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In a bartending world crowded with cocktail competitions, there’s one global competition that stands out: the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge. Held biennially, the global finals take place at the home of the House of Angostura, in Trinidad during Carnival celebrations…

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House of Angostura® launches the 10^th edition of its Global Cocktail Challenge.

Port of Spain, Trinidad: Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge (AGCC), is a key event for mixologists, bartenders and lovers of spirits worldwide. Given its high profile, the Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge has proven to be an effective means of increasing international exposure for the House of Angostura’s portfolio, including its iconic bitters (rated the #1 trending and best-selling cocktail bitters in the world by Drinks International), as well as its selection of Premium Rums and Amaro di ANGOSTURA®. The competition also serves to promote the House of Angostura’s role as part of the evolving cocktail culture, while simultaneously strengthening relationships with bars worldwide.

Prospective candidates are to apply online via Angostura’s designated website: www.angosturaglobalcocktailchallenge.com, at the preliminary stage. Successful entrants will then compete in the national and regional heats in their respective regions for a chance to reach the grand finals on February 23^rd 2020, in Trinidad and Tobago. There they will vie for the title of Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge Champion, USD$10,000 and a two-year contract as Angostura’s® Global Brand Ambassador, representing ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters, ANGOSTURA® orange bitters, Angostura® Rums and Amaro di ANGOSTURA®.

The AGCC Finals is an immersive experience into Angostura’s rich history and brand stories, as well as the culture of Trinidad & Tobago.  While in Trinidad and Tobago they will be treated to the riches the islands have to offer, including a tour of the Angostura® Distillery and Museum, visits to local pan yards, the chance to “play mas” in full costume on Carnival Tuesday, and much more.

If you think the prize is unique, you should see the mixes. Last year’s winner, Ray Letoa of New Zealand, bested his fellow nine finalists to take home the crown, with his cocktails, an Amaro di ANGOSTURA® cocktail called ‘Deliciousness’ and a rum cocktail comprised of Angostura 1824® and two dashes each of ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters and ANGOSTURA® orange bitters, which he called ‘Old Flame.’  According to head judge Mike Ryan, Mr. Letoa “captured the vibrancy and exuberance of the islands of Trinidad and Tobago and of the House of Angostura®”. The ambassador tours the world’s major cities, influencing other bartenders to experiment and explore products in the Angostura® portfolio.

The competition draws on Angostura’s® rich and diverse history, dating back to Dr. Johann Siegert’s first batch of aromatic bitters, which was produced in the city of Angostura in Venezuela. The brand continues to elevate itself to new heights, increasing awareness of ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters, ANGOSTURA® orange bitters and its range of quality rums.

Grab a glass, save the date and prepare for the cocktail experience of a lifetime at the Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge.

Editor’s Note

About the House of Angostura®: The proud history of the House of Angostura® began almost 200 years ago in 1824, when founder Dr. Johann Siegert first produced aromatic bitters in the city of Angostura in Venezuela. Recognised over the centuries by the granting of Royal Warrants of Appointment to the royal households of Great Britain, Prussia, Spain and Sweden, ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters and ANGOSTURA® orange bitters are the world’s market leader, an integral ingredient in premium cocktails, and a mainstay of cocktail culture. Angostura’s® international range of rums, produced at the only rum distillery in Trinidad, includes distinctive, exquisitely blended rums: Angostura 1787®, Angostura 1919®, Angostura® 7Year Old, Angostura® 5Year Old and Angostura® Reserva, blended by masters with years of experience and training in original traditions using closely guarded formulas and techniques. The newest product in our portfolio, the multiple award-winning Amaro di ANGOSTURA®, leverages our unsurpassed heritage as a blender of the finest bitters and rums.

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Superstar bartender Ray Letoa of New Zealand has 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.”

In addition to the title of Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge Champion, Mr. Letoa takes home US$10,000 and a two-year contract as Angostura’s® Global Brand Ambassador, representing ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters, ANGOSTURA® orange bitters, Angostura® Rums and Amaro di ANGOSTURA®.

“Now I’m looking forward to meeting people and telling them about the ethos and the passion of the people that make Angostura’s® rums and bitters,” says Mr. Letoa, adding that of all the cocktail competitions he has entered the Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge was “the toughest.”

