Kate Gerwin of the US was awarded the prestigious title of Bols Bartending World Champion 2014, following a sensational Bols Around the World grand finale in Amsterdam. The final was webcast live to a global audience for the first time on bols.com.
Scrutinised by a six-strong international judging panel, finalists were tasked with demonstrating they are the world’s most visionary bartenders. The one-and-a-half-hour event also featured the newest and most innovative flair show by world champion tandem flair artists Tomek Malek and Marek Poluszny.
Gerwin prevailed with her outstanding cocktail, Brown Chicken, Brown Cacao, made with Bols Cacao Brown, Bols Natural Yoghurt, spiced almond milk and walnut bitters. The inspiration behind her drink came from a classic cocktail in the US which started in her home town of Bismarck, North Dakota.
Gerwin won a 10-day global bar tour and a guest bartending shift in top bars in four cocktail capitals of the world. She was not the only winner, however, as the global webcast audience voted for their favourite bartender. The Audience Award went to Frédéric Lafontaine from Canada.
Kate Gerwin said: “I don’t think there are any words to describe how I’m feeling. I am honoured. I have been on the most incredible journey here with Bols, together with the judges, the past winner and especially the other competitors. Even though we have been competing hard against one another, we helped one another all the time and the judges have been so positive.
“I am thrilled with the prospect of representing Bols for a year. I hope I can do this incredible historic brand the justice it deserves because it has been instrumental in not only my career but the careers of so many bartenders.”
The eighth annual competition attracted the most extensive pool of innovative entries the contest has ever seen, with over 3,000 entries from 76 countries.
Malta was represented by Charlie Gollands, who presented his cocktail Age of Love (Rhubarb and Custard), made with rhubarb syrup, Bols Genever Galliano, Bols Advocat, lemonade and grated nutmeg. He made it to round two of the competition.
Eighteen semi-finalists embarked on a four-day intensive Bols experience in Amsterdam, where they showcased their breadth of skills.
The group was narrowed down to eight finalists from the US, Canada, the UK, Netherlands, Russia, Japan, Hong Kong and Australia. They will all become Bols ambassadors in their own region and will be trained extensively at the Bols Bartending Academy. For more information, visit www.Bols.com or the Bols Facebook page. A video is also available at www.You Tube/Bolsbartending.
Winning cocktail
Brown Chicken, Brown Cacao
By Kate Gerwin
Ingredients
2 oz Bols Cacao Brown
1.5 oz Bols Natural Yoghurt
5 oz almond milk
½ tsp cardamom seeds
1 cinnamon stick
2 star anise pods
2 dashes black walnut bitters topped with Bols Cacao White Foam
Method
In an Isi container, rapid-infuse the cacao and yoghurt with cardamom, cinnamon, star anise. Strain and combine with the remaining ingredients in a Perlini cocktail shaker. Shake and carbonate. Strain into a milkjug glass and garnish with a straw and grated nutmeg/spices.