World’s Leading Drinks Experts Announced As Judges

World’s Leading Drinks Experts Announced As Judges For 7th 42below Cocktail World Cup

42BELOW is proud as punch to announce its most esteemed line up of international judges for the 7th annual 42BELOW Cocktail World Cup. Not only do they know a lot about drink, they know how to drink, too, (which means responsibly and with style and grace).

Each year, the 42BELOW Cocktail World Cup attracts teams of the world’s best bartenders to Queenstown, New Zealand for a week of intense competition. The only people who work harder than these world class mixologists, are our international panel of judges.

From New York is America’s most influential and well-respected drinks writer, David Wondrich. Labelled by the New York Times as ‘a living iPod of drink lore and recipes’, there is nothing this man doesn’t know about drink making and drinking. He travels the world giving cocktail seminars, is the drinks correspondent for ‘Esquire’ magazine and the author of books including the bestselling and critically acclaimed ‘Punch’ and ‘Imbibe’. “I'm enormously excited to be a part of the Cocktail World Cup, not only because of its sterling reputation as a test of bartending skill and ingenuity, but also because of the high-spirited energy that surrounds the event. On to New Zealand,” says Wondrich.

From the UK, we have ensnared the services of the ‘Maestro’ of cocktail making and one of the world’s leading bartenders, Salvatore Calabrese. Calabrese is loved by his loyal customers, for his stunning drinks and his performance abilities behind the bar, most recently at FIFTY at London’s St James. He is currently preparing to launch the city’s most exciting and exclusive bar at the new Playboy Club. Calabrese grew up in a small village in Italy before moving to London and quickly establishing himself as one of the most celebrated and innovative bartenders around, known especially for his passion and access to rare cognacs. A previous president of the UK Bartenders Guild, Calabrese says he can’t wait to be part of such a unique event, “It is a true celebration of talent and challenges not only our finest bartending skills but also the bartender’s ability to work as team players, displaying the brotherhood that exists in our industry of which I am so proud to be a part,” says Calabrese.

Rounding out the judging panel is the man who knows more about 42BELOW than anyone else, our long serving global vodka professor and living legend, Jacob Briars. Briars has spent eight years traveling the world peddling this award winning kiwi vodka, transforming a small, yet inspired, garage creation to an international brand poured in the best bars and clubs around the world. Along the way he has educated more than 15 thousand bartenders on the true joys of 42BELOW. His dedication and unwavering commitment to the brand will be honoured during the 42BELOW Cocktail World Cup and there is no one better qualified to judge these bartenders than the man who has taught them everything they know about the brand.

The 42BELOW ‘Carnival of the Cocktail’ launch in spectacular style on March 14th in Queenstown. The week long competition including challenges like ‘Modern Mocktail’ and ‘21St Century Punch’ will culminate in a truly audacious grand final event on March 18th under a big top marquee.
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