Matto Vanzi of Italy is the winner of the Bombay Sapphire World’s Most Imaginative Bartender competition. Matteo Vanzi took home the top honors at the global final in Tuscany, Italy, which saw him compete against professional bartenders from around the world for the accolade and a prestigious prize.
The world’s fastest-growing gin brand by volume and valuechallenged the competitors to create a cocktail inspired by Tuscany, the home of the juniper berries, which lies at the heart of Bombay Sapphire gin.
The bartenders took part in a four-day event, in and around the historical city of Florence where they experienced the region. The winner, Matteo Vanzi of Italy was chosen from 11 finalists from around the world.
Hosted at Il Salviatino, a 15th-century villa high in the hills over Florence, Raj Nagra Bombay Sapphire Global Brand Ambassador who compered the competition commented:
“By working with the most creative talent from behind the bar, the Bombay Sapphire World’s Most Imaginative Bartender competition not only challenges these bartenders, but it also aims to support them on their journey to becoming the most imaginative bartenders in the world.”
In addition to being crowned the Bombay Sapphire World’s Most Imaginative Bartender 2013 for his cocktail, he received the competition’s coveted trophy; has been invited to be judge at next year’s competition and will also become latest addition to the Bombay Sapphire Cocktail Hall of Fame – partaking in various duties, including attending the opening of the Bombay Sapphire Distillery at Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire, England, later this year.
Furthermore Matteo Vanzi will have the unique opportunity to work with Virgin Atlantic to create their new signature cocktail, which will feature as part of the airline’s Clubhouse menu, giving consumers worldwide a taste of their imagination.
Matteo Vanzi commented on winning the competition:
I had many experiences throughout the trip that sparked by imagination, however it was the passion and love shown by the Pastorini family who harvest the juniper berries, one of the Bombay Sapphire botanicals, that gave me the inspiration for my cocktail and the theme of love. Tuscany is a very romantic region that combines the passion of Italian people like the Pastorini’s, with history and style; the essence of these things helped me to create my winning cocktail. It is truly an honour to be named the 2013 Bombay Sapphire World’s Most Imaginative Bartender.
Bombay Sapphire Global Category Director, John Burke , said: “Each of the finalists has learned over the course of the event, imagination is core to the Bombay Sapphire gin brand, from the care taken in sourcing each of our exotic botanicals to the unique vapour infusion distillation process and our iconic blue bottle. Our aim is to spark the imaginations of not just these finalists, but bartenders and gin-lovers worldwide.”
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