10:26 PM
The Academia Del Ron
When we started off this blog we wrote a bit about the qualification rules of the Grand Prix and also about how the bartenders who went to Cuba were selected in their native countries. A good example of this process can be taken from Germany with the Academia Del Ron, which saw competitor Mohammad Nazzal win a round trip ticket to Havana. And it's worth mentioning that the Academia is truely a trade gathering worthy of this name.
Launched last April 13th and 15th, the Academia Del Ron is an interdisciplinary gathering that combines professional development and a competition revolving around three main themes: rum, the laboratory and the bar life.
Out of the 50 participants, the five best bartenders were selected, and out of those five, only one flew over to Cuba for the Grand Prix.
Hosted by Havana Club, the gathering welcomed speakers such as Tony Hart, Michael Menegos, Claus Lampert, Andrew Nicholls or Tony Conigliaro who, one by one, discussed the diversity of rum, modern working techniques, classic cocktails and body language. Themes that indeed became important criterias for the judges at the Grand Prix itself.
Launched last April 13th and 15th, the Academia Del Ron is an interdisciplinary gathering that combines professional development and a competition revolving around three main themes: rum, the laboratory and the bar life.
Out of the 50 participants, the five best bartenders were selected, and out of those five, only one flew over to Cuba for the Grand Prix.
Hosted by Havana Club, the gathering welcomed speakers such as Tony Hart, Michael Menegos, Claus Lampert, Andrew Nicholls or Tony Conigliaro who, one by one, discussed the diversity of rum, modern working techniques, classic cocktails and body language. Themes that indeed became important criterias for the judges at the Grand Prix itself.
By clement
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08:43 PM
The Minutes of Mohammad @ The Academia Del Ron
“There
was a challenge in Germany at the Academia del Ron. We were 50 competitors
split into two groups of 25 each. The academia was on two days for each group.
The first day was about training about rum, body language, bar psychology,
Cuban drinks, taste sense and then a test about the rum training (the speakers
Andrew Nicholls, Michael Menegos, Meimi Sanchez, Tony Conigliaro, Tony Hart etc.). The
second day was the challenge- we had to present our new interpretation of the Daiquiri.
In this challenge I won 1st place, but afterwards the best of five had to
compete against each other just like the situation we had in Cuba for the
finalists. We had 20 minutes to prepare and I made 1st place again. That’s how
I got to be selected by the jury.
"Now, how was I different from the other contestants? You need to ask that to the judges.”
"Now, how was I different from the other contestants? You need to ask that to the judges.”
By clement
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06:41 PM
Each competitor has his or her favorite version of Havana Club Rum
By Sohini
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06:01 PM
Mohammed Nazzal mixing up a masterpiece at the Academia Del Ron
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03:43 PM
Learning from some of the industry's best at the Academia Del Ron
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01:33 PM
Take your seats! Bar classes have begun at the Academia Del Ron…
By Sohini
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11:30 AM
Learning about the different characteristics of rum at the Academia Del Ron
By Sohini
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10:27 AM
Participants are led on one of many rum tastings at the Academia Del Ron
By Sohini
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