New Canadian Champion Emerges from BACARDÍ Legacy Cocktail Competition

Vancouver's Giancarlo Quiroz Jesus will represent Canada at the global finals in April

VANCOUVER, Feb. 24, 2016 /CNW/ - BACARDÍ® rum, the world's most awarded rum, announces the 2016 champion of the Canadian BACARDÍ Legacy Cocktail Competition: Giancarlo Quiroz Jesus, which represents the second year in a row that a Vancouver contestant wins this national title. Jesus will move on to San Francisco, California to represent Canada at the Global Legacy Competition on Sunday, April 24. As with many contestants in the past, this competition is an opportunity for Jesus to propel his career in the industry to a whole new level.

The Legacy Cocktail competition engages the world's most inspiring, innovative bartenders worldwide and challenges them to create a future classic cocktail that will be replicated by rum enthusiasts for years to come.

Over 100 special guests and industry spectators descended upon the competition at Casa BACARDÍ, the event's secret location at The Warehouse Studio, Vancouver's oldest building and home of its first City Hall. There, eight regional finalists took to the stage with their versions of a new classic cocktail including Toronto's Oliver Stern with the Catalan Cobbler; two Montreal hopefuls Jason William Griffin with his drink Aurum II, and Andrew Whibley with the Riviera Cocktail; Halifax's Shane Beehan with his cocktail the Mark of Distinction; Vancouver natives Roland Mueller with the Librety, and Giancarlo Quiroz Jesus with his winning cocktail, El Ritmo; Calgary's Rod Redford with the Jenning's Morning Fizz and Edmonton's Tyler Gushaty with his creation, Northern Touch.

Jesus takes home the Canadian grand prize for what judges describe as a combination of many winning factors: a unique and well-balanced cocktail; a confident, poised and polished presentation, and a high-level of professionalism that will translate on the world stage.

This year's esteemed panel of judges included: Mike Shum, BACARDÍ Canada Brand Ambassador and 2015 BACARDÍ Legacy Canadian champion; Lee Peppinck, BACARDÍ Canada Brand Ambassador and Director of the Canadian Professional Bartender's Association (CPBA); David Wolowidnyk, Bar Manager of CinCin Ristorante and Co-Founder CPBA, and Camper English, award-winning cocktail and spirits writer.

"This entire event, from beginning to end, brings the most top tier talent in the world of bartending together. There's so much these competitors can learn from and share with one another," says Trevor Burnett, Canada's National Brand Ambassador for the House of BACARDÍ Rums. "Canada has earned a name for itself in this industry and we're excited to keep building on that each year with our finalists."

About BACARDÍ Legacy Cocktail Competition: The Legacy showcase has grown to become a world-renowned event, with nearly 40 countries represented across the globe competing to produce the next BACARDÍ Legacy cocktail that will sit alongside the Original BACARDÍ Mojito, the Original BACARDÍ Daiquirí and the Original BACARDÍ Cuba Libre. The global winner will receive year-long support to further his/her career as a bartender by creating experiences tailored to meet his/her goals. For one year, the global winning cocktail will be served by the winning bartender at some of the finest bars in the world.

About BACARDÍ Rums In 1862, BACARDÍ revolutionized the spirits industry when founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó began producing his remarkable light-bodied, smooth rum. The unique taste of BACARDÍ inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world's most famous drink recipes including the Mojito, the Daiquirí, the Cuba Libre, the Piña Colada, and the Presidente.  BACARDÍ rum has won more than 550 awards for quality and taste making it the world's most awarded rum.  Today, BACARDÍ rum is produced in Puerto Rico, following the production legacy set forth by Don Facundo Bacardí Massó – crafted in a five step distillation process, mellowed in American white oak barrels, and filtered five times for unparalleled quality and smoothness. For additional information, visit www.bacardi.com.

The BACARDÍ® brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

LIVE PASSIONATELY. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.©2016. BACARDÍ, BACARDÍ UNTAMEABLE AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE TRADEMARKS OF BACARDÍ & COMPANY LIMITED.

SOURCE Bacardi Canada Inc.

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