Frenchman Dedieu wins Bacardi Legacy

French bartender Frank Dedieu has won the Bacardi Legacy Global Cocktail Competition 2015 final in Sydney, with his cocktail Le Latin.

From Redwood bar in Lyon, Dedieu is the second bartender from the city to win Barcardi Legacy after Marc Bonneton won in 2011.

The competition, now in its seventh year, was contested by bartenders from 34 countries. It aims to find the classic cocktails of the future.

The final was held in front of 400 guests at Sydney’s town hall.

Dickie Cullimore, Bacardi global brand ambassador, said of the winner: “Le Latin is a cocktail that fuses together the elements that we look for in a ‘Legacy’ cocktail; it is a drink I could see being made and enjoyed around the world for many years to come.

"This year Frank has produced something that feels both original, and yet quintessential. It has been more difficult than ever to pick the winner from such a strong field, but in ‘Le Latin’ I think we truly have the makings of a modern classic.”

Eight competitors were selected to go through to the grand final and present their drink in front of an audience of invited guests and a judging panel that comprised: maestro de ron Bacardi José Sanchez Gavito; New York bartender Steve Schneider; Ago Perrone, winner of the very first Bacardi Legacy; and Tom Walker who won the competition last year.

The runners up were Barney Toy from New Zealand with The Pan Am Cocktail and Jad Ballout from Lebanon with El Mediterráneo.

Le Latin recipe

1 parts Bacardi Carta Blanca

⅔ parts white wine (Viognier preferred)

⅔ parts lemon juice

2 bar spoons olive brine

2 bar spoons caster sugar

Method

Shake and strain, garnish with an olive.