Maria Essay Janina Sinay of Bahri Bar, Mina A’Salam Dubai, won the UAE edition of the Monin Cup 2016, which took place on 23 October at China Grill Dubai.
Twelve of the UAE’s most talented beverage industry professionals under 27 years old were tasked with creating a signature drink using Monin products.
Commenting on the success of the event, Andrea Fidora, beverage innovation director for Monin in the Middle East, Africa and Sub-Continent, said: “It is always good to promote and enhance young talent.
“The response to the Monin Cup has been phenomenal right from registration to the final event. The bartender community came out in hordes to cheer the contenders and support their favourites. We saw some extremely talented youngsters, who showcased different professional skills.”
The beverages were judged on creativity, presentation, techniques and uniqueness. Sinay’s winning creation had Monin’s pineapple flavour as its base.
Mixologist, Marian Beke of The Gibson Bar in London, was a guest speaker at the event and led a masterclass showcasing his bartending skills, signature drinks, and tips for mastering the art of mixology.
Ghaith Zeidan, commercial director – beverage at Fresh Express, which distributes Monin products in the UAE, said: “After months of preparation for the Monin Cup UAE edition, it is nice to see that so many youngsters are passionate about what they do and are not afraid to experiment.
“This year it was an even bigger event as we also had Marian Beke come in as the guest speaker at the event. His Masterclass was insightful and I am sure most of these budding bartenders will have a lot great tips to ponder on and use in their professional life. We hope this continues and we see more participation in the coming years.”
Sinay, from the Philippines, will compete against 40 other young bartenders at the global final in Paris on December 5 2016.
Monin is a French-based gourmet flavour business solutions group, with an annual turnover of more than €100mn.
The company is present in 140 countries with more than 140 products, including syrups, liqueurs, gourmet sauces, frappe powders, and smoothie and cocktail mixes.
