Top cocktail award for Barcode mixologist

The event represented a gathering of the finest cocktail bartenders in the country, all required to create an original cocktail using Havana Club rum. Judged on the basis of taste, aroma, appearance and overall impression, the range of cocktails presented was as eclectic as it was impressive, underlining the wealth of creativity and technical skill on offer in the rapidly maturing South African cocktail industry. In the end, however, it was Tim's "Liquid Gold" – an exotic combination of aged rum and summer fruits with hints of white chocolate and caramel – that stood out as a clear favourite.

The high level of competition in the final was assured by a rigorous process of selection that required contestants to be placed among the top three in one of the regional rounds. It was a Barcode "One Two" in the Durban leg of the contest, with Tim placed first and his fellow Barcode mixologist, Ryan Duvenage, placed second. Ryan had previously been handpicked from the top bar managers in the country to take part in a fully-sponsored product appreciation tour of Mexico – a tour that unfortunately coincided with the staging of the National Classic Cocktail finals. As a result, he was unable to play his part in what might have been a memorable victory for the talented duo.

Competitions of this kind are not new to either Tim or Ryan. In 2005, Tim's victory in the national competition led to an outstanding performance in the IBA World Championships held in Helsinki, where he was eventually placed 9th. A relative newcomer to the local cocktail scene, Ryan was placed 3rd behind Tim in last year's national contest which, in addition to his excellent effort in this year's regional rounds, makes him one of the most promising talents in South African cocktail bartending.

As Head Mixologists for Barcode Mobile Bar Industry, they apply their combined experience and expertise to portable bar services. It's a potent combination of creativity and skill that ensures Barcode is able to consistently offer totally original cocktails to their event clients – whether it's a collection of theme-based drinks for a private function or a range of innovative cocktails specific to a single brand. This personalised approach is carried through from creation to presentation, with each collection of cocktails being presented on a tailor-made cocktail menu, created in-house by Barcode'S design team using their own copyrighted photographs.

Tim and Ryan are also the driving force behind the internal training program that ensures a consistently high level of service is found behind Barcode bars. This is most notable in large scale events, such as the upcoming Vodacom Durban July, where almost 100 trained Barcode bartenders will satisfy the needs of 7500 thirsty punters. This internal training program is currently being synthesised into a formal syllabus to be taught at the newly established Barcode Academy.

Something that cannot be taught, however, is passion, which is one of the factors that makes Barcode's team unique. As Tim says, "Even after seven years in the industry, the art of mixology still fascinates me. I can't help being a bit fanatical about cocktails – this must be one of the world's greatest jobs." Good luck to Tim when he represents South Africa at the World Cocktail Competition to be staged in Taiwan in November. Barcode and their clients look forward to benefiting from his latest international experience.