The Grand Prix / Ian Burrell

If you ask him to describe his record of achievements, he will probably tell you this: "I am the World’s Best Bartender… according to my son. That is the only award I need." Meet 2010 Havana Club Grand Prix, Judge Ian Burrell. 

Besides his contribution to the competition, Ian literally devoted his life to rum. Not only does he run a rum-specialized venue in London called Cotton’s Rhumshaft (in which you can find three themed dining rooms inspired by different Caribbean Islands), but also he founded The Rumfest in 2007, which the very first of its kind (see article below). 

"It is a festival to celebrate the diversities of the rum category and the lifestyle experiences connected with rum & rum drinking countries. In 3 years, it has now become the biggest festival of its kind, ever", he explains.

How has he gotten there? Ian explains: "I took a year off school and was persuaded by a friend to work in a restaurant/bar to earn some extra cash. After dropping a pizza on a customers lap, I moved to the safe haven of the bar. I have never looked back since. My first bartending experience was way before my professional one. I made a rum cocktail using sugar, water, lime and remembering how good it tasted. I was about 8 years old." 

 - How would you describe the Havana Club Grand Prix compared to the other cocktail competitions?
It is right up there with the best of them, although most cocktail competitions cannot compete with the sense of cocktail history that you get when you set foot on Cuban soil.

- What, according to you, made this year's edition of the Grand Prix different than the previous edition?
The selection of world class judges. I think the Havana team, especially Michael Menegos, did a fabulous job co-ordinating people from all over the world. 

- Have you noticed any particular new trends and techniques?
There new trends within our industry popping up everyday, although if you look a little deeper into history, you find that some of these new trends are in fact old trends just brushed up a bit. Take for example molecular mixology and creating new textures and flavours for drinks. Drink tenders were using eggs, oils, vapours and spices to alter our perception of certain drinks way back in the 1300’s.

 - What was the most difficult for you as a judge?
The most difficult to judge was the final four bartenders. All were incredible and the scores were very close.
  
- Your overall perception of the competition and of this event in general.
9 out of 10. To get a 10 out of 10 I will need to be invited back in 2012…

Tasting the world's most amazing and rarest rums during a festival dedicated to the spirit: this just sounds like my idea of a good time... 

Founded 3 years ago by English bartender Ian Burrell, the London Rumfest is Europe's first ever festival celebrating the diversity of Rum. From Antigua to Barbados, from Mauritius to Venezuela, this 2-day festival is a real opportunity (as it literally says on its website) to "get into the tropical fiesta spirit and understand where the shake in your Daiquiri and the kick in your Mojito come from." In other words, a journey though rum's history and its origins. 

And as its founder explains, "most cocktail competitions cannot compete with the sense of cocktail history that you get when you set foot on Cuban soil." 

The 4th UK Rumfest will take place this year October, 16th.