Midori Flair Champion proves his worth a second year running!
The biggest and best ever Midori Flair Championship ended with the defending Champion, Jay du Toit destroying the chances of the other hopefuls with an awesome show and deservedly walking away with the title.
The nine winners from the regional heats all went head-to-head at Metropolitan Bar in Glasgow on Sunday 26th February under the critical eye of 300 spectators and the judges: Nicolas Saint-Jean, four times world champion, Sue Leckie from Theme magazine, Gillian McKenzie from SLTN, Tomo Akaike from Suntory and Nicki Daw, Midori Marketing Manager.
The first round saw all competitors make a Midori Illusion and then a Midori cocktail of their choice whilst demonstrating their most original moves. After several impressive performances and some smashed glass along the way, the judges had to decide on the top 3. In an unexpected twist, the judges asked Niel Cody from the Living Room in Newcastle and David Monaghan from Glasgow to have a flair-off, as they couldn't agree on the third person. Despite the pressure he was under, David showed some highly original moves and it was unanimously agreed that he should join Jay du Toit and Steve Harman in the final showdown.
Each of the finalists had three minutes to show their best flair. It was obvious from the outset that Jay had the edge through sheer confidence and technical brilliance. However it was David Monaghan who was the public?s favourite. Having had to fight off Neil at the last minute to get to the final three, everyone assumed he would come third. Instead, the youngest competitor launched into an inspired performance and overtook Steve Harman in the flair-off.
Nicki Daw was delighted: 'For me, David captured what the whole Midori competition is about - finding and encouraging the next generation of flair bartenders who think differently and creatively to invent their own moves. It was refreshingly different that somebody as young as David with only one and a half years of experience of flair, came second, beating guys who have been flairing for twice as long. The originality and freshness of David's moves are what made the difference for him, as well as his fearlessness when it came to flairing with the challenging Midori bottle. He hurled not one but two Midori bottles effortlessly around.'
Midori Flair Champion 2006
Jay du Toit, Roadhouse, London
2nd Place
David Monaghan, LA Bartenders, Glasgow
3rd Place
Steve Harman, Bar Wizards, London
Nicki was impressed with the standard: 'It is amazing the difference a year makes. Several of the guys had been on our flair training course and had stepped up their game enormously. Next year's Championship will be all the more interesting, as this was Jay's last year that he was able to qualify for the Midori Championships, as we limit the competition to bartenders with less than 4 years experience.'
If you want to enter the regional heats this year for the 2007 Midori Flair Championship or if you want a place on the Midori 5 day flair course, taught by Nicolas Saint-Jean, please call or email Fior Brands at 01786 406360 or info@fiorbrands.co.uk Places on the course are free upon completion of an application form and sending 10 Midori bottle caps.
refreshingly different