Alex Vowles, centre, celebrates his victory with organiser Phil Spector, left, and Riki Carter, festival manager, right. Energy and entertainment were high; one participant slung three shakers at once, and another put on a spontaneous lip sync display to Italian opera as he poured multiple cocktails. Bartenders were challenged with a two-hour written exam, a blind whisky tasting, and a cocktail-making round inspired by lockdown, where bartenders made drinks with common ingredients found at home. Twenty competitors were whittled down to eight for the final, where they made five cocktails in five minutes. KEVIN STENT/STUFF One aspect of the competition is cocktail-making round inspired by lockdown, where bartenders make drinks with common ingredients found at home.