TORONTO, March 24, 2015 /CNW/ - BACARDÍ® rum, the world's most awarded spirit, is proud to announce Mike Shum from Vancouver, winner of the first Canadian BACARDI Legacy Cocktail Competition for his cocktail Chan Chan. Mike Shum will move on to represent Canada in the Global Legacy Competition in Sydney, Australia. For many contestants, Legacy is viewed on a global scale as a career changing moment. For past winners, their careers have sky rocketed from running a local bar in New York, to owning a three story night club in Shanghai.

The BACARDÍ Legacy Cocktail Competition is not just looking to crown the best drink or bartender of the year; it is looking to find the next Legacy Cocktail. After five heats across Canada, eight of our leading rum bartenders were selected based on original recipes they hoped would become contemporary classics and stand the test of time. Toronto residents Alana Nogueda for her cocktail, A Night In Santiago, Simon Hooper for his creation, Behind The Bat and former Vancouver native, Evelyn Chick for her cocktail, Just in Thyme; Montreal resident Drahos Chytry for his creation Bayamo; two hopefuls from Halifax, Jeffrey Van Horne for his cocktail, The Stepping Stone, as well as Shane Beehan for Golden Glow; Vancouver resident Mike Shum for his winning drink, Chan Chan and Calgary resident, Jimmy Nguyen for his cocktail, Cuban Cola. Over 200 spectators from the bartending community were escorted to a secret location. Guests were guided through the dark tunnels of Casa Loma and entered the house of Casa Bacardi in Toronto. All watched as our best competed for their chance to represent Canada amongst 35 other countries in Sydney Australia Tuesday May 5, 2015.

Shum's signature cocktail was selected for its balance, flavour, and quality of ingredients, aesthetic appeal and showmanship by a panel of esteemed judges. Judges included David Wolowidnyk, Manager of West Restaurant and Bar in Vancouver and co-founder and director of the Canadian Professional Bartender's Association; Dr Andrew Toplack, one of Canada's most respected spirits and cocktail experts; Juan Coronado, Bacardi's Senior Brand Ambassador for North America and Trevor Burnett Canada's National Brand Ambassador for the House of Bacardi Rums.

"We have seen the best of the best compete in Canada," said Trevor Burnett, Bacardi Brand Ambassador. "Canada has become a leader in the cocktail market winning the Bombay Saphire World's Most Imaginative Bartender competition. Our Bacardi Legacy winner has a real chance to take home the world championships this May."

About BACARDI Legacy Cocktail Competition:

The Legacy showcase has grown to become a world-renowned event, with nearly 40 countries represented across the globe competing to produce the next BACARDI Legacy cocktail that will sit alongside the Original BACARDÍ Mojito, the Original BACARDÍ Daiquirí and the Original BACARDÍ Cuba Libre.

The global winner will receive year-long support to further his/her career as a bartender by creating experiences tailored to meet his/her goals. For one year, the global winning cocktail will be served by the winning bartender at some of the finest bars in the world.

About BACARDÍ Rums

In 1862, BACARDÍ revolutionized the spirits industry when founder Don Facundo Bacardí Massó began producing his remarkable light-bodied, smooth rum. The unique taste of BACARDÍ inspired cocktail pioneers to invent some of the world's most famous drink recipes including the Mojito, the Daiquirí, the Cuba Libre, the Piña Colada, and the Presidente. BACARDÍ rum has won more than 550 awards for quality and taste making it the world's most awarded rum. Today, BACARDÍ rum is produced in Puerto Rico, following the production legacy set forth by Don Facundo Bacardi Massó – crafted in a five step distillation process, mellowed in American white oak barrels, and filtered five times for unparalleled quality and smoothness. For additional information, visit http://www.Bacardi.com.

The BACARDÍ® brand is part of the portfolio of Bacardi Limited, headquartered in Hamilton, Bermuda. Bacardi Limited refers to the Bacardi group of companies, including Bacardi International Limited.

LIVE PASSIONATELY. DRINK RESPONSIBLY.@2014. BACARDÍ, BACARDI UNTAMEABLE AND THE BAT DEVICE ARE TRADEMARKS OF BACARDI & COMPANY LIMITED. 

Source | PR Newswire.