Yumit Kumar of Sidecar Wins the First Ever Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Competition in India hosted by Anggel's Share 

Mumbai, September 7, 2023 – Anggel's Share, in collaboration with Flor de Caña, has emerged as a trailblazer in the Indian cocktail landscape with the inaugural Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Competition. This groundbreaking event, in partnership with Flor de Caña Rum, symbolized innovation, sustainability, and the rich tapestry of Indian mixology.

The month-long competition, aimed at promoting sustainable mixology practices, brought together the finest bartenders across the country to showcase their creativity and craft. The bartenders promoted and sold these cocktails at their respective bars. The final showdown and the cocktails were judged by a distinguished panel, including Riyaaz Amlani, Managing Director of Impresario Entertainment & Hospitality Pvt. Ltd. (IEHPL); Priyanka Blah, Founder & Editor of The Dram Attic; and Pierre Pinault, Area Manager - Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa at Flor de Caña Rum. The grand finale, featuring uniquely curated cocktails from bartenders across Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore, took place at the renowned Masque on September 4, 2023.

What sets this competition apart is its emphasis on sustainability. Participants were challenged to source ingredients from their kitchens, promoting a conscious approach to cocktail creation. Beyond the competition itself, this event underscores the growing trend of sustainable cocktails, demonstrating that environmental responsibility can harmoniously coexist with taste and innovation.

Anggel's Share, in collaboration with Flor de Caña, has taken the lead in championing this extraordinary competition, aligning with a global initiative that heralds a new era of responsible cocktail culture. More than 25 bars entered the competition, with the top 10 finalists poised to compete for victory in the upcoming grand finals. The finalists represented esteemed establishments such as Akina, Koko, Masque, Perch, Slink & Bardot in Mumbai; Sidecar and Olive in Delhi; as well as Foo, 10 Speakeasy, and Zlb23 in Bangalore.

Yumit Kumar of Sidecar bagged the first-ever Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Competition Award in India hosted by Anggel's Share. He was awarded a prestigious title and an array of exciting prizes, including the esteemed title of Flor de Caña's Sustainable Champion, a trophy crafted from sustainable materials, a premium bartender kit, an engraved Flor de Caña 25-year rum bottle, an invitation to the Asia Regional Finale of the competition, and an exclusive guest shift in the APAC region. Moreover, the victorious contender and runner-up of the Asia Regional Final will seize the remarkable opportunity to represent India on the global stage in the 2024 finals, hosted in Nicaragua, accompanied by their respective managers.

Winners :
1^st Place – Yumit Kumar - Bartender at Sidecar
2^nd Place – Guruprasad Tripathy - Head Bartender at Slink & Bardot
3^rd Place – Raviraj Shetty - Head Mixologist at Masque

“It was an honour for me to share the stage with 9 such talented, young bartenders. I learned so much from watching them and listening to their stories and trying their creations. What I loved especially was the focus on sustainability that Flor De Cana has been highlighting, and this is what sets them apart as a brand. This was my first bartending competition and it feels surreal. I couldn't have asked for a better platform and winning the India finals will become a defining moment for me. I feel encouraged and eager to push my creative boundaries even more now, and can't wait to travel to Vietnam and meet the other winners” 

Yumit Kumar of Sidecar

“The Flor de Caña Sustainable Cocktail Competition is a one-of-a-kind cocktail competition, and we were ecstatic to see the creativity and innovation that the bartenders from across India brought to the table. India’s bar scene has grown immensely over the years, and bartenders across the country are doing a fabulous job at curating innovative cocktails and adding their own twists to the drink in all aspects. A competition like this really highlights the bartenders, gives them an opportunity to showcase their craft - and also shows the growing popularity of premium rum in the country. People are exploring more, learning more, and upgrading their preferences to rums like Flor de Caña. Not only has this competition highlighted the skills of the bartenders, but it has also thrown light on India’s take on sustainability in the cocktail culture, which bartenders have prominently shown through the varied choice of ingredients, glassware, and even cocktail-making methods, which shows that it’s only upwards from here.” 

Vaishali Shah, Partner, Anggel’s

About Flor de Caña Rum

Flor de Caña is a sustainably produced premium rum that’s Carbon Neutral and fair Trade certified. From an 1890 family estate, it’s distilled with 100% renewable energy and naturally aged without sugar or artificial ingredients. The brand was honored with the prestigious “Sustainability Award” during the 2020 Green Awards for its leadership in sustainable practices. www.flordecana.com. To know more about the Zero Waste Cocktail initiative, visit https://zerowastecocktails.com/

About Anggel’s Share

Commencing in 2020, the story of Anggel's Share, a prominent wine & spirits importer, unfolds—a narrative rooted in the aspiration to introduce the finest global spirits and wines to India.

With the objective of enriching the customer journey within the continuously expanding beverage sector, Anggel's Share embarked on its path by establishing collaborations with cocktail bars, upscale restaurants, and premium hotels. With the surge in both well-traveled individuals and the burgeoning community of affluent Indian consumers, Anggel's Share strives to provide convenient opportunities for accessing exceptional spirits and wines that cater to refined tastes.

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