Top bartenders compete in Bacardi cruise contest

Five bartenders are set to compete in the 2019 Bacardi Legacy Cruise Competition finals in Puerto Rico in February 2019. 

The competition recognises the best mixology talent among bartenders from cruiselines and ferry companies.  

Velvet Fashionista by Holland America Line's Narciso 'Archie' Mariano Jr

Promoting the recipes to guests

Bacardi created the global competition to test the world’s most passionate, innovative and inspiring bartenders and challenge them to create a Bacardi rum cocktail with the potential to become a classic, alongside the Mojito, Daiquirí and Old Cuban. 

Contestants must create their own original cocktail featuring either Bacardi Superior, Bacardi Gold or Bacardi Ocho (8) Años. 

Zachary Sulkes, International Key Account Manager Cruise, Bacardi Global Travel Retail, said the finalists are required to build on their recipe development skills and develop their prowess in sales and marketing.  

“A fundamentally important phase of the competition is the measurement of how well the bartenders get behind their creation and demonstrate its potential to become established in the drinks industry as a true classic,” he said. “This can only be achieved by securing trial, consumer and trade awareness and distribution. So our five finalists are now busy promoting their recipe direct to guests and sharing it with fellow bartenders in their company so as to get it listed and served across the fleet. These are incredibly useful business skills that we help them to develop but are theirs to keep enabling them to further develop commercial acumen.”

From over 1,200 recipe entries, the final five and their cocktails are: Sanja Cvijetic, Carnival Cruise Line, with Purple Sunset; Narciso ‘Archie’ Mariano Jr – Holland America Line, Velvet Fashionista; Marc MacArthur, Norwegian Cruise Line, Up, up and Away; Siddhant Naik, P&O Cruises Australia,

Bitter Blanca; and Mattias Nilsson, Tallink Silja Line, Bring Back The Summer.

All five finalists receive $1,000 and an all-expenses-paid trip to the finals in Puerto Rico. The 2019 Bacardi Legacy Cruise Bartender of the Year will go on to compete in the finals against 41 other finalists from different markets, in Amsterdam in May 2019 with $4,000 prize money on offer. 

Diageo unveils ‘irreplaceable’ special edition

Diageo has launched into travel retail Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen, the second in a series of special-edition Blue Label whiskies. It contains what the company calls “irreplaceable ‘ghost’ whiskies and other incredibly rare whiskies” from the Johnnie Walker Blue Label reserves.

At the heart of this limited edition lies the highly sought-after Islay single malt, Port Ellen – a ghost distillery that shut its doors in 1983.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen

Eye-catching holographic and lighting displays

Anna MacDonald, Marketing and Innovation Director, Diageo Global Travel, said: “As a limited edition, this is a unique and rare offering for the travellers who enjoy the finer things in life. Consequently, we anticipate that the addition of highly sought-after Port Ellen stocks will mean this exceptional whisky won’t be available for long.”

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen follows the exciting release of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Brora last year. Each edition in the series offers a fleeting opportunity to savour the depth of character of whiskies from distilleries whose spirit lives on in their dwindling stocks.

For Johnnie Walker Master Blender Jim Beveridge and his small team of expert blenders, the Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare series is an exciting exploration of flavour. “These whiskies deliver a fascinating glimpse into another world, exploring the unique, inimitable character of whiskies from a small number of iconic, closed distilleries that lend something very special to every drop of Johnnie Walker Blue Label,” Beveridge said. “It’s really interesting to be able to put a spotlight on the character of these whiskies.”

Even though the Port Ellen distillery is now silent, Beveridge recaptured the memory of the precious cargo of smoky Island single malts that was once carried on ships sailing from this famous distillery by balancing its unique character with other rare whiskies.

In selected airports, interactive retail activations are set to inspire and educate travellers on the origins of Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen.  Eye-catching holographic and lighting displays will capture and showcase the ghostly spirit, and a personalised gift wrapping service will include a calligraphy style hand-written note inspired by the scripted ghost distillery names found on the bottle.

