Flair for bartending? The SKYY's the limit

Travis Khun mixing it up with a shot of flair.

Regional heats will take place in Durban and Cape Town, while the finals will be hosted in Johannesburg on Tuesday, 23 September 2008. Reigning South African champ Travis Kuhn will step into the fray during the Joburg finals in an attempt to defend his title. The SA winner will compete against the top flair barmen from 15 other countries in a riveting challenge that tests both performance and taste buds. Criteria for judging include the ability to perform well while making the drink and to produce a visually appealing end product that tastes as good as it looks.

Barroom rules

The SKYY Flair Global Challenge was created by SKYY Vodka and the World Flair Association to showcase the latest trends in flair styles from all corners of the globe. Only legitimate bartenders are eligible to compete in this demanding contest of skills, visual and palate appeal. The competition has strict rules, which includes a 5-minute time frame to produce two designated drinks. The first drink must be made using working flair, which consists of flairing with full bottles as in a proper bar environment. The second drink must be done in exhibition flair style with emptier bottles to allow participants to perform with more speed, showmanship and style. Bartenders will be judged by a panel of industry professionals on skill and difficulty, originality, variety, smoothness of routine, music interaction, entertainment, sponsor promotion and overall
performance.

Points will be deducted for spills or drops, missing ingredients, incorrect procedures such as empty flair bottles and missing the pouring shot. The local winner will not only walk away with a paid trip to Monaco to compete against the best from five continents, but will also take home R5000. The first runner-up will win R3500 and the second runner up R2000.

For more on the SKYY Global Challenge, visit: www.skyyflair.com