THE MALTESE BARTENDERS GUILD
Apart from being a unique, great tasting soft drink, Kinnie’s versatility also makes it an excellent mixer for cocktails and short drinks. Thus, it could not fail to support the local bartenders’ association and has been a main supporter of The Maltese Bartenders Guild since its inception in 1974. Kinnie features in numerous cocktails created over the years by the Bartenders Guild.
Founded in 1974, The Guild aims to promote the general interest of the trade, to encourage a higher standard in conduct and competence in members, to organise social and trade events and also cocktail competitions for members.
The Guild is a non-political, non-union and a non-profit making organisation.
Membership is open to any bartender:
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who works on full or part time basis,
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male or female,
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who is of Maltese origin or working in Malta,
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without any distinction of colour, creed or nationality.
In 1975 the Guild became a member of I.B.A. – International Bartenders Association, representing 54 countries from five continents.
Worth noting is that before the foundation of the local Guild, any Maltese bartender who wanted to enhance his bartending knowledge had to enroll as a member in the U.K.B.G. – United Kingdom Bartenders Guild.
When in 1999, flairtending became a formal section within the I.B.A., the Guild was one of the first to introduce such an activity.
Each year various courses, educational presentations and visits, product launching, cocktail competitions and other activities are organised for members.
The local highest prestigious award is The Bartender of The Year Award, sponsored by The Malta Tourism Authority. This award is conferred upon that bartender who during the year achieved the highest number of points for attending, participating and winning each of the activities mentioned above.
Besides, the international objective of each member is to participate in the World Cup Cocktail Competition during the Annual General Convention held in a different country each year.
It is satisfying to note that whenever the Guild participated in any overseas events it achieved very good results. However, the highlight was in 1994 when the Guild’s representative in the I.B.A. World Cup Cocktail Competition held in
The Maltese Bartenders Guild survived all these years and keeps functioning through support from the wines, spirits and beverage manufacturers and other local representatives.
Without any doubt one of the main supporters has always been Simonds Farsons Cisk with its flagship brand Kinnie.
At present 83 members are enrolled in 3 categories: Senior - Junior – Associates.
Presidents: Michael Scicluna (Founder Member), Charles Bonavia and Gaetano Cristina (Present)
Secretaries: Victor Fenech (Founder Member), Gaetano Psaila, Alfred Bonavia and Vincent Curmi (Present)
Treasurers:
THE MALTESE BARTENDERS GUILD
P.O.
email: cristinapres@waldonet.net.mt
tel: 2133 4711 fax: 2133 4771
