Whisky Focus - Compass Box Announces Winner Of The Circle Bartender Competition

Compass Box The Circle has announced the winner of its inaugural global bartender competition, which is a competition with a difference, the competition will lead to the release of a new Compass Box Limited Edition Blend which will have been created by Compass Box in collaboration with The Circle competition winner.

On Wednesday night this week at a reveal party in central London, Compass Box, the innovatively creative Scotch whisky blending house, announced Rosey Mitchell as the winner of its inaugural global bartender competition, The Circle.

The Circle launched earlier this year and encouraged the most inventive bartenders from around the world to compete for a one-of-a-kind opportunity – a place to work side-by-side with Founder and Whiskymaker, John Glaser to create a Compass Box Limited Edition blend, which will be sold internationally.

Bartenders from Argentina, France, USA, Spain and the UK competed in regional heats, which saw the following six leading bartenders secure a spot in the final:

• Adriano Marcellino | BrukBar, Buenos Aires
   
• Baptiste Etcheverry | Fairmont Rey Juan Carlos, Barcelona
   
• Charlotte Pederson | Little Red Door, Paris
   
• Max Venning | Three Sheets, London
   
• Meredith Barry | Vol 39, Chicago
   
• Rosey Mitchell | Three Sheets, London

Over three days, the six finalists from Argentina, France, USA, Spain and the UK competed in a series of challenges for a chance to work side-by-side with Founder and Whiskymaker, John Glaser, to create a Compass Box Limited Edition blend, which will be sold internationally from Spring 2019.

During the final the bartenders got creative behind the bar, building their own signature serves inspired by their home city and bespoke highball serves featuring their very own blend.

The programme of challenges culminated in a final pitch, which was presented to and judged by a panel of five experts made up of Ryan Chetiyawardana of Dandelyan, Matt Whiley of Scout, Sandrae Lawrence of The Cocktail Lovers, Ivan Dixon of Enotria & Coe and Compass Box's John Glaser.

THE WINNER

The final pitch saw the bartenders present their blend and signature highball serve as well as a design inspiration for their whisky, with Rosey receiving top-marks and the title of The Circle winner 2018.

Rosey Mitchell from Three Sheets, commented of her win: "It’s been an incredible couple of days, something I am so excited to be a part of. I have never been in a competition quite like it, John Glaser and everyone involved have truly changed the game and I can’t wait to start blending and see where the future holds."

Commenting on Rosey’s win John Glaser, said: "I’d like to congratulate Rosey and welcome her to the Compass Box circle. The Circle is all about finding like-minded creators who aren’t afraid to do things differently, if it means doing things better, and we’ve certainly found that in all our finalists. Rosey created a blend and serve that I would be proud to put a Compass Box label on, and I’m excited about what we can create together."

The Circle judge and Founder of Super Lyan, Ryan Chetiyawardana said: “This was such a personal competition and it covered so many different aspects of the craft; all the bartenders should be incredibly proud. Rosey did an amazing job and I’m super excited to see what she will create with John. Compass Box has always been a brand close to my heart, and it’s great to see that The Circle competition is a fittingly progressive challenge to bartender’s passion and creativity.”

The Compass Box Limited Edition blend, created in collaboration with Rosey will be available worldwide from Spring 2019, coinciding with the launch of next year’s competition.

Meanwhile you will find the current Compass Box whisky range available from specialist online whisky retailers such as The Whisky Exchange and Master of Malt
 

• UK Shops
   
• USA Shops
   
• European Shops
  

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