Glenfiddich announces the India winners of the World’s Most Experimental Bartender

A global competition that celebrates creativity, experimentation, and collaboration

September 7th, 2018, New Delhi: Glenfiddich the world’s most awarded single malt Scotch whisky, hosted the third season of the World’s Most Experimental Bartender in Delhi. From among 6 collaborating participants from across India, bartender Rohan Matmary and musician Sonam Kalra’s pair stood out with their creativity and were selected as the India winners of Glenfiddich’s World’s Most Experimental Bartender.

World’s Most Experimental Bartender endeavours to bring together creative minds who collaborate and develop an innovative interpretation of the Glenfiddich 12-year-old expression. In line with the competition’s spirit of experimentation, the shortlisted bartenders were paired with collaborators from creative fields such as music, art, design, magic, and hospitality to co-create their unique Glenfiddich serve. Their ideas were presented before a panel of judges, comprising of Mandira Bedi, Zorawar Kalra, Gaurav Gupta, Thukral and Tagra, Nikhil Arora, James Pennefather and Vikram Aditya.

Angad Singh Gandhi, Brand Ambassador, Glenfiddich India comments, “Glenfiddich has always been at the forefront of innovation, and through this unique pairing of bartenders and collaborators, we once again establish ourselves as an ignition platform for creative expression. The experience created by Rohan Matmary and Sonam Kalra was truly experimental as it perfectly brought out the best of both the creative individuals. We wish them all the very best as they set out to compete for the global title.”

Rohan Matmary, winner of the India leg of the competition said, “I would like to thank Glenfiddich for giving me the opportunity to challenge myself and push the boundaries of experimentation and creativity. Working with Sonam Kalra has been an extremely unique experience and our cocktail ‘Zarra’ is a perfect representation of our innovative collaboration. I am looking forward to the next leg of the competition in Scotland wherein we will be competing with bartenders and collaborators from different countries and with unique experiences.”

The winning cocktail created by Rohan and Sonam was titled, ‘Zarra’, an Urdu word meaning ‘particle’. Zarra revolved around the message - that regardless of its proportion in the recipe, each ingredient is equally important and contributes towards creating the right balance - and it is when all these disparate elements come together that we have perfect equilibrium.

Zarra starts with the award winning Glenfiddich 12-year-old, infused with cranberry, tiny tangerines, egg white and sage infusion, hibiscus, and rhubarb which resonated well with the fruity and floral notes of the Glenfiddich 12-year-old single malt whisky.

Rohan mixed these seemingly disparate elements together, just as Sonam harmoniously blended beautiful melodies with poetry. Through the blending of these elements, Zarra was created.

The winning duo will now go on to compete against other market winners on a trip to the Glenfiddich Experimental Bartender Academy in Scotland, where they will have the opportunity to bring their concept to life. The winner will be awarded the title of ‘The World’s Most Experimental Bartender’ and Glenfiddich will thereafter work with the winning duo throughout 2018 to showcase their creativity globally and bring it to life for on-trade. Through this unique partnership between bartenders and collaborators, Glenfiddich yet again establishes itself as an ignition platform for creative expression.

About the competition (http://www.glenfiddich.com/in/)

The competition requires participating bartenders to collaborate with a master of another field to co-create something unique inspired by Glenfiddich experience. Winners from countries around the globe namely- Australia; Switzerland; Germany; United Kingdom; United States of America; the United Arab Emirate of Dubai; Colombia; South Africa and India, will be invited on an all-expenses-paid trip to the Glenfiddich Experimental Bartender Academy in Scotland, where they will compete to win the priceless opportunity of bringing their idea to life, supported by Glenfiddich.

This competition is an intense and immersive three-day experience where the collaborators are taught how to make whisky from scratch. They will have the exclusive opportunity to absorb knowledge from Glenfiddich’s distillery experts; from the mash man to the cooper, the still man to the malt master; and these extraordinary craftsmen will share the techniques that have made Glenfiddich the most awarded single malt Scotch whisky today.

Armed with fresh knowledge and tools, the collaborative pairs will then refine their innovative ideas to pitch to a panel of judges that will include Master Blender at William Grant and Sons, Brian Kinsman, Glenfiddich global brand ambassador, Struan Grant Ralph and Kirsten Grant Meikle, Director of prestige UK for Glenfiddich owner William Grant & Sons.

The winning collaborative idea will be announced at the end of the programme, and Glenfiddich will, thereafter, work with the winning duo throughout 2019 to bring their creation to life for the on-trade, an impressive addition to any creator’s portfolio.

About Glenfiddich, India

Glenfiddich is a single malt whisky owned and produced by William Grant & Sons Distillers Limited, an independent family-owned distiller founded by William Grant in 1886 and still controlled by the fifth generation of the family. Glenfiddich has gained a reputation for supporting the creative arts in India with various initiatives including the annual Artists in Residence award and World’s Most Experimental Bartender programmes. Click on www.williamgrant.com for more information on the Company and its brands.