Bartenders from across the country are getting ready to flex their bottle spinning muscles with preprations already underway for the 2004 U-First professional bartenders' competition.

One of two individual professional competitions run by the U-First Unit, the other being for chefs, the bartenders' contest aims to promote the work done by bar staff in adding enjoyment to tourists' visits to Seychelles.

Though the venue for the annual event is yet to be confirmed the date has already been fixed as May 21.

The event is open to all bartenders who have at least one year's experience in the job, a minimum S4 level of education and all of the necessary bartending skills.

Registration forms for participants can be collected from the U-First office at the Ministry of Tourism in Independence house.

In 2003 barstaff took up the challenge of making two cocktails, one long and one short, both of their own recipes, and the format is expected to be similar this year.

Spectators attending the 2004 event will doubtless be hoping for an improvement on the flourish free four hours of last year's competition in which the only real bottle twirling action was a brief display by previous winner Berty Cedras.

Held at the Coco D'Or Hotel the 2003 competition attracted some 17 competitors, most of whom limited themselves to carefully measuring out a variety of iridescent concoctions, with little of the showmanship or flair usually associated with the bartender's art.

Judged upon the accuracy of the recipe, their showmanship, their technical approach and the taste of the cocktails, the competition was won by Terrence Cedras of the Amusement Centre.

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