Mumbai Mixologist Vineeth Krishnan to represent India at The BACARDÍ Legacy Cocktail Competition 2020 in Miami

After a gripping finale yesterday in Bangalore, India, BACARDÍ announced Vineeth Krishnan as the national winner of the 12th BACARDÍ® Legacy Cocktail Competition in India. One of the world’s largest and most prestigious cocktail competitions, BACARDÍ Legacy showcases the best drink innovations in the cocktail industry, challenging bartenders to invent a timeless, rum-based cocktail, to the legendary status of the original BACARDÍ Mojito and Daiquiri.

Vineeth Krishnan, known for his delectable cocktails at KOKO Asian gastropub, competed against 7 other finalists to emerge as the winner of the 11th BACARDÍ® Legacy Cocktail Competition- India edition. Mentored under the leadership of Dimitri Lezinska at Koko in Mumbai, his winning cocktail, “Alquimia”, is inspired by the international bestselling book ‘The Alchemist’. The drink is made with BACARDÍ Carta Blanca, Elderflower liqueur, Absinthe, Celery Salt Solution, Citric acid and a Neem leaf.

Speaking on the victory, Vineeth Krishnan said, “Winning the BACARDÍ® Legacy Cocktail Competition has been a dream for me ever since I joined the hospitality industry, five years ago. As one of the most prestigious and coveted bartending championships in the world, it’s an exciting and proud moment to be able to represent the Indian talent within the cocktail industry at the global finale in Miami. This journey has been the ultimate call for doing what moves me and bringing that trophy back home.” 

Each cocktail in this competition is judged on the recipe concept, replicability and the inspiration behind it. Beyond this, the balance, flavor, quality of ingredients and aesthetic appeal are strong considerations.

Sanjit Singh Randhawa, Managing Director India, said, “The level of innovation and the passion with which we have seen the participating bartenders pursue their craft at the BACARDI Legacy Cocktail Competition is a huge testament to the growing cocktail culture in India. We’ve always believed in staying on top of evolving trends, be it through our consumer initiatives or by encouraging our bartender partners to find new ways to excite our consumers. This commitment to creating   moments   that   matter   has   brought   out   the   best   talent   and   most enjoyable drink experiences, throughout the history of the competition”

The BACARDÍ® Legacy Cocktail Competition was first started in the United Kingdom in 2008, with  Ago Perrone of London’s Connaught Bar winning the title of the first BACARDÍ Legacy champion. Since then, it has grown into one of the world’s largest cocktail competitions, hosted across 112 markets, attracting thousands of entries. 

Speaking on the occasion, Richard Neil Irwin, Bacardi Advocacy Manager for Asia, Middle East & Africa, who also judged the competition, said, “The BACARDÍ® Legacy Cocktail Competition is a global platform solidifying BACARDÍ’s commitment to supporting, educating and inspiring creativity among bartenders across the globe. Over the last 11 years, the platform has celebrated and honored a plethora of talent, building a network of industry professionals who continue to inspire and encourage mixologists to do what moves them. Vineeth’s was a simple, unique and balanced cocktail with a compelling story and style which translated in to a recipe of success.”

Each national winner will travel to Miami on May 6th 2020 to join 41 others in the hope that their ‘legacy’ cocktail will be declared worthy to stand shoulder to shoulder with BACARDÍ classics such as the Mojito, the Daiquiri and the Old Cuban.