David Ríos, who owns and runs a café with his brother
in Barakaldo, in Spain's Basque Country, has become the first Spaniard
to win the prestigious and coveted Diageo Reserve World Class
competition.
The competition is thought to be the "Oscar of Cocktails" and the biggest prize in mixology.
At the end of the competition, which featured 15,000 hopeful bar tenders
in 50 countries, 37-year-old Ríos was last man standing in the Diageo
Reserve World Class 2013.
This year saw the sixth final in the competition, which took place on
board the luxury Mediterranean cruise ship Azamara Journey.
Local TV channel 20Minutos has a video showing Ríos at work winning the event.
Diageo Reserve quotes Ríos
as saying: “I am thrilled and humbled to be awarded Diageo Reserve
World Class Bartender of the Year amongst the incredibly talented group
of bartenders at the Global Final. I have been truly inspired this week
by the unequivocally high standards and limitless talent at the Global
Final. I look forward to the year ahead, traveling the world as an
ambassador for the program, meeting my peers, educating new talent, and
learning about new cocktail cultures and trends around the globe."
He told 20minutos
that he got started "a little bit accidentally" when he was just 18 and
the bar where he worked hosted a cocktail party. However since then,
he has worked as a sommelier in Michelín 2-starred restaurant Mugaritz
and as maître d' in the Michelín-starred Sheraton Hotel in Bilbao, now run by the Melia hotel group.
The creation that got him the big prize was "el Ponche de Oro Vasco"
('Basque Gold Punch'), which is a technically demanding cocktail of
Johnnie Walker Gold Label Reserve whisky, pineapple juice, grenadine and
soda, adorned with an orange slice, anise and mint.
"My creations are based on classic cocktail-making, but with some modern touches," explained Ríos.
According to Diageo Reserve's Spike Marchant, “Diageo Reserve World
Class 2013 was a closer-fought battle than we’ve ever witnessed before,
particularly as some of our newer markets had advanced such a lot. But
there could only be one winner and David Rios stood above the rest of
the 43 finalists. His cocktails and appreciation of flavor were
consistently outstanding, his technical precision was jaw-dropping, and
he maintained his composure under extreme pressure. Throughout, his
strength of personality shone through, reflecting the best traditions of
bar tending.”
Ríos normally works at Café Kobuk in Barakaldo, in Spain's Basque
Country, with his brother and fellow owner, serving up breakfasts,
coffees, beer and, naturally, cocktails. He apparently also displays
his art as a barman in Bilbao's "The Jigger Cocktail".
Ríos was planning
to open a new establishment in Bilbao, but these plans will have to be
put on hold, as he embarks on a year-long global tour as ambassador for
the Diageo Reserve brand. At the same time, he will be starring in a TV
show, to be aired in 100 countries, showing the best moments from the
mixology competition.
This month, a brand new guide book, featuring his cocktail creations, will be available on sale.
To the source: http://www.digitaljournal.com/article/354241
