Funkin has selected six UK bartenders to go head-to-head in the final of its competition to find an Innovation Champion brand ambassador and come up with a future concept for the range that they believe would shake up the cocktail industry.
London cocktail bar Nightjar is hosting the final on September 30, where contenders Stuart Hudson and Andrea Montague from Forgotten Hospitality, Matthew Coates from Jake’s Bar & Still Room in Leeds, Steven Dick from Suburban Bar in Wimbledon, Dave Thompson from London’s Bodean’s BBQ and Daniel Redman Hubley from Trailer Happiness in Shoreditch will battle it out for the role.
The winner will will join the Funkin team on a paid, part-time freelance basis for one year and receive an upfront £1,000 cash prize. This means they will have the chance to not only to bring their own perspective and creativity to future product development at Funkin, but also play an integral part in maintaining the brand’s strong
relationships with bartenders.
The competitors will be challenged to come up with a future cocktail concept for the range, as well as create an original cocktail using a new fruit purée, developed by Funkin in conjunction with Nightjar, which will be launched soon.
The judging panel, which comprises drinks writer Simon Webster from BarLifeUK, Nightjar bar manager Marian Beke, industry expert and Funkin consultant Ben Reed and Funkin founder Alex Carlton, will be looking for creative vision, flair and imagination, as well as the ability to create a well-balanced and impressive-looking drink.
Funkin’s founder Alex Carlton says: “We are dedicated to working closely with bartenders to ensure our range develops alongside emerging trends within the cocktail movement and that it provides the perfect solution to creating high-quality mixed drinks. The introduction of an Innovation Champion who works behind the bar will embed this ethos further and strengthen communication with the trade.”
