exceptional customer service, the winner will represent Wellington in the National Flair Bartending Championships at Auckland’s HospitalityNZ Show next month.

Entertaining as well as challenging, the national competition will put the country’s most talented cocktail makers through their paces.

The competition is the brainchild of Karaitiana Wall or Karai — New Zealand’s version of Tom Cruise in the movie Cocktail.

“There was no recognised national competition that challenged bartenders in a way that combined their technical, customer service and entertainment skills, so we wanted to bring together an event that challenged them and was enjoyable for onlookers,“ says Karai who runs Flairblacks International cocktail training academy and will be overseeing the events.

“The regional events will select 15 of the best bartenders in the country,” he says. “There’s a lot of skill that goes in to bartending, like making customers feel welcome, service with a smile, speed and product knowledge, as well as making great cocktails.

“Flair bartending combines art and science in a uniquely entertaining mix — much like a good cocktail!”

Hamilton was the first of five regional events held last weekend and the winner of that event was Duncan Crilley from Tauranga's Astrolab Bar. Winners from Hamilton, Christchurch, Wellington, Whangarei and Auckland will compete against each other in the national semi finals at the HospitalityNZ Bar Show in Auckland 2 – 4 September.

They will show off their unique mix of skills to hospitality industry suppliers, restaurateurs and bar owners who will be attending HospitalityNZ, the trade show that encompasses the NZ Bar Show and is the country’s biggest hospitality event.

A grand final celebrating the supreme winner will be held at Auckland’s Skycity’s Bar 3 immediately after the national finals on Monday 3 September.

The Wellington final will be held at Wellington’s Coyote Bar, Monday 20 August from 4pm, public welcome to attend.

ENDS

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