North-east bartender is best in the UK
An Aberdeen bartender has come out on top in a UK wide competition.
An Aberdeen bartender has come out on top in a UK wide competition.
Jonathan Arthur from Orchid competed against 300 others in a competition arranged by Monkey Shoulder whisky.
Nick Gordon from the same bar, and Cameron Woodger from 99 Bar & Kitchen were also ranked in the UK top 5.
With over 300 bartenders from across the UK entering the annual competition, the talented trio took part in a number of grueling challenges, including a 100 multiple-choice test, a pouring and nosing challenge, and a tray service test.
The UK top five are now set to fly to New Orleans to go head to head in the final competition to be crowned the UK’s no1, as well as win the opportunity to set up their own pop-up bar at London Cocktail Week.
Jonathan Arthur said: “I’m over the moon to be ranked first in the UK in The Ultimate Bartender Championship, as well as being listed alongside some of the world’s most talented bar tenders.
It’s amazing to gain some recognition for doing a job that I love. We have a really great team at Orchid with some superb talent, with Nick and Cameron also achieving an excellent ranking in both the UK and global list.”
Ben Iravani, managing director of Monkey Bars Aberdeen Limited, added: “Jonathan, Nick and Cameron all did an amazing job in the challenges they had to undertake and it’s great that three guys from Aberdeen have been ranked in the top five of the UK.
“We are very proud to have them working as part of the Monkey Bars’ teams and their talent highlights just how serious we are at what we do, and that our offering is on par with those well-established cocktail bars around the world.
"I wish them all the very best in New Orleans.”