Royal Caribbean employee is first cruise line bartender to make it so far in the annual competition
By
Elizabeth Robinson |
Royal Caribbean International’s Shekhar Grover has become the first cruise line bartender to ever reach the top 16 in the global finals of the Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition.
The 2018 competition was held in Mexico City on 1 May and involved Grover competing against professional bartenders from 36 different markets. Grover’s signature cocktail ‘The Royal Legacy’ was created especially for the competition and is made from a blend of Bacardi Ocho Años rum with Martini Rosso and Martini Bianco-infused dates, chocolate and plum bitters.
“Shekhar has taken the standard of cruise bartending to a new level, reaching the final 16 in one of the toughest professional bartending competitions in the world, where the standard is exceptional, he is a credit to the cruise industry,” said Zachary Sulkes, international key account manager at Bacardi Global Travel Retail.
Ed Eiswirth, director of beverage operations at Royal Caribbean International, said: “He [Grover] embodies the passion, dedication and skill of our bartenders on the 24 Royal Caribbean ships sailing around the world. This is a wonderful opportunity to show the hospitality industry the incredible talent that we have onboard and the unique beverage experience they are serving to our guests.”
The winner of Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition 2018 was Eric Van Beek from Bar TwentySeven in Amsterdam, The Netherlands.