Jamaica Bartending Guild to be launched soon

Garfene Grandison, Gleaner Writer

THE JAMAICA Bartending Guild, a newly registered association, aims to advance the professional skills of bartenders and mixologists throughout Jamaica.

The group intended to have an offical launch on June 17 to coincide with the start of Bar Week; however, despite the postponement of that event, the Jamaica Bartending Guild will be a reality.

With its first meeting set for July 1, the mission of the Jamaica Bartending Guild is to guide local bartenders in adoptiing world-class standards by training and participation in international competitions, while educating the public about the prestigious profession of bartending.

According to a release from the association, the guild will "seek to set the standards of the bartending profession in Jamaica by promoting a high standard of workmanship and encouraging the development of new and creative cocktails through local and international competitions".

The release also said the guild would be seeking to provide a forum for communication between its members and associate members from the local wine and spirit trades.

Through its president and master mixologist, Patrice Wilson-McHugh, the Jamaica Bartending Guild is affiliated to the International Bartending Association and the United States Bartending Guild.

In a recent interview with The Gleaner, Wilson-McHugh said the Guild would be offering a wide range of benefits to its members, ranging from education in bartending, mixology and associated professions, to the creation of new trends to entice clients, employers, business partners and other parties and, most important, to create a national network of bartenders who would come together to share their common interest.