T.G.I. Fridays Restaurants Crowns Greatest Bartender In The Worl

Eric Martinez, a 26 year old T.G.I. Fridays restaurants bartender from Caloocan Manila, Philippines was crowned Greatest Bartender in the World at Club Rain at The Palms casino resort in Las Vegas on Sunday night March 4th, following intense competition between eight of the best mixologists from around the globe. Brian Zachau from Minneapolis was honored for the third straight year as the US Champion.

Nearly 8,000 Fridays bartenders from 58 countries entered this years World Bartender Championship. The eight finalists exhibited their knowledge and showed off their flair through months of local, regional, divisional and national competitions to reach last nights finals. In addition to Martinez and Zachau, six other bartenders competed in the weekends festivities: Everton Barbieri, Latin America Champion, Ovind Haugland, Europe Champion, Kristian Mihailin, US Southeast Division Champion Chesapeake, Va., Jes Perrine, US Central Division Champion Towson, Md., Gabi Sztancsik, Defending US Northeast Division Champion Watchung, N.J. and Nick Wu, Asia Pacific Champion.

The finalists competed throughout the weekend in a variety of skills tests, compulsory and speed rounds, where they showed their mastery of bar mechanics, including technical knowledge and accuracy. Sunday nights freestyle segment, where the competitors showed off their flair techniques of tossing, balancing, mixing and flipping cocktails and bottles in the air, brought the crowd of close to 1500 to its feet with applause time after time.

Originators of the now famous, trend setting, bottle tossing flair style of bartending, Fridays bartenders are world renowned for their accuracy and precision, their larger than life personalities and their award winning ability to entertain guests around the world. For more information, please visit: www.worldbtc.com