CREATIVE ABSOLUT COCKTAILS NOW ON OFFER FROM ABSOLUT INVITE FINALISTS
Absolut is pleased to announce the winners of Hong Kong’s first ABSOLUT INVITE BARTENDING COMPETITION- TEAM EDITION: Bryson Rivera and Vikky Ma of Bar Q88 in the JW Marriott Hotel.
The Absolut Company has celebrated the outstanding creativity and knowledge amongst the world’s top bartenders since 25 years back, however the Absolut Invite competition steps away from the traditional formats of bar competitions, and instead presents bar teams with unique challenges that are set to test their teamwork skills at a high pace with a race to the very finish.
On 30 April, 8 of Hong Kong and Macau’s best bar teams competed at PLAY Club and around LKF in a series of challenges that tested their creativity, knowledge, speed and teamwork. Teams were included from: Bibo, Skye, Bar Q88, Flint Grill & Bar, PLAY Club, Club Cubic, The Macallan Whisky Bar & Lounge, and Heart Bar. After an exhilarating speed challenge where competitors needed to break record times while accurately concocting a variety of ten cocktails, the judges conferred and crowned Bar Q88 victorious, with the team from Flint Bar & Grill as a first runner-up. Both teams will travel to Stockholm Sweden, with the team from Bar Q88 vying to be crowned the world’s best bar team at the Absolut Invite Global Finals this June.
Rico Dynan said of Absolut Invite: “First and foremost, this competition is about bartending, not mixology. Mixology is a component of bartending, but bartending is a sum of more parts. Absolut Invite tests the many challenges that bartenders face behind the bar. The teams in Hong Kong showed incredible creativity and determination and I am excited to bring some of them to the global stage.”
From June, in celebration of their achievements, a selection of creative cocktails are now on offer from Absolut Invite finalists. The winning cocktail, Andy “Absolut” Warhol Fizz (HK$130), a mix of Absolut with earl grey tea, bergamot, rhubarb and lemonade is now offered at Q88; the team from Flint Bar and Grill presents the Sakura Tera (HK$130), inspired by the Zen of Japanese gardens and featuring the flavors of yuzu, sakura, and cranberry; Bibo offers an ode to the Swedish word for cheers, with their cocktail, Skål (HK$130), comprised of Absolut Elyx, cucumber syrup, homemade rosemary and jalapeno syrup, cucumber bitters garnished with passionfruit tea jelly and rosemary; SKYE presents the Absolut Driver (HK$140) highlighting the flavors of fresh orange, apricot, and caramelized orange.
