Managing Director at Mount Gay Distilleries Ltd, Raphaël Grisoni presenting a small token to ‘Caribbean Bartender of the Year’, Ryan Adamson.
Members of the Barbados Culinary Team toasting their success during a reception held at Mount Gay’s Visitors Centre.
‘Caribbean Bartender of the Year’, Ryan Adamson showing off his skills at the Mount Gay’s Visitors Centre, during a reception held in his honour on Monday.
Mount Gay Distilleries Ltd. celebrated the success of one of their own, on Monday evening.
Ryan Adamson, winner of the “Caribbean Bartender of the Year” Title & “Bartender Gold Award” at the “2017 Taste of the Caribbean” competition, was feted by management and staff during a cocktail reception held at Mount Gay’s Visitors Centre on Spring Garden Highway.
This is the second year that Adamson has competed in the region’s premier culinary competition and cultural showcase in Miami. In 2016, he also captured gold, however this time around the Mount Gay mixologist fulfilled his dream of taking the coveted title Caribbean Bartender of the Year.
“The feeling I had was one of euphoria. Basically, achieving a sense of accomplishment; achieving something I wanted for over a year,” Adamson expressed.
“I felt kind of bad last year that I only won the gold and not the entire prize, but the team comforted me and told me I did well and that they were satisfied with the gold – however I was not! Therefore, this year I made up in my mind that the cocktails that I was going to make would be good enough to get me the top prize… I had three very solid cocktails.”
Managing Director at Mount Gay Distilleries Ltd, Raphaël Grisoni not only congratulated Adamson, but took the opportunity to commend the entire Barbados Culinary team, having won a total of six golds and a silver, as well as titles “Caribbean National Team of the Year” and “Best Seafood Overall”.
“You have made us so proud. Here in Barbados we have so much talent. You were creative in all your areas of cooking and bartending.”
“We are probably one of the smallest islands in the Caribbean, but look at all of the talent we have when compared to those bigger islands. This isn’t the first time you have done us proud, it has been year after year,” he pointed out.
Jamaal Bowen, Bartender Coach also congratulated the team and revealed that he will be handing over his position to Adamson.
“Ryan can not compete in the “2018 Taste of the Caribbean” because he will be coaching the team. I will be stepping down as coach and will be judging next year… It is awesome for me to pass on the torch to Ryan, who I believe is one of the strongest people in competition,” Bowen said.
Team Manager, Chef Henderson Butcher, thanked everyone for their continued support, highlighting Mount Gay’s contribution.
“I really want to thank Mount Gay for everything they have given toward the team, to allow us to be as successful as we were. When we reached out Mount Gay there were very forthcoming.”
“I also want to applaud the Culinary Team. I know it has not been easy listening to me all the time at training and even when we were not at training! You worked very hard,” he told the members. (TL)