He fought off stiff competition from Jamaal Bowen from Barbados, Yangdup Lama from India, Michael Shaus from the US, Wolfgang Mayer from Switzerland, Mariano Ramirez from Argentina, Norsalinah Binti Syed Osman from Malaysia, Kurt Schlechter from South Africa and Daniyel Jones from Trinidad and Tobago.

Griffiths wowed the panel of judges with his cocktails – The Scarlet Ibis (named after Trinidad and Tobago’s national bird) and Orinoco Flip (named after the river that flows through Angostura in Venezuela).

Second place went to Kurt Schlechter of South Africa, who used SA favourite Amarula in one of his tipples.

Wolfgang Mayer picked up third place for Europe and Trinidad’s own Daniyel Jones won the rum category with his cocktail Rum Up and Wine. Contestants had to use Angostura aromatic bitters in their cocktails as well as using Angostura rum as the base for one drink.

The judges included 2008 winner Jamie Stephenson, bartending royalty Dale deGroff, “Cocktail Kings” presenter and former LAB manager Colin Asare-Appiah, food, wine and beverage educator Josue Merced-Reyes and Angostura’s executive director – technical operations Vidia Persad-Doodnath.

To find out more about Angostura and the competition, including latest company news and winning cocktail recipes, see the April issue.