Finalists announced for the Art of Martini competition in Ibiza

Elit Vodka has announced the 39 finalists of its Art of Martini competition who will travel to Ibiza this weekend to compete for the crown and to have their Martini listed at Paco Roncero’s Michelin-star restaurant, La Terraza del Casino in Madrid.

Will Meredith of Dandelyan will be representing London.

The bartenders, representing 39 cities around the world, will compete in the global finale on 22 and 23 September. The competition will award “the most avant-garde interpretation” of the classic Martini with participants both competing for the title and the chance to have their Martini listed for one year in Paco Roncero’s Michelin-star restaurant La Terraza del Casino in Madrid.

As part of the challenge, bartenders have created a Martini using Elit Vodka as the main spirit and an ingredient local to the country or city from which they are from. Their creations were then tested on the public for two months before a shortlist were selected to compete in the local finals where a jury chose the individual that they felt best represented their city.

In Ibiza, the finalists will be treated to a masterclass with Chef Roncero, in charge of Ibiza’s award-winning Sublimotion restaurant, where they will learn how to use “multi-sensory effects” to enhance their cocktails.

There were more than 800 entries globally which have now been whittled down to just 39. The winner will also have the opportunity to join the renowned Tales of the Cocktail event in New Orleans in 2018.

Brent Lamberti, luxury spirits sales director for Stoli Group and the event’s host, commented:  “We’ve traveled the world over and discovered a unique martini cocktail every time, but what each of our finalists have in common is audacious artistic vision. The art of martini Global Finale will be a tight race, making victory even sweeter.

“It will be interesting to see the bartenders’ ingredient selections and how they complement the notes of elit Vodka. We’re looking forward to the breathtaking presentations, creative cocktails and to offering the finalists an unforgettable experience they’ll take back to their bars and cities”.

The 39 finalists are as follows:

· Australia (Melbourne) – Blake Hall (V)
· Australia (Sydney) – Jake Down (This Must Be the Place)
· Austria (Salzburg) – Melanie Mösenbichler (Eurotherme Bad Ischl)
· Austria (Vienna) – Heinz Kaiser (Dino’s)
· Belgium (Antwerp/Ghent) – Charlotte De Fevere (L’Apereau)
· Belgium (Brussels) – Cederic Millet (Casbar)
· Canada (Toronto) – Michele Maffei (NOCE Restaurant)
· Cyprus (Nicosia) – Marcos Horattides (Marina Beach Bar)
· Czech Republic (Prague) – Milan Zaleš (Bugsy’s Bar)
· Finland (Helsinki) – Jan Lindgren (Medicin Man)
· France (Paris) – Steven Lages (Harry’s New York Bar)
· Georgia (Tbilisi) – Vasil Gongadze (Egoist Club)
· Greece (Athens) – Previstas Alexandros (Point Cocktail)
· Hong Kong (Hong Kong) – Paul Kwok (De Luna Tapas Bar)
· Hungary (Budapest) – Atilla Bús (Sol Bistro)
· Iceland (Reykjavik) – Jonmundur Thorsteinsson (Apótek Kitchen Bar )
· Italy (Bari) – Davide Mitacchione (Luau Tiki Bar)
· Italy (Milan) – Lorenzo Allegrini (Morgante Cocktail & Soul)
· Italy (Rome) – Solomiya Grytsyshyn (Chorus Cafè)
· Italy (Venice) – Lucas Kelm (AMO – Alajmo)
· Lebanon (Beirut) – Firas Youssef (The Smallville Hotel)
· Luxembourg (Luxembourg) – Marius Birzan (Grand Hôtel Cravat)
· Portugal (Algarve) – Diego Santos (7 imeio Wine Bar)
· Portugal (Lisbon) – Rui Santos (Instituto Plural de Interior)
· Singapore (Singapore) – Sim Sze Wei (Atlas)
· Spain (Barcelona) – Luis Bustamante (Metric)
· Spain (Bilbao) – Elias Escudero (Gu San Sebastián)
· Spain (Madrid) – David González (Bar Cock)
· Sweden (Stockholm) – Nils Pettersson (Bistro Rigoletto)
· Taiwan (Taipei) – Andersen Huang (Asia 49)
· Thailand (Bangkok) – Jane Kaewyod (Sorrento Sathon)
· UAE (Dubai) – Santanu Chanda (Buddha Bar)
· UK (London) – Will Meredith (Dandelyan)
· UK (Manchester) – Peter Findlay (Berry and Rye)
· USA (Dallas) – Trevor Landry (DISH)
· USA (Miami) – Seth Weinberg (Fontainebleau Hotel Miami Beach)
· USA (New York) – Amanda Toar (One One Four Bar & Lounge at The Marmara Park Avenue)
· USA (Las Vegas) – Sarah Delgado-Rith (The Dorsey at The Venetian)
· USA (Los Angeles) – Michael West (The Cannery Newport Beach)