UK’s Ultimate Bartender crowned at world’s biggest cocktail festival

Sussex barman Dave White beat over 120 contestants to take the title at the final of Monkey Shoulder’s Ultimate Bartender Championship in New Orleans 

Dave White has been awarded the coveted title of Monkey Shoulder’s Ultimate Bartender Champion, for the second year running. Defending last year’s title, Dave re-entered the competition designed for bartenders to showcase their talents and put their skills to the ultimate test in a series of trials. 

After beating stiff competition from over 120 bartenders across 15 regional heats, Dave and the other finalists were flown on all-expenses paid trip to New Orleans to battle it out in the final rounds at the iconic Tales of the Cocktail event.

Dave, 36, Manager of Dead Parrot bar in Horsham won the Brighton heat which took place at the city’s Merkaba Bar in May. After winning with his team last year, Dave returned to the competition as a solo bartender with his eyes set on the trip of a lifetime to New Orleans to win the final prize.

With the competition tougher than ever before, contestants were tasked with a series of new rounds designed to separate the wheat from the chaff, including gross profit testing contestant’s business acumen, rote challenges to test management and HR skills and a mega quiz to test general bartending knowledge. New for this year, and to take advantage of the competition’s first overseas final, Monkey Shoulder also set a series of daily ‘scavenger hunt’ challenges across New Orleans.

As part of the winner’s prize, Dave will run his own bar at London Cocktail Week from the 3^rd to 9^th October 2016, which will be promoted and stocked by Monkey Shoulder. He’ll also get to keep all the takings made during the week. Last year, Dave and his team mates from Dead Parrot took home over £13,000.

Dave White commented: “I’m thrilled to be crowned the UK’s Ultimate Bartender for the second year in a row. Monkey Shoulder really stepped up the competition this year but the scavenger hunt around New Orleans was the real icing on the cake. The trophy will take pride of place in the bar whilst planning for London Cocktail Week gets underway!” 

Dave beat Nick Gordon, Jonathon Arthur and Cameron Woodger, the trio of bartenders from Aberdeen and remaining finalist Adam Binnersley of Manchester who all did their upmost to smash the challenges. With only a small number of votes between first and final place, it was neck and neck right until the very end.

All finalists attended the annual William Grants & Son’s “Party on Your Palate” soiree at the Orpheum Theatre during their stay with drinks on offer from across the brands portfolio.

Grant Neave, Monkey Shoulder’s UK brand ambassador said “The Ultimate Bartender Championship is all about challenging the best bartenders on the UK bar scene. Dave did a great job across the new challenges and the scavenger hunt, proving he definitely has the skills to pay the bills. And what better place to celebrate his win at the home of cocktails; the Tales of the Cocktail event in New Orleans”.

To find out more about the Ultimate Bartender Champion visit: http://ultimatebartenderchampionship.com/

Notes to Editors 

About The Ultimate Bartender Championship

Back for a third year, the Ultimate Bartender Championship is designed to support and nurture the next generation of UK bartenders. This year saw the Monkey troupe travelling across the UK in an ultra-pimped-out tour bus, reaching more cities and more importantly more bartenders than ever before, culminating in the final challenges at Tales of The Cocktail in New Orleans. All applicants whatever their ability – from bar newbie to seasoned pro – had the chance to gain knowledge and improve their skills at each stage of the journey.

About Monkey Shoulder 

Monkey Shoulder is the world’s first 100% triple malt whisky made for mixing.

Using batches from just 27 casks, Monkey Shoulder is created by combining single malts from three of Speyside’s finest distilleries. Known for breaking conventional whisky drinking and traditions, Monkey Shoulder puts the fun back into whisky drinking. Famed for its versatility, the smooth and rich taste has hints of mellow vanilla – a flavour which works well with mixers and when included in cocktails.

The term ‘monkey shoulder’ harks back to whisky making heritage. It’s a reference to a condition that malt men sometimes picked up while working long shifts, turning the barley by hand. It had a tendency to cause their arm to hang down a bit like a monkey’s hence the nickname ‘Monkey Shoulder’. Thankfully practices have changed and the condition no longer exists!

Not that we like to brag, but Monkey Shoulder’s mantelpiece is resplendent with numerous awards – some will be impressed that Drinks International rated Monkey Shoulder as the world’s top trending Scotch in the World’s 50 Best Bars Annual Report 2015.

Monkey Shoulder retails for an RRP of £28 per 70cl bottle with 40% ABV. For further information about Monkey Shoulder, visit: http://www.monkeyshoulder.com/