Johnnie Walker Blue Label Ghost and Rare Port Ellen (43.8%abv) is available globally and in selected airports at £300 (US$399) for a one-litre bottle. Each bottle is individually numbered.

New Dewar’s bar opens at Kuala Lumpur Airport

Bacardi has introduced Bar Metropole, a new destination bar for Dewar’s Scotch whisky at Kuala Lumpur International Airport 2 (klia2), Malaysia, adapting the creative themes of the successful John Dewar & Sons Fine Scotch Whisky Emporium.

Working in close partnership with duty free operator Eraman (owned by Malaysia Airports), Bacardi sponsored the design and build of the bar, featuring natural woods and contemporary copper fixtures, in-bar displays and wall fixtures to share elements of the Dewar’s story, giving customers a taste of the brand’s heritage and production process. 

Bar Metropole at Kuala Lumpur International Airport celebrates Dewar's Scotch

An engaging and entertaining space

A contemporary edge is added with intriguing on-bar, glass-domed vapour machines that transform Dewar’s premium blends and single malts into liquid vapour to provide a multi-sensory experience, enabling customers discover the aromatic personality of the Dewar’s range. The menu includes cocktails and is complemented by additional brands from the Bacardi portfolio, including Bombay Sapphire, Grey Goose, Patron and Bacardi.  

Gaurav Joshi, Director, Asia Pacific – Bacardi Global Travel Retail, said: “klia2 is an important location for us in the highly important Malaysian market for Bacardi, so we were determined to work closely with Eraman to create something out of the ordinary with this new bar to engage new whisky consumers. The design blends the character and quirky personality of the Dewar’s brand with the solid authenticity of its heritage, creating an engaging and entertaining space. It’s a great way for us to create deeper shopper engagement through the main duty free store and in the bar. We look forward to working closely with Eraman to drive performance.”

Zulhikam Ahmad, General Manager of Malaysia Airports (Niaga), added: “We are delighted to host the world’s first Dewar’s bar at klia2. Celebrating our 25th anniversary this year, we are determined to offer travellers exciting new experiences across the airport, and this innovative bar will attract passengers to spend more time at the airport, giving them an original and memorable place to enjoy a Dewar’s whisky before they fly.”

Davidoff holidays in style with new travel humidors

Swiss cigar specialist Davidoff has introduced two new travel humidors – a Business version and a “Davidoff of Geneva since 1911” Stores Exclusive.

The humidors feature lightweight materials, a smart tray engineered exclusively for keeping cigars protected as well as innovative welding techniques designed to lock in humidity. They include a two-way humidity device by Boveda to ensure cigars are kept at their best for up to 45 days.

Davidoff's new travel humidor features a smart tray and locks in humidity

Stylish and elegant look

Claire Richert, Product Innovation Manager Accessories at Oettinger Davidoff AG, said: “With the Davidoff travel humidor, we not only reinvent the way cigar aficionados can bring cigars on their travels, we also do it with Davidoff’s iconic elegance and style. By expanding the line and partnering with Boveda, we offer aficionados the best, most convenient and protective solution for travelling with cigars.”

The Business model features knitted jacquard fabric in a reinterpretation of modern tweed for a stylish and elegant look. Equipped with a handy, black leather strap, it aims to exude the formal elegance of a business suit.

The “Davidoff of Geneva since 1911” Stores Exclusive humidor is a tribute to the Davidoff of Geneva stores and cigar lounges. It is inspired by the “cosy, sophisticated and modern atmosphere aficionados experience in these destinations of choice”, the company said.

The beige Tuscany fabric and the brown, recycled bonded leather are designed to evoke the comfortable lounge chairs, while the orange fabric accents add a stylish twist.

These limited and numbered travel humidors are only available in Davidoff of Geneva stores across the world. Both models were launched globally starting in October 2018.