Alicante's Gegham Ghazaryan was last night named the "G'Vine Gin Connoisseur 2011" making him the purportedly the "best gin barman in the world".
Ghazaryan beat an international field of 15 other finalists to the title, coming out top overall after sitting a written exam, an aroma exam (focusing on citrus fruits, spices and ingredients in gin), producing his own commercially viable gin from different distilled gins, and a speed test involving five different gin-based cocktails.
Ghazaryan's winning cocktail was the "Coupage Floral" made with G'Vine Floraison gin, fresh lime and pink grapefruit juice, cardamom and ginger syrup, blueberry reduction, and served on ice with flambéed lime and grapefruit peel.
Apart from the coveted title, Ghazaryan, fromthe Xandom bar in Alicante, won a cash prize and the chance to tour the best gin bars in the world with his winning cocktail.