On-trade

Elite Scholarship for Waterford’s Kazbar Bartender

The Bartenders Association of Ireland (BAI) recently announced Eoin O’Neill as the recipient of the inaugural Edward Dillon & Co Ltd scholarship to attend the ‘Elite Bartenders Course (Europe)’ in Italy this month.

Eoin, aged 22, is a bartender at the Kazbar on John Street, Waterford. He represented Ireland at the Monin Cup cocktail competition in Paris in 2011 and finished third in the Bacardi 150th Anniversary Mixology competition last February. 

Eligible bartenders were invited to submit their CV accompanied by an essay explaining why they felt they should receive this scholarship. Other criteria judged included: their attendance at BAI meetings; their performance in competitions organised by or in partnership with the BAI and their facebook presence (eg profile, comments and activities).

A presentation was made to Eoin in the Edward Dillon & Co head office at East Point Business Park, Dublin 3. On hand to offer their congratulations to Eoin was Andy O’Hara (incoming Managing Director) and Kevin Behan (Regional Sales Manager) from Edward Dillon & Co as well as BAI President Declan Byrne and Eoin’s father Hugh.

This year the Elite Bartender Course takes place from May 2nd  to 13th near Naples.

Ireland’s participant on the 2011 course was Patrick Thomas from Dublin who managed to win the coveted ‘Eagle Award’ for best student.

Organised annually by the International Bartenders Associkation, the Elite Bartenders Course (Europe) consists of a 10-day intensive training course for young bartenders up to 28 years-of-age. Participants come from bartender associations around Europe affiliated to the IBA.

A typical training day goes from 9.30am to 7.30pm and topics covered throughout the course include:

  • Bar Design and Equipment
  • Standard Operating Procedures
  • Beverage Knowledge & Alcohol Distillation
  • Cocktail Recipes and Service Procedures
  • Costing, Pricing and Marketing
  • Participants’ Team Presentation
  • Social Responsibility


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