When life hands you lemons, make lemonade in your film debut for the Auchentoshan London/NYC Switch

Photo by Peter Devlin courtesy of Auchentoshan Distillery - Glasgow, Scotland

You know they drive funny over there, do they bartend on the wrong side too? If you’re one of the lucky (and talented) UK and US bartenders who win the AUCHENTOSHAN Switch you’ll find out first hand.

The big switch is a once in a lifetime opportunity for UK bartenders to bartend in the US, all expenses paid, while their US counterpart heads to London to see how bartenders get put to the test there every night. Auchentoshan® Lowland Single Malt Scotch Whisky, the only triple-distilled Scottish single malt, has launched a bartender talent search like no other to find two outstanding barkeeps in the US and the UK ready to switch places and switch countries for two weeks.

It doesn’t matter if you prefer the high road or the low road; the road to get there will be exactly the same in each country – first, contestants must enter a video of themselves making a homemade lemonade and an Old Fashioned cocktail with Auchentoshan Three Wood. 20 semi-finalists will travel to Las Vegas (and to London in the UK) to enter the showdown hosted by the United States Bartenders’ Guild (USBG) where the top bartender will be named.

Auchentoshan has partnered with two of the most outstanding bars in each country to act as the host venues for the final two bartenders in New York and London. The Auchentoshan Switch is open to all licensed bartenders in the US and UK (see terms & conditions for complete information).
Bartenders can enter their videos up until August 31, 2011 at http://www.auchentoshan.com/switch. The Las Vegas and London showdown will take place in October 2011 and the actual switch will take place in early 2012.

VIDEO ENTRY. Entering the Auchentoshan Switch requires a video and two drinks, specifically a lemonade and an Old Fashioned made with Auchentoshan Three Wood, a liquid of unique complexity that has rested in three different types of casks – first in American Bourbon then to Spanish Oloroso Sherry and finally in Pedro Ximenez Sherry – before being bottled, giving it a unique complexity. Bartenders who wish to enter must film themselves (no need for Oscar level movies here, a smartphone will do) making these two drinks (ps, the lemonade will show their knowledge of the sweet/sour balance). Contestants should be as engaging as they dare to captivate the judges’ attention. Videos can be no longer than four minutes and must be received by August 31, 2011 via http://www.auchentoshan.com/switch.

WHAT HAPPENS NEXT. Once the entry period is over, judges in both countries will meticulously review all videos and choose their top 20 semi-finalists. These bartenders will be invited to attend a one-day final round hosted by USBG in Las Vegas in October 2011 where the top bartender will be determined.
THE SWITCH. The Switch takes place in early 2012 when the winning American bartender will spend two weeks at the famed London bar 69 Colebrooke Row, while the winning British barkeep will get to spend his or her two weeks at a well known bar in New York City. 69 Colebrooke Row is home to the Drinks Factory, one of the only bar-related drinks labs in the world. There they will become incorporated into the daily bar procedures as well as visiting producers and sourcing quality ingredients. In NYC, the UK bartender will work at one of the hottest cocktail bars in Gotham’s underground scene. We’re not revealing the name of the bar just yet, but with no menus here, bartenders cook up individually prescribed concoctions according to their customer’s mood. Here the presentation of the cocktail is as dramatic as the cocktail itself. The winner will be part of both a theater of performance and a chemistry lab at the same time. And yes, there will also be some time for sightseeing as well.

“As Auchentoshan Three Wood continues to grow in popularity with bartenders, it’s great to be able to give something back to this community,” says Hannah Fisher, brand manager for Auchentoshan. “This once in a lifetime experience is a first and we’re excited to see the results and proud to be working with two of the best bars in the world.”

For more information, terms and conditions and to enter Auchentoshan Switch, please visit http://www.auchentoshan.com/switch. There are just a few hours left!