7 of the country’s most talented bartenders put their creative skills to the test as part of Mount Gay’s International Cocktail Competition. The event held on the stunning waterfront at JWB’s steakhouse at the Pointe in Nassau Bahamas saw popular cocktail artisans from across New Providence - including Vonasha Nairn, a solo female bartender and Thomas Smith who was flown in from Abaco. All compete for a chance to contend against their regional counterparts, and then an opportunity to show off their skills in Barbados for a chance to win an all-expense-paid trip to The London Rum Festival in October of 2022.

“This international competition is meant to showcase the best of the best” explained Mount Gay Brand Manager, Angela Moss. “The winner of The Bahamas showcase will receive an all-expenses-paid trip to Barbados to represent our country in competition against bartenders from 12 other Caribbean countries,” she explained. Each local bartender was hand-selected based on recommendations from the company’s many local partners and represents the best and liveliest from the local nightlife scene. “We work alongside some of the most popular restaurants and bars across the country.”

Back in 2020, Bahamian Brewery & Beverage Company became the official distributor of Mount Gay through the Remy Cointreau portfolio. Since then, Bahamians have enjoyed access to the world’s most celebrated and widely revered rum brand. “We are very pleased to have Mount Gay as part of our portfolio and this competition is awesome in terms of showcasing the wealth of brand knowledge and creativity that exists among bartenders in The Bahamas” explained Wellington Seymour, Executive Sales & Marketing Manager Jimmy’s Wines & Spirits. “They’re proving that it’s not just about pouring a drink but about creating a superior experience as well,” he said.

When it was all said and done, Derrick Blackmon, from The Captain’s Deck, blew the judges away to claim the top spot for his cocktail creation dubbed ”Rum Delight”. He will head to Barbados to compete against the Caribbean winners from; Turks & Caicos, Barbados, USVI, Cayman, BVI, Antigua, Trinidad, St. Marteen and St. Barths on International Rum Day, August 16th, for the second round of competition.

“Well for me the competition was tough and hard, but all I came to do was have fun and I did,” said Blackmon. “I was impressed that coming up with a few points more than the other bartenders and was granted the opportunity to come first place and now I’m gonna represent The Bahamas in a bigger competition which I’m excited. Preparation for me was hard and long drawn because I had to find the right flavours that much and make everything come together, but I will take the opportunity to put in more practice as the road to Barbados is near.”