SWISS BAR AWARDS 2022

Qualification in Effretikon

Fourteen candidates traveled to Effretikon on Monday, August 29, 2022 to face the challenges: The tests that would decide on advancement in the category Barkeeper of the year and victory in the category Best Barkeeper Talent.
From left back: Wolfgang Bogner (jury), Daniel Staub (jury), Justin Ebert, Antonio Carabantes (jury), Valentin Matter, Julian Ritter, Gabriel Bodor, Christophe Pinto, Rebekka Salzmann, John Pinzon. Front: Bruno Hunkeler (Jury), Nina Schneider, Noah Hoffmann, Michael Müller, Sarah Madritsch, Wladimir Reichert, Léa Pahud, Marvin Djoumna.

While the Award Night, the highlight of the SWISS BAR AWARDS, has now taken place for years and without Corona-related interruption at the event location Chicago 1928, the same cannot be said about the qualification of the categories Barkeeper of the year and Best Barkeeper Talent.

Now, after two years at another location, the aspirants of both awards gathered again in the QN-World Effretikon.

Much has remained the same here, such as the hospitality of founder and owner Reto Kuhn and his team. Others, however, are new. The Cigar Lounge, for example, is in a new location. And what was particularly important for the Barkeeper : the bar now has a top-notch ice machine.

"This year's Award Night will be held in a larger setting: At the Trafo in Baden."

Even more important, however, was the adjustment to the regulations, which was introduced especially on the occasion of the 20th anniversary of the most prestigious awards. Thus, not only the first three, but the first five candidates in the category Barkeeper of the year qualify for the grand final.

But an anniversary raises expectations. That's why it's not enough to just pop the corks a little louder on this milestone birthday: This year's Award Night will take place on a larger scale: At the Trafo in Baden.

Demanding tests

After 20 years of SWISS BAR AWARDS, it should come as no surprise to anyone that the qualification process for the candidates in the two Barkeeper categories is a tough one. The pre-mixing of an own cocktail creation in front of references of the Swiss bar culture and scene experts, who formed the four-member jury panel this year, was the first hurdle.

Jury panel: from left: Bruno Hunkeler, Antonio Carabantes, Wolfgang Bogner, Daniel Staub

The trembling of the hands caused by the occasional nervousness led to the fact that even a stirred drink was shaken from time to time. But the mixing technique is only one of three important evaluation criteria of this competition.

The other valuable points could be won with a convincing presentation, whereby, for example, the quick-wittedness in response to the jury's questions was important - and, of course, the own creation itself was also evaluated: Aroma, taste as well as the visual aspect and the naming.

Not only the practical test was tough, but also the written test with questions on technical and general knowledge. Nevertheless, it should be mentioned here that the practical test was weighted at 75 percent, while the theoretical test was weighted at only 25 percent.

Still. Could the points awarded for the questions on beer production, cocktail culture or pisco ultimately determine who advances to the next round and who doesn't? Who knows, because the high level naturally means that the field of candidates is close together in terms of points.

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Great participation from French-speaking Switzerland

Looking at the field of candidates, it is pleasing to see that this year numerous Barkeeper from French-speaking Switzerland have entered the ring for the title of "Best Barkeeper Talent" and for the royal title of "Barkeeper of the year".

Although, actually one would maybe have to depart from the term king title, as three women are still in the race for the crown of probably the most fastidious Barkeeper-Competition of Switzerland.

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Award Night from Sunday, October 23, 2022

For the five bartenders who have now qualified for the grand finale on October 23, the final test is now on the agenda at the Award Night: presenting a new creation of their own in front of the invited guests who will attend the Award Night of the 20th SWISS BAR AWARDS.

This article appeared in
Issue 4-2022

BAR NEWS magazine as single issue

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