Venezuelan rum brand Diplomático has named Lottie Barnard from Below Stairs in Leeds as the winner of this year’s Artisans of Taste cocktail competition.
Hosted at Odyssey Bar & Lounge by Diplomático UK brand ambassador Georgia Billing, the 2024 final included contestants Juni Guthrie from Sexy Fish in London, Steven Vaughan from Sora in Manchester, Jeanne Mathieru from Hide in London, Levi Charlery from Southampton’s Good Things, and Barnard.
The theme for the Artisans of Taste programme this year was ‘Art of the Blend’. During the competition, bartenders were invited to craft a Diplomático cocktail using only homemade sustainable ingredients and were encouraged to work with their local communities and produce.
Barnard won the competition with her cocktail ‘Waste Not Want Not’ using Diplomático Planas rum.
Below Stairs is known for serving sustainable cocktails, and Barnard’s ingredients were described as ‘waste-conscious, expertly crafted, and supportive of the local community’.
As the winner, Barnard will receive a trip to Venezuela, a ‘once-in-a-lifetime experience’ to discover the origins of Diplomático.
The competition was judged by Christian Seale, senior brand manager of Diplomático UK; Sly Augustin, owner of Trailer Happiness in London; and Christina Audrain, Brown-Forman sales executive.
Artisans of Taste programme
Artisans of Taste aims to engage hospitality professionals through inspiring and educational experiences. Led by the Diplomático global team, it is a year-long programme beginning with localised experiential activities celebrating community, craftsmanship, and sustainability.
Bartenders from participating countries are invited to join these experiences, learn from local experts, and gain creative inspiration to enter a cocktail for the final competition.
The cocktails were submitted anonymously and shortlisted by Diplomático global advocacy manager Javier Garcia and his team. In the final, the bartenders had the chance to blend their own Diplomático expression using rums distilled from the brand’s pot and column stills and incorporating Sherry cask-aged rum.
The programme does not end with the competition. The finalists and the winner are all invited back as Diplomático Artisans of Taste advocates to participate in guest shifts at top bars worldwide and take a central role in the next campaign.
Garcia commented on the programme: “At Diplomatico Rum, we care about our community and visiting the home place to rediscover the heart of rum. All the Artisans of Taste winners from 10 countries will enjoy this unforgettable experience, intermingling education, Caribbean experience, and lots of fun with the next generation of the industry.”
Brown-Forman acquired Diplomático in January 2023 from Spain’s Destillers United Group.
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Author: Miona Madsen
