Bacardi & Jamie Oliver Search for the Next Top Mixologist

Jamie Oliver is teaming up with Bacardi, the world’s largest privately held spirits company, to find the next generation of mixologists to join his recently launched YouTube channel, Drinks Tube. 

The lucky winner will need to prove they have the imagination, skill and personality required to create delicious cocktails, whilst keeping the channel’s audience of 40,000 drinks enthusiasts entertained and inspired.  The global competition is open to both professionals and amateurs and runs for one month, closing at 3pm BST on Thursday 31st July 2014. 

Jamie Oliver, the Bacardi team and the Drinks Tube experts have challenged mixologists from across the world to create a two-to-four minute video that showcases the creation of one cocktail recipe, through their technique and presentation skills. The cocktail can be either a completely new creation or a twist on a classic serve, with the only stipulation being that all recipes must include at least one of the following spirits or sparkling wines; vodka, gin, rum, Vermouth, whisky or Prosecco.

Jamie Oliver says: "I know there's heaps of talent out there when it comes to food, but let's see how much talent there is when it comes to cocktail making. I'm super-excited to watch the best of the best do their thing."

The semi-final judging panel will be made up of Drinks Tube experts and Bacardi ambassadors.  The panel will review all entries and select 10 semi-finalists who will then be required to film a new cocktail using up to two   products from Bacardi’s range of consumer favourites, including; Bacardi rum, Grey Goose vodka, Dewar's Blended Scotch whisky, Bombay Sapphire gin and Martini vermouth and Italian sparkling wines. 

Jamie Oliver will then choose his top five to go to a public vote. The vote opens at 3pm BST on Wednesday 3rd September 2014 at jamieoliver.com/drinkstube.   The public can cast a vote by simply watching all five videos and choosing their favourite via the online form by Wednesday 17th September 2014.

Not only will the winner become a Drink Tube’s ‘Cocktail Star’ but they will also be flown to London (from anywhere in the world) where they will be put up in a top London hotel. They will also receive £500 spending money, 3 meals in a Jamie Oliver restaurant, a cooking lesson at Recipease, Jamie’s cooking school and a cocktail masterclass with top mixologist and Drinks Tube star – Simone Caporale. Furthermore, to ensure the winner is fully equipped they will receive a golden cocktail shaker and professional cocktail-making kit. 

Jonathan Almond, Drinks Tube Channel Manager, says: “We are really excited to be launching 'Jamie Oliver's Search for a Cocktail Star' and to have the opportunity to invite entries from all over the world in order to find fantastic cocktail talent for Drinks Tube. We know there are loads of brilliant cocktail makers out there, both amateur and professional, and we can't wait to showcase the best of them on the channel.”

Bacardi is the exclusive spirits partner for Drinks Tube combining its cocktail expertise and Bacardi Brand Ambassadors, mixologists and bartenders to co-create content for the new channel, which launched in April 2014. 

Jacob Briars, Head of Global Advocacy and Training at Bacardi says: “It’s really important for Bacardi to help nurture the next generation of drinks talent and our partnership with Drinks Tube and the Search for a Cocktail Star competition provides a unique platform for just this. It’s our aim to support the finalists, and of course the winner, as they begin their journey to become one the one of the best bartenders in the world. We can’t wait to see the different video entries!”