Tauranga bartender in prize mix
A Tauranga bartender has beaten more than 300 others from throughout New Zealand to gain a place in a national competition designed to find the country's best bourbon and coke.
The Beam Bar Legend is said to be the biggest bartender competition in the country and Za Bar bartender Luke Wilson has been named a semi-finalist.
A total of 370 people entered and the list was whittled down to 30, including Mr Wilson. ``I just saw it on Facebook and thought `you don't get anything if you don't try anything','' the 19-year-old said.
Over the next two weeks, contestants will be filmed being interviewed and expected to create their interpretation of the ultimate Jim Beam and cola.
From there eight contestants will be selected to compete in a grand final held in Auckland in October. The winner will take away a $25,000 prize pack.
The prize pack includes an all expenses paid trip to a Beam distillery of their choice (in Kentucky, Canada, the Caribbean, France or Scotland) and an expense card.
