The Finlandia Vodka Cup is an annual event that sees top bartenders from around the world flocking to Finland to pit their skills against each other. The recently concluded 11th edition of the Cup saw, for the first time, a participant from India — Delhi-based Bharat Bhushan, a bartender at The Deck and the Past Times Bar at India Habitat Centre. Although he didn’t win (the trophy went to Dubai’s Raditya Dimas) the young bartender says he has learnt a lot.
“It was a good experience for me. The fellow participants were very friendly even though we were competing,” says the 24-year-old. Bhushan and the 28 other competitors had to brave sub-zero temperature — the event took place inside a snow dome during the Arctic winters — and prepare drinks in the Aperitif, Long Drink and Quick Mix categories.
Bhushan made Masala Martini (vodka, guava juice, Worcestershire sauce, coriander), Passionata (vodka, dragon fruit, passion fruit and pineapple juice) and Finlandia Fruit Infusion (grapefruit vodka, apple fizz). Bhushan says of the experience, “I’ve learnt that we shouldn’t think about winning. We should just enjoy our job and the chance to do something for ourselves and our country.”