Holland America Line’s Gerome Firmalo has won this year’s Bacardi Cruise Competition Bartender of the Year 2015. Firmalo shook his way ahead of all other cruiseline contenders and 2,500 other creations with his original cocktail called Passion Blossom 13.

 

The grand finale shake down was held at the Bacardi office in Coral Gables, Florida, on Friday, March 20, with shortlisted finalists judged by a panel comprising: Trevor Alberts – Edition Hotel Bartender and a finalist in the United States Bacardi Legacy Finals in February; Chris Gray Faust – Destinations Editor, Cruise Critic; and Hillary Choo and Ben Carlotto – professional mixologists from TEAM Enterprises.

 

The spoils of Gerome Firmalo’s victory include a $5,000 cash prize and he will see his floral martini Passion Blossom 13 featuring equal quantities of Bombay Sapphire gin and St-Germain elderflower liqueur (combined with passion-fruit syrup, lemon sour and cranberry juice) featured on his beloved MS Oosterdam vessel on which he works.

 

In addition, the Filipino bartender will also benefit from assistance from Bacardi to ‘develop his craft further, with professional training and development opportunities – including a personalised Bacardi experience.

 

A CLOSE BATTLE

“The Passion Blossom 13 embodies what we look for in a cocktail,” says Zachary Sulkes, Regional Manager Bacardi Travel Retail Americas. “It achieves the perfect mix of ingredients, a well balanced flavour and simplicity that will appeal to cruise vacationers.

 

“This was a close battle, and Gerome is a worthy winner. Each year the standard of entries gets higher and this, in itself, is a great accolade for the cruise industry’s investment in the ever-increasing standards of professional development for their bartending community.

 

“Cruise is an important strategic channel for Bacardi Global Travel Retail and this competition helps drive category growth for our cruise and ferry line partners.   It’s a fantastic showcase for our brands, especially given the increasing numbers of consumer groups from emerging markets who are new to cruise.”

 

Commenting on his victory, Gerome Firmalo said: “It’s really amazing to win this competition, because I have been working towards it for such a long time. This week, being with the Bacardi team and competitors in South Florida, has been phenomenal and it has been a privilege to compete.

 

 

A VERY PROUD WINNER

“Winning the Bacardi Cruise Competition gives me great personal pride with the added kudos of such professional recognition.  There’s no doubt it will help me develop my bartending career.”

 

According to Bacardi, the finalists participated in a three-day schedule of events, rubbing shoulders with some of the area’s finest bartenders and visiting iconic bars in South Beach to learn from on-trade professionals in action.  Bacardi hosted the finalists in educational workshops tailored to hone their skills, before they presented their original cocktail creation to judges in the finale.

 

The Bacardi Cruise Competition is supported by leading consumer publications and other players in the cruise sector, including Porthole Cruise Magazine and Cruise Critic, Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association (FCCA), Marine Hotel Association (MHA) and MTN Satellite Communications.

 

The other finalists in this latest competition were: Kenneth Tuason from Holland America’s Maasdam, Richard Anderson from Carnival Glory, Nilesh Patel from Carnival Sensation and Royal Caribbean’s Oleksandr Lurchenko.