A Chonburi vocational college student may have a future mixing cocktails after being named one of the three best student drink mixers in Thailand at the Star Flair Bartender Competition held earlier this month at Central Festival Pattaya Beach.
Ekachai Akradechruangsri of Chonburi Vocational College placed third in the students bracket, taking home a 1,000 baht prize. Two students from Saraburi Vocational College in Central Thailand placed first and second. Three bartenders from Bangkok won all three of the professional awards at the March 1 contest.
Cocktail mixing shows are always popular draws.
Eighteen teams participated in the contest staged by the Bartender Association of Thailand. It was the second such competition and was aimed at helping stoke tourism in Pattaya, as cocktail mixing shows are always popular draws.
Association President Pongpan Sangthai said such contests are not only entertaining, but exhibit the skills mixers use at top name hotels and restaurants.
The Saraburi winners in the student bracket were Pinsuda Tongprom and Thanwa Petchbungkerd, who took home 3,000 baht each. And the professional-category winners were Jane Kaewyod of Cocktail Bar Mansion 7; Suwan Saelee of the Aetas Hotel and Patrakruet Lainamngern of the Horse Bar. First and second place took home 5,000 baht and third place 3,000 baht.
