balancing act: The winner Danai Sae-sin, above, says he needs more practice before he goes to Italy, while the first runner-up, Kitiphum Karnmaitrejit, right, hopes to do the same next year.

Tensions run high in the Conrad Hotel's ballroom as 16 bartenders, most of them from Bangkok and Phuket, prepare for the finals of the Bacardi Martini Grand Prix. Some are old hands who have entered the competition before and are hoping that they knowledge they've gained will give them an edge.

Others are newcomers but equally hopefully that their mixes and flair will earn them the coveted trip to Italy to represent Thailand in the world-class bartending contest.

This is Kitiphum Karnmaitrejit from Bed Supperclub's third competition. He went home empty-handed the first time, but landed the first-runner-up prize last year.

"It's great fun. It's more than just doing our routine work. It's like a sport. I can see how the bartenders have developed their skills," he says. "The organisation of this year's competition is better than in the past. There's a formal announcement of the scores, which lets us how we have performed."

Behind the scenes, the bartenders arrange what they need for their act - bottles for flairing, shakers, glasses, decorations for the drinks and clean cloths.

Down on the floor, the panel of adjudicators who will judge on taste and appearance sit in the front row. Behind are the supporters of each contestant, cheering their friends with noisy shouts. They hold up placards, sing, scream and dance as their "player" takes the stage.

The stage is bigger this year, allowing more space for the contestants to perform, as well as tables for the three technical judges.

A huge clock on a wall at the back of the room tells the contestants how much time they have to complete their two creations. A buzzer sounds as the contest enters the last 60 seconds and they turn to shaking, mixing and decorating the drinks.

A pre-test is held to measure accuracy and the score is added to the marks for flair, taste and appearance - of both the cocktail and bartender.

When the marks are totted up, no one is surprised when Danai Sae-sin from Amanpuri Resort, Phuket, is declared the winner.

On stage, Danai shows a perfect balance of technique, a great-tasting cocktail, personality and accuracy, which impresses all three judges.

"Everything made him the champion," says Manas Kaewklam, one of the technical judges and an experience bartender himself. "He had the best flair. In terms of taste and image, he is the best".

During his five minutes on stage, Danai made two cocktails - Bacardi Gossip and Bacardi Whisper - both with a sweet and sour profile and the aroma of melon to add smoothness.

The champ receives a trophy and a prize worth Bt120,000, which includes his round trip ticket to Italy and accommodation.

The Bacardi Martini Grand Prix World Finals Tournament is being held on July 19 and more than 50 competitors from around the globe are expected to take part.

Danai has been working as a bartender for five years and started flairing three years ago after watching a bartender competition in Phuket. The 21-year-old Krabi native says it's important to entertain the customer while making great tasting drinks.

He intends to practise even harder while preparing for his trip to Italy. Accuracy is the main concern for Danai, because in most international bartender competitions, competitors aren't allowed to use a jigger but must be spot on when pouring.

"I still make mistakes in the pour test so I need to work on that," he says.

The skills of Thai bartenders have already been exposed on the global stage when Kwanchai Lainamngoen won the first runner-up prize in last year's Open Disco category.

Thitapa Isrowuthakul, brand manager of Bacardi (Thailand), is confident that Danai will be able to bring back a trophy.

"He's a talented young bartender. His cocktails taste good and he has a good personality. That makes him a good competitor," she says.

Juthamas Cholthavornpong

The Nation