PHILIPSBURG - Rinse, pour, skim, check and serve. There are five steps to the perfect pour done to ensure the drinker gets the best quality beer possible. But when it comes to crowning Sint Maarten/Saint Martin best Heineken bartender, there can only be one winner.
For the first time, one bartender from the island will represent the island and compete during the Heineken Global Bartender contest in Amsterdam, in October 2018. At this annual event, bartenders from around the world compete to become the world’s best Heineken bartender.
Heineken and the local distributor ILTT (International Liquor and Tobacco Trading N.V. ) had launched a local competition: Heineken Bartender Contest where a selection of outlets is competing (14 bars and restaurants from the French and Dutch side).
This contest was divided into 2 parts: first a video of the bartender pouring the perfect beer within the Heineken standards is uploaded on a vote platform (www.starservecontest.com). Outlets and bartenders are calling for votes. Only the 6 most liked videos will allow their bartender to attend the local finals. And then in St Maarten, the local final will be September 12th at 10AM in a new and trendy sports bar, Thirsty Baron (Simpson Bay). The finals are open to the public and everyone is welcome to cheer on their favorite contestant.
To be the one, each bartender will demonstrate their expertise in performing Heineken Star Serve, the perfect method of serving beer. In presenting the perfect draft beer, each bartender must perform the five steps of serving Heineken Star Serve: rinse, pour, skim, check, and serve. The five steps aim to ensure that the bartender can pour each glass of beer perfectly. “The main reason consumers’ order a second beer is because of the quality of the first glass” says Roel Kokkelmans, Commercial and Marketing Manager in ILTT.
Heineken intends to develop more competitions on St. Maarten and the neighboring islands to highlight the local expertise and passion of the bartenders and their love for the Heineken brand. “We want to showcase our local talents and make them shine during international competition like the Global Bartender contest in Amsterdam. This is certainly not easy, because it requires passion, expertise, and quality to present a perfect glass of beer.” said Lenny Bain, Managing Director in ILTT.
Who will be the representative of Sint Maarten/Saint Martin to the Heineken Global Bartender Contest? We will find out the next September 12th, at Thirsty Baron.
(must be 18+ to drink alcohol. Drink responsibly).
