Emali excels at Bartender competition

Emali Gunasekera took home the award for Classic Bartender at the 19th National All Island Marie Brizard Bartender Competition held on July 18. The goal of the Classic Cocktail category is to create an innovative cocktail in a combination of shaking and blending and present it in an elegant manner.
A member of the Front Office staff, Emali started bartending two months ago upon discovering that it interested her as a hobby. Being an individual with no prior training and exposure to F&B, Emali’s success at the competition is truly an incredible achievement.
Bolstered by thorough and attentive trainers, namely Earnest, Sanchitha and Mayurie, Emali underwent a rigorous training schedule, sometimes training for over 12 hours a day. This hard work and perseverance paid dividends on her journey to the Finals, which was a long and arduous one.
The Quarterfinals, which brought together 47 regional candidates for a hard fought competition, had the participants performing in pairs. Emali accidentally broke her glass during the shaking process. Showing impressive poise, she quickly recovered and used another glass, finishing her cocktail before her competitor.
Throughout the competition, Emali used her own cocktail creation. Dubbed Pink Attitude, the cocktail comprises SKYY Berry Vodka, Marie Brizard Triple Sec, Monin Orange Sanguine, Fresh pineapple juice and strawberry cubes. Garnished with strawberry and orange peel, this cocktail saw her through to the finals and an impressive win.
In spite of achieving such a monumental accomplishment, Emali remains a humble individual and a prime example of a Cinnamon Grand associate. She also expressed her own personal goals of advancing to Macau and France as part of the Marie Brizzard International Competition, bringing further fame and glory to Cinnamon Grand and Sri Lanka.

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