Bacardi Global Travel Retail has announced its selection of three finalists for the 2017 Bacardi Legacy Cruise Competition.

Bacardi has been running an annual competition to recognize and celebrate the growing professionalism and talent of cocktail making in the cruise and ferry bartender world for the last 12 years.

In 2016, the cruise category joined the global Bacardi Legacy Competition for the first time, culminating in the winner from the sector progressing to the global final alongside the best of the best country winners from the world’s top bars.

2017 Finaliests:

First up is Miroslav Kljajic from Carnival Cruise Line, who returns for a second year after winning last year’s competition. This year his creation is the ‘Artista Mundano’ – a twist on the Old Fashioned.

From Celebrity Cruises, Pedro Pascual Rosario. His drink, ‘La Romana No. 8, is based on the umami that comes from pairing coffee and rum. La Romana No. 8 is also the name of Pedro’s family home in Dominican Republic .

There is also Wade Cleophas from Norwegian Cruise Line, who started as a bartender in his hometown of Cape Town, South Africa, 12 years ago. His creation is the ‘Legend Reviver’ – inspired by classic cocktails with spices reminiscent of travelling to exotic places.

The three finalists will now spend three month on a promotional campaign and tour before the cruise finals in Miami in February, followed by the winner going onto the world finals in Berlin next May. Each of the three finalists receives $1000 and a trip to Miami for the cruise finals. The winner will receive a further $4000 and a trip to Berlin for the global finals.

Zachary Sulkes International Account Manager (Cruise), Bacardi Global Travel Retail commented: “There’s so much talent out there in the cruise and ferry bartender community and every year we see more of it coming through at higher levels than before. The quality of the bar experience for cruise guests goes from strength to strength driven by the passion for professional development amongst the crew themselves and the commitment from cruise lines to invest in their teams.”