2018
Superstar bartender Ray Letoa of New Zealand won the Grand Finals of the Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge 2018. Second Place went to Johnny Mansoor of Lebanon and Third Place to Maximiliano Vallée Valletta of Canada
According to Head Judge Mike Ryan, the top three were separated by the smallest of margins. Mr. Letoa won because his cocktails best “captured the vibrancy and exuberance of the islands of Trinidad and Tobago and of the House of Angostura®” he says.
Mr. Letoa was up against 10 other top bartenders from around the world in a fierce competition which saw the contenders create spectacular cocktails using world-famous ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters, ANGOSTURA® orange bitters, Angostura® Rums and Amaro di ANGOSTURA®.
Challenged to make two cocktails in just seven minutes, Mr. Letoa made an Amaro Cocktail using Amaro di ANGOSTURA® called “Deliciousness” and a Rum Cocktail, using Angostura 1824® and two dashes each of ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters and ANGOSTURA® orange bitters, which he called “Old Flame.”
Two other trophies were awarded: Best Amaro Cocktail, to Pedro Martinez of France, representing the European Union, and Best Rum Cocktail, to Johnny Mansoor of Lebanon, representing the Middle East and African Region.
2016
Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge was held on February 7, 2016 at the height of the country’s Carnival season. Early rounds of the Challenge saw 287 participants, drawn from 900 entrants, compete from 36 countries. Ace bartender Neal Ramdhan of Trinidad and Tobago copped the Grand Prize of US$10,000 and the prestigious title of Angostura® Global Brand Ambassador in the 2016 edition of the Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge! Head Judge Jeff “Beach Bum” Berry, renowned drinks personality, author and leading mixologist, led a distinguished panel of judges which included celebrated chef Kathy Casey; London-based career bartender, Esther Medina Cuesta; Australia’s Michael Tomasic, winner of the Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge 2014, and; Carol Homer of Angostura Limited. Cocktails were judged based on taste of the drink, presentation, appearance and aroma.
Competitors profile
Judges Profile
2014
The ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters Global Cocktail Challenge came to a climax on Carnival Sunday, March 2nd, when a select number of mixologists, out of the hundreds of competitors from around the world, were given the chance to compete in the final battle for the ultimate opportunity of representing Angostura as its global brand ambassador for the next 2 years as well as a prize of US$10,000. Copping the title was Mike Tomasic from Australia, from a total of eleven finalists.
2013
Trinidadian Daniyel Jones copped the Angostura’s Global Cocktail Champion at this year’s Challenge which was held at the House of Angostura on Sunday 10th February 2013. He beat ten other competitors from all over the world and ran away with US$10,000 and the opportunity to be Angostura’s Brand Ambassador for a year.
2012
Several women competed at the 5th Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge which climaxed on Carnival Sunday. Out of the hundreds of competitors from around the world, a select number of bartenders were given the chance to compete in the final battle for the ultimate title, US$10,000 and the honour of representing Angostura globally for 12 months. Emerging victorious from a total of fifteen finalists, was David Delaney of USA.
2011
Andy Griffiths, representing Australia, became the new champion of the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge held on Sunday March 6th at the exclusive Zen nightclub; winning US$10,000. He excelled with his two creative drinks –The Scarlet Ibis and the Orinoco Flip- beating eight other bartenders from each continent of the world. Andy also won the freestyle category with the Scarlet Ibis, while Trinidad and Tobago’s Daniyel Jones won the rum category with his cocktail –Rum up and Wine. Hundreds of people came out to witness this much talked about cocktail challenge. The atmosphere was very exciting and it was clear that there were definitely crowd favourites including the champion himself.
2008
The ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters Global Cocktail Challenge, was held on May 13th at the Zen nightclub. Jamie Stephenson, bartender from the United Kingdom, representing the magazine Drinks International, was the overall winner. He also won the prize for the best non-alcoholic beverage and the winner of the best alcoholic beverage was Danilo Oribe, representing the United States. The People’s Choice award went to one of our local bartenders – Raymond Edwards with his cocktail – Pa Pa Yo. The competitors came from all over the world, including; the United States, two from the United Kingdom, Italy, Australia, Venezuela, St. Kitts, St. Lucia, Barbados and of course two from Trinidad and Tobago. They had a wonderful time together as a team, learning from each other and exchanging cocktail making ideas, while cheering each other on. .
2006
In 2006, Angostura limited, teamed up with globally established drinks industry magazine – Drinks International – to host the grand Global Cocktail Challenge. The event took place in the beautiful island of Tobago.
Ten of the best bartenders from around the world competed at Hilton Tobago on Wednesday 17th May during the Angostura Regatta Lay-day in Tobago, from 9.00 am to 3.00 pm. Marco Nunes of Australia emerged as the overall champion, winning a trip for two to Trinidad and Tobago.
Judges
2006 Simon Difford and Patience Gould from the UK, Patrick Patel from Angostura Trinidad, Josue Merced-Reyes from Puerto Rico and Hayden Wood (Woody) from Australia.
2001
The Angostura International Cocktail Competition took place on April 18th at the Hilton Tobago, and featured ten professional bartenders. The contest organized by Dale Degroff showcased the talent of international bartenders, while encouraging the development of new and innovative drinks using ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters. Winner was Antonia Lo Castro from Italy was honoured with the grand prize of an engraved set of sterling silver bar tools.
