Founders of The Bartenders Workshop Etienne and Kurt Schlechter fly the flag for South Africa at the 2008 International Bartenders Association World Flairing and Cocktail Competition in Puerto Rico.

This prestigious event comes but once a year for the best mixologists and flairtenders of the world who compete for the highest honor in the bartending industry, to be crowned 'King of the Cocktail'.

The tough competition was hosted at the world renowned Hilton Caribe Hotel famous for the creation of the cocktail classic the Pina Colada. Representatives of 57 countries gathered for the event including The Bartenders Workshop Managing director Etienne Schlechter. In his capacity as the president of The South African Bartenders Association he was on the judging panel for the Flair tending competition.

Etienne says, "This is a fantastic event with standards soaring higher and higher every year. It's great to see old faces and catch up but even better to meet new faces as flair tending grows more popular every year"

Etienne's endless efforts for the South African and World wide bartending industry have not been unnoticed. It was announced in Puerto Rico that Etienne has deservedly been elected as the World Flair Committee Chairman. Well done Etienne! This is not only fantastic news for The Bartenders Workshop but for the South African bartending industry too. This proves that SA bartenders are at the top of their game and it will now highlight our talented guys on a world wide scale.

The Bartenders Workshop training director Kurt Schlechter accompanied his brother Etienne to Puerto Rico not to judge in the competition but to represent South Africa and compete in the mixology category.

His Cocktail was called the 'Jewel of Africa' and consisted of:

125ml Mandarin Juice
50ml Vodka
50ml Grapefruit Juice
1 Bar spoon of Antiqua Formula
12.5ml lemon Juice
25ml Apricot Liqueur
12.5ml sugar syrup