Well, I just posted yesterday my impressions of the Marie Brizard classic cocktail competition.

Though there were some ugly clouds before and after the event I don’t want to withhold.

I talked to Ulric before the competition and he told me, that several bosses of the bartenders called him and complaint, that their staff was not accepted to the challenge!

This is quite surprising for me, as I always thought, that it is not granted to be invited to such events. Even better: the recipes which were rejected, were contradicting the rules [MARIE BRIZARD COCKTAIL COMPETITION[1].pdf]. Period!

I am quite questioning the sanity or integrity of these guys; finally I feel sorry for them [in a bad way].

After the competition, rumors were flying, that the judges [especially Felix and me] were favoring one or the other bartender through the competition.

This is absolutely not true!

First: Felix was technical judge and was never judging bartenders he knew.

Second: I was in the tasting panel. We were in a separate room and tasted the creations. Everybody had his own form for each cocktail and judged over appearance, the aroma and the taste. And honestly: there were even no ties and the better drinks weren’t close together. Additional not one of my Hyatt colleagues participated [because of a reason] - and I really have no big influence, if there are people, I worked with before.

Ok dxb-people. You or your bartenders supposed to make first of all your recipes right!

And make classic cocktails, when classic cocktails are needed!

Don’t you dare to complain, if 5/6 [and this is an accurate equation] obviously delivered not appreciating sometimes even not acceptable drinks!

They were not classic, nor classy, without structure, without backbone... what should I say!

But do you know what?

I am now opening [just completely impulsive] an opinionated competition - here on my blog!

You can send your recipes to opinionated.alchemist@gmail.com - subject: the opinionated cocktail competition.

I cannot say yet something about the prices - but anyway, you would be the first, who would expose yourself and your ability. And I will spend an evening with the winner, inviting him/her for some great sippers of spirits and cocktails.

The only rules: You need to live in the region [well of course others are also welcome to send their recipes, though without the chance to get into the ranking]. And you have to follow the opinionated mixing directives [which have to be still a bit extended]. The starting point is the 1st Dec 09 and the deadline is two weeks later - the 15th Dec 09.

So everyone, who feels rejected because of the competition yesterday, can proof personally to me, that he or she can mix classic, original and great drinks! Period!

Obviously there is no right of appeal!

Please comment, about what bothers you about the Marie Brizard Competition and comment about our private internet challenge...

Update: like promised the two scoring sheets of the MB Classic Cocktail Competition...

MB Competition Scores.pdf

MB Final Sheets.pdf