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Challenges

UBC consists of six rounds. The first five are all worth 10 points – highlighting that no one skill is more important than any other. A great bartender is one who can master them all.

The four contestants with the highest scores from those first five rounds go through to the final challenge to face off against one another and determine the winner.

Challenge 1

QUIZ

The quiz consists of five rounds – increasing in difficulty – of 10 quick-fire questions:
- Round 1: Knowledge
- Round 2: History
- Round 3: Trending & Topical
- Round 4: Classic Drinks
- Round 5: Hardcore
You will be given two minutes per question to work out the answer, with each correct answer worth 0.2 points for a maximum score of 10 points
Your host will read out questions from a screen and the multiple-choice answer options
Write your answers on the sheets filling in the WHOLE CIRCLE and return them for marking
Answer all questions with either A, B, C or D
You don’t lose points for a wrong answer, so make sure that you write something for each question
As in real life, you can use your phone for help, but you’ll be disqualified if you take photos of the quiz screen

Challenge 2

POURING

You will be required to accurately pour five drinks using water
Each drink will have up to six pours. Each pour must be done separately
You will need to pour the respective ml volume into a shaker and then pour the total liquid quantity into the glassware on the digital scales, for example:
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- 1x pour = shot – shot glass on digital scale – 30ml pour = 30g

- 2x pours = Manhattan – coupé glass on digital scale, 60ml and 15ml pour = 75g
Free pouring or the use of measures is allowed – we will provide some basic jiggers but you are welcome to bring your own
A total of 10 points are up for grabs

Challenge 3

NOSING

Five different alcohols are infused onto five strips
You will have a total of THREE minutes to nose all five strips, identify what’s inside and write the answers down!
For each of the five strips, you need to identify the spirit category for 1 point and what ingredients that spirit is made from for a further point
A total of 10 points is available
Write your answers on the sheets provided then hand them back to us for marking

Challenge 4

TABLE SERVICE

Eight coasters will be placed around a table, each with a picture of a Monkey Shoulder Brand Ambassador on
You must take the order by turning over the coasters to reveal the drinks that person would like, then turning it back over
You must then head to the bar and collect the drinks
Once the judge has checked the drinks, you must clear the table
You have three minutes to complete this challenge.
A total of 10 points are up for grabs

Challenge 5

THE PERFECT SERVE

You have to make and serve TWO Monkey Shoulder cocktails as quickly and accurately as possible
The serves are a Rob Roy and a Ginger Monkey
You will be judged on speed, balance and taste – these must be servable drinks for a paying customer
The clock will stop when both drinks are served onto the bar counter with napkins and a hands-up
A total of 10 points are up for grabs

Final Challenge

ROUND BUILDING

Only the contestants with the FOUR highest scores from the previous FIVE challenges will participate here
This round consists of two semi-finals with the winners of each then going head-to-head in a final
For each semi-final, you must make SIX drinks in the quickest time possible – you are allowed two minutes setting up time, but no pre-batching or glassware is allowed
The drinks are judged on correct ingredients, method and balance – the crowd can help judge too
If three drinks don’t pass the standard required, you will be disqualified
Disqualification will also occur if you fails to clean your station after their round, or if you break more than two items
In the final, the two contestants must make TEN drinks with the same rules applying as before
The judging of each round will be based on the ‘would I pay for it’ standard: it looks like the correct drink; it tastes like the correct drink; it has the correct garnish
In the event of a tie, it will come down to the quality of the drinks with the judges’ ruling being final

click here for the drinks lists

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