Johnnie Walker Mixology win ‘the cherry on top’ for Shaquille Blair
Published:Thursday | November 10, 2022 | 3:27 AM
After rounds of thrilling competition among students of the University of Technology (UTech) School of Hospitality and Tourism Management, final-year student Shaquille Blair reigned supreme as the Johnnie Walker Mixology Face-off champion, earning for himself a cash grant and ultimate bragging rights.
Described as diligent, tenacious, self-assured and gregarious, the food service management student is grateful for the win. “I had never entered a competition before because I’m not a competitive person; however, this competition was introduced to me by my programme director, Richard Warren, who knew I was talented in the area. With his encouragement, I decided to enter as mixology is one of my favourite areas of practice,” shared Blair.
The Hanover native recounted his early exposure to mixology at Couples Swept Away Hotel in Negril, where he worked as a bar guest service agent and did well as a young professional in the field. “I remember studying day and night about the types of liquor and wines at the hotel so that I could be better able to offer the best service to my guests. After completing a short course at Western Hospitality Institute in supervisory management, my manager at the time encouraged me to pursue undergraduate studies in food and beverage management. I took the leap of faith and enrolled in the food service management programme at UTech,” recalled Blair.
Fast-forward six years, and Blair, now on his last lap to complete his studies, has earned several awards along the way. Describing the win of the mixology face-off as the cherry on top, he detailed his preparation for the competition. “I did a little more research on not only Johnnie Walker but other whiskeys, famous cocktails, and pairings. I was told the competition was going to be a mystery basket competition, which just got me thinking outside the box. When I first saw the ingredients that were given, I saw a pack of pimento seeds, but I had never heard of a cocktail with pimento. I gave it a go and made pimento sugar, which I believe was the wow factor in my drink. Selling your cocktail is also very important as a bartender, so I had to make up the story on the spot to add to my presentation of the drink,” Blair explained.
His winning cocktail, the Johnnie Walker Old Shack, which had an interesting twist, incorporating coffee and amaretto liqueur, pimento, and Johnnie Walker Black, was a hit among judges. To up the ante, Blair said his second-round cocktail, Johnnie Walker Caribbean Dream, a fruity-built cocktail fusion, was inspired by the journey of the Scottish whiskey and how far it has travelled to the Caribbean in hopes of becoming number one.
Blair is grateful for the exposure and the $50,000 cash prize, which he plans to reinvest in his future by enrolling in Wines and Spirit Etiquette Training.
Looking ahead, his message to others looking to pursue a career in food and beverage is to jump at it fearlessly. “The industry is exciting and full of adventures; every day is something new, and this career path will open a whole new world of mysteries for you. From cooking in the kitchen and serving in the bar or dining room to managing and training, there’s never a dull moment in this business.”