A leading Aberdeen cocktail bar is making waves in the drinks industry, after being selected as the only cocktail bar in the UK to represent the country at an international competition, featuring talent from the world’s best cocktail bars.
The four-day competition, which takes place this weekend (29 Feb – 3 March) in Reykjavik, Iceland, will see 15 of the world’s best cocktail bars go head to head, showcasing their skills and techniques.
Judges will be scoring the bars on a number of different elements, including the offering of a bespoke and creative drinks menu, bar set up, the quality of service provided, and how they have created a positive drinking atmosphere, giving the judges a taster of what they would expect if they visited Aberdeen.
Orchid Aberdeen, which is part of the Monkey Bars Aberdeen Limited group, alongside sister bar, 99 Bar and Kitchen, underwent a stylish refurbishment six months ago, and will compete against bars from across Europe and the US.
Orchid Aberdeen will be up against bars from all over the world including New York’s The Up & Up, La Chine, and Seamstress bars, the Little Red Door bar in Paris, Holmens Kanal and Strom bars in Copenhagen, Liberty or Death in Helsinki, and many others from across the globe.
Martin Farmer, general manager of Orchid Aberdeen, said: “We are absolutely delighted to have attained a position in the final of this prestigious competition. To be shortlisted alongside many of the world’s leading cocktail bars is a huge compliment, and we are really excited for Jonathan Arthur, our duty manager, and Shea Campbell, our senior bartender, to represent the whole of the UK at the competition.
“Preparation for the competition has been very intense, and it is something the whole team has been working on behind the scenes. The guys will be showcasing our classic Pink Orchid, as well as many other bespoke drinks, putting their skills to the test and showing the other bars the high quality product and service we can deliver.”
Ben Iravani, managing director of Monkey Bars Aberdeen Limited, commented: “ This is a huge achievement for not only Aberdeen, but for Scotland and the UK as a whole. To have one cocktail bar representing the entire cocktail industry would be a great honour and I have no doubts that the guys will showcase our creative, unique offering to the world at one of the biggest international cocktail competitions.
“Attending the competition is an excellent opportunity for the team to get acquainted with the legends of the industry and learn about new innovative ideas for creating artisanal cocktails. It’s a very exciting time for the business indeed and I wish them all the best in Iceland.”
• For more information on the cocktail bar visit www.orchidaberdeen.com or call 01224 516126.
