World-renowned mixologist Paulo Figueiredo, who was in the country as part of Diageos’ training and judging team conducted training sessions with competing bartenders, educating them about current trends and techniques in the industry. Diageo is searching, by means of competition, for the best bartender/mixologist in Trinidad to go to the finals in Brazil in July. Last year’s finalist Stephon Scott was invited to speak about his experience at the competition, which secured him a spot at the finals in India in 2011. Competing again this year, Scott was in fine form at the heats and was able to secure a spot to move on to the next wave with his cocktail Trini Lady – a twist on the Classic cocktail White Lady.

Joining him was Carla Cupid in second place with her mix The Bold and Perfect, a twist to the classic cocktail Manhattan, and Karlina Permell in third place with Nolet’s Love. In total there were 20 bartenders competing in the first wave. They will all continue in the competition in the second and third challenges. Their scores from the first challenge will go on towards the next two challenges. At the end of the local competition the top bar tender will go on to the global contest in Brazil in July for the title of the world's best bartender.