By Staff Reports
(Honolulu) – iichiko BLŪ is bringing a shochu showdown to SKY Waikiki, Hawaii’s hottest nightlife destination. The search is on for the best cocktails featuring the award-winning shochu at Hawaii’s 2018 iichiko BLŪ Bartender Competition, Jan. 31st, starting at 5 p.m. First prize is an all-expense-paid round trip to Oita Prefecture, Japan.
Talented mixologists can now enter and submit their creations, featuring this exclusive to Hawaii shochu. First place is an all-expense-paid trip to Japan and a guided tour of the iichiko distillery in Oita Prefecture, with $1,500 spending money. Second and third place winners take home $1,000 and $750, respectively.
Among the judges are CEO of iichiko USA Tomohisa Kadoyanagi, longtime “Barfly” columnist and Honolulu Star-Advertiser reporter Jason Genegabus, and award-winning bartender Jacques Bezuidenhout.
Up to eight finalists will be selected and notified by Jan. 21st, 2018. Contestants must provide their own ingredients and equipment. Fill out the entry form online at: www.barconcierge.com/iichiko–blu. Sign up by Jan. 20th for this exciting contest.
Hawaii’s 2018 iichiko BLŪ Bartender Competition is a premier mixology event, with expert judges including acclaimed bartender Bezuidenhout. He has been voted Best Bartender in San Francisco by Anthony Dias Blue and is a judge in Ultimate Spirits Competition run by Paul Pacult and has also judged in the San Francisco World Spirits Competition. Under the direction of Bezuidenhout and Julio Bermejo, the acclaimed Tres Agaves in San Francisco won the “Spirits Restaurant of the Year” award from Santé magazine in 2006. He also helped launch the San Francisco chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild, one of the nation’s most active chapters, and has served as a brand ambassador for Plymouth Gin and Partida Tequila. In recognition of his work, he was named best American brand ambassador at the 2011 Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Awards. Bezuidenhout is also the Master Mixologist for Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants’ nearly 60 restaurants and bars throughout the country, overseeing the company’s individual and national spirits menus as well as consulting on bar concepts. Bezuidenhout has also been selected to be on the Board of Advisors for Liquor.com.
Exclusive to Hawaii, iichiko BLŪ is a favorite of local mixologists and foodies in Hawaii restaurants and clubs alike. This premium shochu is distilled and made from barley, carefully developed to create both a rich and delicate flavor.
iichiko BLŪ is the Chairman’s Trophy Award winner in shochu, at the 2017 Ultimate Spirits Challenge, one of the world’s leading spirits competitions. It also garnered the Tried & True Award and scored 96 points, the highest of all the shochus, at the competition. iichiko BLŪ was also honored with the Best of Shochu award, scoring 95 points at the 2017 Los Angeles International Spirits Competition.
In addition to being served in Hawaii’s leading nightlife destinations, iichiko BLŪ is now available at local retail outlets, so consumers can enjoy its award-winning flavor at home.
SKY Waikiki is Hawaii’s most popular nightlife destination, with upscale food and drink, and featuring incredible panoramic views of Waikiki.