Blaauw, who works at the One & Only, was crowned the winner of the regional championship and will represent Cape Town along with the runner-up, Nick Koumbarakis from Orphanage, in the national finals of the competition to be held in Durban later this month in a bid to become South Africa's World Class representative.
The South African winner of the national final in Durban will then compete against international winners in July at this year's international final aboard the luxurious Azamara Journey cruise liner as it travels along the coastline of the Mediterranean, stopping at some of the world's most desirable destinations.
The Cape Town World Class regional final included six rounds to find the best of the bar with challenges including cocktail mastery, testing the bartenders' general bar knowledge, a tropical journey exploring exotic flavours, and an exciting retro chic creation, putting a modern-day twist on a classic cocktail.
"Some people paint, others sculpt, some compose and others cook. We as mixologists create liquid culinary art, the mixing of flavours and textures, balancing sweet and sour with alcoholic strengths. It's definitely an artistic vent for some of us," said Blaauw.
Judges for the national final in Durban will include: Ryan Duvenage of the Barcode Bar Academy, who has been ranked as one of the finest global bartenders; Travis Kuhn of Pure Bar Studios, who is an architect of the South African National Flair Champion; globally renowned culinary genius and recent Master Chef South Africa judge, Pete Goffe-Wood; as well as Tim Etherington-Judge, global ambassador for Diageo Reserve Brands.
