Jameson Irish Whiskey to fund €20k project in a local community

This year, Jameson’s Barrelmen’s Homecoming will invite bartenders to connect, share knowledge and create new cocktails ‘From Farm to Glass’ for the chance to receive up to €20,000 towards a local community project.

Produced by Irish distillers in Midleton Distillery, Jameson Irish Whiskey has launched its annual global bartender engagement platform called Jameson Barrelmen’s Homecoming.

From Farm to Glass, the programme’s theme for 2019, will challenge bartenders to work with the local community to take advantage of what the area has to offer in order to create a new Jameson-based cocktail that complements the smooth taste of the whiskey.

The competition will encourage participants to meet and share knowledge with one another, in keeping with Jameson’s ethos of promoting connections between people, and as a consequence to broaden and develop skills.

The global programme will launch in around 30 countries including the US, Malaysia, Brazil and Sweden, with the one-day events bringing together local bartenders to discuss ‘From Farm to Glass’ as well as offering masterclasses on Irish whiskey and the wellbeing of the bartender.

The event will also give bartenders the opportunity to qualify for a place at the global event, taking place in June, through a cocktail competition.  Bartenders will be required to create a simple cocktail utilising the flavour profile of Jameson Irish Whiskey, Jameson Black Barrel or Jameson Caskmates, epitomising the brief of From Farm to Glass.

International cocktails experts Oisin Davis and Andre Duncan will lead a seminar entitled Grow Your Own Cocktail, forming the basis for an online documentary series showing bartenders how to source, forage and grow local ingredients and how to use them in the most effective way.

The winners of the local heats will be invited to attend the global Jameson Barrelmen’s Homecoming event in Ireland, taking place in June 2019, with the opportunity to win a partnership with Jameson Irish Whiskey in order to develop a project supporting their local community and with funding of up to €20,000.

In addition to a programme of educational seminars and entertainment, the global cocktail competition will test bartenders on classic Irish cocktails and the creation of new ’From Farm to Glass’ serves.

International marketing director for Jameson at Irish Distillers, Simon Fay, said: “Jameson Irish Whiskey is leading the renaissance within the category that we have seen over the past ten years.

“Bartenders around the world have been key to the global success of Jameson, so we are incredibly proud to unveil the evolved Jameson Barrelmen’s Homecoming programme as it underlines our commitment to supporting bartender education, community and innovation.

“We have listened to our Jameson bartenders and we are confident that our new offering reflects the changing world of mixology and will contribute to increased bartender knowledge, wellbeing and care for local communities around the world.”