Absolut Invite

Bartending in a popular bar is not just about mixing fantastic cocktails. Apart from speed, you also need consistency, courtesy and creativity - and if you're a team, you also have to be coordinated and possess excellent communication skills. Fortunately, Bachar and Ceasar from Bonavida Mar Mikhael haveall that and will be representing Lebanon in this year's edition of Absolut Invite, the premiere international competition for bartender teams.

Competing teams have proved themselves in national heats, earning the honor to represent their country in the international finals. The finals take place during several days in June, when teams are flown in to Åhus in Sweden, where every single bottle of Absolut is produced, to settle the question: Which is the Best Bartender Team in the world? The competition emulates the environment in a popular, crowded bar and the various stages in the competition will test each team's ability to the max. The stages include identifying various spirits as well knowledge about the production process, coordinating and collaborating with limited verbal communication, as well as showing speed and consistency when making cocktails. The final challenge takes place in Stockholm and is all about creativity. Once all stages are done and the scores are tallied, the best of the best will get the chance to run a pop-up bar for a night in Stockholm, dazzling the public with their creations and skills.

Absolut Invite Lebanon's edition took place at Jackie O',in the presence of Rico Dynan, global brand ambassador for Absolut vodka, Sarah Witvoet, Regional Brand Manager of Pernod Ricard MENA and Tarek Moukaddem, Photographer & Visual Artist, jury members of the competition.

Rico also introduced the Absolut's Green Hustle initiative, with high engagement and interest from the competing bar teams as he provided easy tips to reduce waste while shaking cocktails.

"This first edition of Absolut Invite in Lebanon is promising, it rocked! Super excited to see Lebanese @Bonavidabeirut team at the final to represent this amazing culture. The secret behind creating a better Vodka is that we don't have any. Because we are the vodka with nothing to hide." says Sarah Witwoet.