Sponsored by Martin Miller’s Gin & Arc’teryx

Sunday, February 21 – Doors open at 12:00 pm
George Ultra Lounge, 1137 Hamilton Street, Vancouver
 
Everybody has medal fever this month in Vancouver and the international bartenders visiting George Ultra Lounge are no exception!  George bartender Shaun Layton has invited some of the best cocktail creators in the world to mix it up at George Ultra Lounge during the Olympics.  With so much bartending talent in one place, it just made sense to turn it into a competition.

The 2010 George Mixlympic Games will see ten intensely competitive bartenders – 6 international, 4 Canadian – compete head-to-head in a black box style event.  These masters of mixology will be vying for the top prize – $500 cash provided by Martin Miller’s Gin, but there will be medals too.  Gold, silver and bronze, just like the athletes competing in Vancouver and Whistler. Judges will be smartly outfitted with stylish Arc’teryx jackets. 

The event is free and open to the public.  Doors open at 12:00 pm but it might be best to get in line a little bit earlier.  The Games begin at 12:30 pm.

The international contestants are:

Joe Stokoe – Bar Manager for all three All Star Lanes, London, UK

Abdul Kpekawa – Bartender, All Star Lanes, London, UK

David Grieg – Bartender, All Star Lanes, London, UK

Ola Carlson – Bartender, Box 101, Stockholm, Sweden

Nicolos de Soto, Bartender, Experimental Cocktail Club & Curio Parlour, Paris, France

Charles Tan – Bartender, China Club, Paris, France.

Representing Canada will be:

Mark Brand – Owner, Boneta and The Diamond, Vancouver

David Wolwidnyk – Bar Manager, West, Vancouver

Jay Jones – Owner, The Pourhouse, Vancouver

Darryl Macdonald – Bartender, Port, Toronto

The extremely talented judges who will have the enviable job of tasting the cocktails and choosing the best are:

Rebecca Bollwitt – Vancouver Blogger, Miss 604

Jay Garnett – President, Whitefish Group 

Shaun Layton – Bar Manager, George Ultra Lounge

Andrew Morrison – Editor, Scout Magazine

Neal Mclennan – Editor, Western Living Magazine

George Oliphant – Host, NBC LX-TV

Joanne Sasvari – Freelance Journalist and Mixology Expert

Meet George

George Ultra Lounge is the Godfather of Vancouver’s cocktail culture.  Modeled in the London style, George pioneered the cocktail kitchen concept in Canada when it opened in 2005. Today, with award-winning Shaun Layton behind the bar, George continues to pour proper classic and market-fresh cocktails, complimented by a dinner and late night menu through 2 a.m.  George is located at 1137 Hamilton Street in Yaletown, and online at georgelounge.com. For reservations, or to secure the private room, phone 604.628.5555.