As Angostura aromatic bitters continues to follow the journey of some of SA’s top barmen and explore what it takes to make it in the cocktail industry, we chat to industry stalwart – Travis Kuhn.

After an intense week of challenges seasoned professional, Travis Kuhn, shaked-off the competition to be crowned Diageo’s #WorldClass2018 Bartender of the Year in South Africa.

Mix your own Rock Shandy

With close on two hundred years of experience producing aromatic bitters, The House of Angostura has been at the forefront of the cocktail industry since the creation of the very first long drink. Over the years, the brand itself has become a household name as a supporter of industry talent around the globe and the producer of an Amaro aperitif and some of the best rums in the world. As a mainstream brand in the industry, Angostura has its finger on the pulse… so, let’s talk trends for the coming year.

Ace bartender Leighton Rathbone (centre) of Orphanage Cocktail Emporium has won the South African leg of the Angostura® Global Cocktail Challenge 2020. Rathbone was up against nine other top bartenders in a fierce competition, with Peter Lebese (right) of SIP Exclusive coming in second place and Martin Strobos of Slo-Jo (left) in third.

As hopeful candidates for the Angostura Global Cocktail Challenge (AGCC) 2020 go through the application process and await the announcement of SA’s national finalists, the local judges of AGCC’s 10^th anniversary edition are gearing up for their exciting roles in the prestigious event.

This morning Inverroche, the pioneering fynbos gin from South Africa, announced the Top 8 Regional Finalists for their inaugural Inverroche Pioneers Cocktail Competition.

Tell us a bit about yourself?

Cape Town might be littered with babalaas bartenders this morning, but the Mother City sits pretty with almost all the major awards – from High to New to Best Bar – it’s all down south. A major shift from last year, when Jozi delivered most of the goods.

Fast becoming the Oscars of the South African bartending industry, the annual B.A.R. Awards, now in its fourth year, disclosed its shortlisted nominees yesterday.