On February 1, 2011 at La Cote at the Fontainebleau Hotel in Miami, BACARDI and the United States Bartenders Guild hosted the BACARDI Legacy of the Cocktail U.S. Finals Showcase. The competitions leading up to this one were held in Miami, New York, Chicago, and Texas. From each market, three finalists were invited to the final showcase, with each mixologist presenting an original version of a classic cocktail that pays tribute to BACARDI. The first place winner was John Lermayer of the Florida Room in Miami, and he will advance to the Global Finals.
The panel of judges included some of the biggest names in Mixology: Dale DeGroff (aka King Cocktail), Willie Shine of Contemporary Cocktails Inc., and Laura Cullen, Interim President of USBG and owner of Clarke’s Miami Beach. The competition was hosted by Juan Coronado, BACARDI Brand Master Apprentice.
The second place winner was Todd Appel of Pirahna in Chicago with the “Dublin Pirate,” and third place went to Cricket Nelson of Forge in Miami with “Nuevo Cubano.”
John Lermayer as the first place winner will represent the United States in the BACARDI Legacy of the Cocktail global finals in Sitges, Spain in April with his cocktail entitled “Smugglers Fizz.”
