Nation’s best bartenders show their flair

New Zealand’s top bartenders competed for the New Zealand Bartender’s Guild (NZBG) National Title at Otago Polytechnic last weekend with the prize of a trip to Berlin, Germany at stake.

Lisandro Walfisch of The Professional Bar School in Wellington won the Freestyle Flair category and Toby Eaton of The Mexican Café, Christchurch won the Classic Class. Each will travel to Berlin to compete in the International Bartenders Association World Championships 2009.

Lisandro’s marscaponi-based ‘Cosa Nostra’ and Toby’s ‘Easy Rider’ based on tamarillo were each judged to be great summer and winter drinks and worthy of the nation’s top award.

Both winners are seasoned veterans who will perform well before the world’s best says Larry Naylor, National President of the NZBG and lecturer at Otago Polytechnic’s Cromwell Campus.

These competitors also won the Nationals for 2008 and will represent New Zealand in Puerto Rico in October this year.

The junior categories were won by Peter Barton, National Diploma in Hospitality (Management) student at Otago Polytechnic in the classic category and Addam Clark from Christchurch in the Flair competition.

The competition was part of the annual Otago Polytechnic Hospitality Showcase, this year featuring the Southern Light Salon Culinaire, showcasing the best culinary skills from across the country.

View the Channel 9 news story here