After earning the regional titles last month, the Top 15 Finalists of the 2014 Bombay Sapphire & USBG Most Imaginative Bartender competition advanced to the National Finals last week in Las Vegas – competing against 38 of the nation’s most talented mixologists.
Conde Nast Entertainment (CNE) and GQ magazine in partnership with Bombay Sapphire gin will be airing “America’s Bartender” in October, a hit online miniseries documenting the finalists throughout the competition, for the second year in a row. During the Semi-Finals on Tuesday, September 9 at Magic Hour Studio in Las Vegas, the Top 15 Semi-Finalists from: San Francisco, Denver, Portland, Boston, Houston, Austin, NY, Cleveland, Miami, Las Vegas, Seattle, Chicago, Toronto, Calgary and Vancouver competed in a ‘Chopped’ pantry format competition.
A secret ingredient was announced at the beginning of each round for the bartenders to use to make their drink. After five intense 12-minute rounds with 3 bartenders each, the Top 5 finalists were announced to compete in the National Finals the next day, which took place at XS Nightclub at The Encore. After careful deliberation by an esteemed panel of judges including — Top Chef’s Angelo Sosa, cocktail specialist, Ben Carlotto, IBA Technical Judge, David Nepove and special guest blind judge for the evening, Master Mixologist, Tony Abou-Ganim – The Winner will be announced on the final episode of “America’s Bartender,” airing in November, as this year’s “Most Imaginative” Bombay Sapphire cocktail. The victorious drink will also land the winner a feature cover on GQ Magazine’s special December “Men of the Year” issue and will advance him to the Global Finals in 2015 to vie for the ultimate title: Bombay Sapphire World’s Most Imaginative Bartender.