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.

For more information visit www.AngosturaGlobalCocktailChallenge.com.

Please check our live stream on Sunday 11th February starting at 1:40pm.

Live Stream Link

Port-of-Spain, Trinidad: On Carnival Sunday February 11, 2018, eleven of the world’s finest bartenders will demonstrate their inventiveness and skill as they find creative uses for world-famous ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters, ANGOSTURA® orange bitters, Angostura® Rums and Amaro di ANGOSTURA® in a Cocktail Competition like no other.

Each finalist has survived the fierce rivalry of the early rounds of the Challenge, in which 260 participants competed from 47 countries. Only the best of the best have made it to T&T!

Now, in the final round from which only one true champion can emerge, the contestants must make two cocktails in just seven minutes: A “Rum Cocktail” (made with one or more of Angostura’s® rums plus ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters and/or ANGOSTURA® orange bitters) and an “Amaro Cocktail” (made with Amaro di ANGOSTURA®).

The ultimate winner of the Finals takes home a cash prize of US$10,000, the title of “Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge Champion 2018,” and a two-year contract as Angostura’s® Global Brand Ambassador, representing ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters, ANGOSTURA® orange bitters, Angostura® Rums and Amaro di ANGOSTURA®.

Individual trophies will also be awarded for the “Best Rum Cocktail” and the Best Freestyle Cocktail.”

Judging the competition will be a world-famous panel led by renowned drinks personality, Mike Ryan, Director of Bars at Kimpton Hotels, with more than 15 years of experience in mixology, bartender education and developing new bar concepts. The other five judges are Monica Berg holder of the Linie Honorary Award for ambassadorship for Norwegian food & drink, JJ Goodman, founder and owner of The London Cocktail Club bar group, Sandrae Lawrence of The Cocktail Lovers magazine, Neal Ramdhan of Trinidad and Tobago, Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge Champion 2016, and Carol Homer-Caesar, Trinidad and Tobago: Angostura’s Senior Manager – Blending, New Product Development & Quality Assurance.

The eleven finalists include Leesha Marcellin of Antigua, Martin Tummino of Argentina, Daniel Gregory of Australia, Maximiliano Vallée Valletta of Canada, Pedro Martínez of France, Johnny Mansour of Lebanon, Joshua Ivanovic of Malaysia, Ray Letoa of New Zealand, Kishion Guillaume of Trinidad and Tobago, Thomas Kirk of the UK, and Alexander Kirles of the USA.
The competition will be held at The House of Angostura in Laventille.

The world’s best bars have spoken, and they’ve named ANGOSTURA® aromatic bitters and ANGOSTURA® orange bitters as their top bitters brands.

Drinks International has released its prestigious Annual Bar Report 2018 and Angostura® has swept the bitters category, winning the awards for the “Number 1 Selling Bitters” and the “Number 1 Trending Bitters,” respectively.

Drinks International is one of the most trusted and respected global drinks journals. Its prestigious Annual Bar Report provides a snapshot of the buying habits of elite bars around the world. This year’s expanded list of voters included bar owners, managers and head mixologists from Drinks International’s World’s 50 Best Bars group, Asia’s 50 Best Bars, the Time Out Bar Awards, The Class Bar Awards, Taste of the Cocktail, and the Mixology and Australian Bartender Awards.

“We are satisfied with the results of the poll,” says House of Angostura® Chief Executive Officer Genevieve Jodhan, “today’s bitters market is more competitive than ever and these awards show that Angostura® bitters is truly in a class of its own.”

“As a brand which has dominated the category for almost 200 years, we take pride in the fact that every great bar in the world uses our bitters. We are delighted that we are the Top Trending Bitters — that tells us that our education program, fuelled by our Global Cocktail Challenge that targets young, up and coming bartenders and mixologists, is yielding positive results”.”

Angostura® bitters is made with the original closely guarded secret recipe first developed in 1824 by company founder, Dr. Johann Siegert. The brand is manufactured exclusively in Trinidad and Tobago, in the Caribbean, and holds the Royal Warrant of Appointment to the Crown first granted to it in 1955.