Heineken® National Bartender Final

We attended the Heineken National Bartender Final at Cape Town’s incredible Shimmy Beach Club on Sunday. We were expecting a whole lot of bottle or glass throwing and we weren’t disappointed. But the best trick was the perfect pour – if there was a Michelin Star for beer pouring, then the finalists would certainly be in the running.

the top 10 national finalists from all corners of South Africa demonstrated tremendous tenacity by proving that pouring the perfect glass of Heineken® time after time and mastering all the steps to perfection under pressure is not easy.

Judged by a panel of seasoned experts, including celebrity judge Lunga Shabalala, the ultimate quality showdown was the culmination of a nationwide search that showcased their bartending prowess.

Following months of searching, Trace van der Merwe from Umhlanga, Durban has come out top, and will now join national winners from 19 other countries in Heineken’s global markets such as Netherlands, Ireland and USA, in a nerve-racking and exhilarating battle of skills. They will vie for the title of the world’s best Heineken® bartender at the Global Bartender Final in Amsterdam in April.

Trace was selected as the winner based on his skill and extensive knowledge of the perfect serve. Called the Star Serve, the five step ritual involves The Rinse, The Pour, The Skim, The Check and The Serve – all vital to the perfect glass of draught beer.

“As the world’s number one international premium beer, Heineken® goes to great lengths to ensure our draught beer is of the perfect quality. The Heineken® Global Bartender search is a key element of the Heineken® Star Serve programme where we put quality, hospitality and industry professionals and trade partners firmly in the spotlight,” says panelist Tjeerd Veldhuis (Marketing Manager, Heineken^® South Africa).

“Everyone’s asking me to teach them the perfect pour!” says Trace van der Merwe from Umhlanga, Durban “I’ve also never had the opportunity to travel before, so being given the opportunity to travel to Amsterdam, the home of Heineken®, is a great experience and I’m very grateful to be a part of it.”

Follow us on Twitter (@Heineken_SA) or visit the Heineken^® Facebook page (www.facebook.com/Heineken).