Written by Alex Wayne
LAST Friday night’s competition was riveting when the Guyana Tourism Authority (GTA), in association with Demerara Distillers Limited (DDL) hosted the 2013 leg of the El Dorado National Bartenders Contest.

Though it was evident that all the contestants were talented and creative, it was Julian Walton of the Spice Garden entity who was eventually declared winner of the competition.

This event was hosted at the Guyana Pegasus International Hotel.

In second position was Devon Ramlakhan of the Edge Nightclub, while Anil Singh of the Gravity Nightclub was adjudged third.

All the contending bartenders were tasked with preparing their own rum and vodka-based cocktails, and their scores were tallied by television and radio personality Gordon Moseley; former Miss Guyana Jamzone Queen Shonette Moore; and Lennox Caleb, a master distiller at the DDL.
Julian Walton created a splendid rum-based cocktail, dubbed ‘Flora and Fauna’ while in the vodka-based corner his cocktail was titled ‘Kiss the Rainbow.’ That cocktail also won the prize for the ‘Most Creative Cocktail.’

Second place winner Devon Ramlakhan, submitted a rum-based cocktail called ‘By the Creek’ while his vodka-based creation was called ‘Greenhouse Effect.’

Coming in third, Anil Singh brought to the platter his special rum-based cocktail, which he called ‘Tropical Fusion’while he titled his vodka-based entry ‘Zero Gravity.’

The winner in this event was awarded a trip to a Caribbean destination, compliments of DDL; while his trophy was donated by Wilderness Explorers. The runner-up won a refrigerator, compliments of Courts Guyana Inc. and his trophy was sponsored by the Roraima Group of Companies. The third-place winner was given a brand new Citizens wrist watch, compliments of King’s Jewellery World and a trophy donated by the Herdmanston Lodge.

Other contestants who entered but did not place were last year’s winner, Roland Beckles, whose rum-based cocktail was named ‘Unblemished’. For the vodka side of things, he submitted ‘Vodka my Eyes’.

Ian Robinson of Club Altitude entered with his rum and vodka-based entries named ‘Rum Punch, and ‘Altitude Rush’ respectively.

Balram Sidnauth came into the competition with ‘El Dorado Revolution’ (rum-based cocktail), and ‘Mellon Ball’ (vodka-based cocktail). For Paton Rose of the Upscale Restaurant it was ‘Orchid’, and ‘Teramishu Satisfaction’ respectively; while Stevin Marks submitted ‘Koker Zeelandia’ and ‘Caribbean Breeze’.

The trophy for the Most Creative Cocktail was presented by Ronald Smith of the GTA, while the trophy for the ‘Crowd Favourite Cocktail’ was donated by seven-year-old Myeisha Williams who is the daughter of the organiser, Kemie Williams.