By
Rebecca Gibson |
Five operators have reached the semi-finals of the 9th annual Bacardi Cruise Competition, which has generated the largest volume of entries in the competition’s history.
This year, entrants were tasked with using Bacardi brands to create ‘The Inspired Cocktail’ that epitomises how travel has inspired them in their craft. Bacardi received the cocktails recipes from bartenders and mixologists at 14 cruise and ferry lines.
“We are overwhelmed at the quality of creative cocktail recipes submitted to the qualifying round of the 9th Bacardi Cruise Competition in 2014,” said Zachary Sulkes, regional manager, Bacardi Travel Retail Americas. “Each year, the competition goes from strength to strength in setting the bar ever higher in the quest to uncover and recognise the most professional and creative bartender in the global cruise industry.”
In total, 25 bartenders from Carnival Cruise Lines, Holland America Line, Royal Caribbean International, Norwegian Cruise Line and Tallink & Silja Line, have been chosen as semi-finalists. Five finalists will then be chosen at the end of May after their submissions have been tested by a team of judges from Bacardi’s Global Brand Ambassadors and Bacardi Global Travel Retail. A sixth finalist will be chosen by readers Cruise Critic, while a ‘live from the bar’ function will enable bar customers to vote online.
The final will be held in Miami from 4-5 September.