Appleton Estate Bartender Challenge - Jamaica

Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum is searching for Jamaica's top bartender through the Appleton Estate Bartender Challenge - Jamaica.

The challenge will see bartenders from key Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum accounts across the island competing for the honour of being named the Champion Bartender of Jamaica and representing the island at the Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum International Bartender Showcase, scheduled for October 22 at the Hope Botanical Gardens in Kingston.

There will be four regional heats held across the island, as well as a grand final. The top bartender from each region will then participate in the grand final, which will take place at the Wyndham Hotel on September 7.

The regional heats will kick off with a double-header in Montego Bay at Pier One today. The double header will see two regional champions crowned - one representing the parishes of St Elizabeth, Westmoreland and Hanover, and one representing the parishes of Trelawny and St James.

The action will then move to Ocho Rios for the third regional heat tomorrow at Ocean's Eleven. This heat will feature bartenders from St Ann, St Mary and Portland. The final heat will take place on Monday, August 30, at the Wyndham Hotel, with bartenders from Kingston, St Andrew, St Catherine, Clarendon, Manchester and St Thomas.

At the grand final, the top four bartenders will battle it out, judged by a panel led by master blender Joy Spence.

The winner will not only get to represent Jamaica at the international bartender showcase in October, he/she will also win an all-expense-paid trip abroad to study under one of Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum's international ambassadors, in addition to a special creation of a special blend of rums from the Appleton Estate created specifically for them by master blender Joy Spence, a blending session with her and a number of other unique gifts.

The International Bartender Showcase will have bartenders from Jamaica, Australia, Canada, Cayman, Mexico, New Zealand, Peru, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States. Each bartender will make Appleton Estate Jamaica Rum cocktails featuring local fruits, spices and other Jamaican specialities that they will select on trips to local markets and grocery stores.