Monin, the UK’s leading supplier of high quality syrups, hosted the final of the Monin Cup yesterday (24 September), at the Hoxton Square Bar and Kitchen.
It is the third edition of this bi-annual competition which celebrates and champions young professional bartenders from across the UK. The six finalists (detailed below) had previously won regional heats which were held nationwide earlier in the year including one wildcard entry – selected by the judges based on their creativity.
Dimi Savvaidis (pictured) - The King of Islington, Dundee, with his ‘Cliff Diver’ cocktail and ‘King’s Mai Tai’ no ABV serve - was crowned UK Champion and will now go on to become a Monin brand Ambassador and represent the UK in the Monin Cup International Final in Paris this December. He will also enjoy a trip to the Berlin Bar Convent later this year.
Sixty-four bartenders battled it out in regional heats to get through to yesterday’s final, which was judged under the watchful eyes of four esteemed industry experts – Simon Difford, CEO Difford’s Guide; Gennaro Pelliccia, Master of Coffee, Costa and Rui Cesar Texeira, Co-Owner, Stallion Spirits.
The competition was open to professional bartenders under the age of 27 and challenged participants to ‘Mix Their Origins’ to demonstrate creative genius behind the bar as well as showmanship; all reflecting their own story using Monin products to help craft their signature cocktails in two variants – standard and no ABV, both carrying equal weighting with judging to reflect the current direction of the industry.
Savvaidis started bartending at 17 in Greece, after two years he moved on to travel across the world during which time he discovered Sydney’s Cocktail bar scene where he found his passion and drive for the industry.
Taking this with him, Savvaidis moved to Scotland to explore his Scottish heritage. The unanimous win for Savvaidis came with great praise from the judges who commented on his “sharp technical ability, creativity using Oak aged Irn-Bru in his no ABV drink along with his excellent interaction and showmanship.”
Savvaidis remarked, “I think this will take a while to sink in! I am shocked, excited and proud to be working with Monin. The heritage and history of Monin along with the philosophy of serving quality consistently is my mantra to my work.”
Special commendation also went to Amie Smith of the Faraway Cocktail Club, Bristol, a close run second; the judges remarked on her excellent creativity and poise at The Monin Cup UK final and Aimee’s first ever competition. One to watch!
Dan Davis, Trade Brand Ambassador, Monin UK, commented, “We’ve seen some exceptional talent at this year’s Monin Cup, with our young UK bartenders pushing the boundaries of flavour combinations and inventive serves.
'The judges were on the lookout for colour, appearance, garnishes, aroma, balance, taste and originality and were extremely impressed by the quality of the entrants this year. The judges also awarded marks for showmanship, cleanliness and skills of the bartenders, all of which are a crucial part of serving a cocktail.
'The Monin Cup continues to be a fantastic opportunity for young bartenders to raise their profile in the UK and offers them the chance to show off their skills, recipes and concepts with bartenders on a global scale.”
Monin has been producing premium flavoured syrups in Bourges, France, for over a century, using only the finest ingredients sourced from around the world. With over 150 flavours available in more than 150 countries for speciality coffees and cocktails Monin has become the brand of choice for baristas and bartenders worldwide, serving up more than eight million drinks per day.