Justin Ballantyne’s ‘Barrel’ tops Mount Gay rum contest – TT Newsday

July 6, 2022 News Editor

4 Hrs Ago

Justin Ballantyne is announced winner of the semi-finals of the Mount Gay Cocktail competition. - — Justin Ballantyne is announced winner of the semi-finals of the Mount Gay Cocktail competition. –

Nine bartenders participated in a challenge to create a unique cocktail recipe using Mount Gay Black Barrel and Mount Gay XO rums. In the end, Justin Ballantyne topped the competition with his The Lost Barrel blend.

For his effort Ballantyne won US$500 and an all-expenses-paid trip to Barbados to compete against other semi-final winners across the Caribbean.

Justin Ballantyne prepares his winning cocktail, The Lost Barrel. –

HADCO Ltd hosted the semi-finals of the competition at Phase II Pan Groove’s panyard in Woodbrook, Port of Spain, on June 23.

The event was the local leg of a phased competition, organised by Mount Gay, which is known for being the world’s oldest running rum distillery, a media release said.

Trade marketing manager at HADCO Kimberly Fraser, centre, with winner Justin Ballantyne and runner-up Sade Pierre.
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Industry experts chef Brigette Joseph, Leslie Ann St John, Dominque Mc Clashie and Sean St Cyr judged the nine bartenders on creation, presentation, brand knowledge, and originality. The other eight competitors received US$50.

Ballantyne will represent Trinidad and Tobago against mixologists from The Bahamas, Antigua, Turks and Caicos, the US Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, the British Virgin Islands, St Maarten and St Barts. The winner of the final competition, which will be held in Barbados on International Rum Day on August 18, will receive an all-expenses-paid round trip and accommodation to attend the London Rum Festival from October 14-18.

Judges deliberating at the semi-finals of the Mount Gay Cocktail competition are: Brigette Joseph, left, Leslie Ann St John, Sean St Cyr and Dominque Mc Clashie. –

For more info: visit www.mountgay.co