London’s bar trade was out in force last Sunday for ‘So You Think You Can Shake?’, a speed cocktail comp held at Academy in Soho.

Twenty bartenders were required to make six drinks each in under four minutes and twenty seconds (a reference to 42 Below, we’re assured).

The event was organised by Team West London, one of the eight teams competing in the UK 42 Below Cocktail World Cup in October. The team consists of Zdenek Kastanek (Quo Vadis), Glenn Morgan, Academy, and Andy Mill (London Cocktail Club).

Jim Wrigley, Santa Teresa’s brand ambassador, triumphed with a time of 2:14, competing against Paul Mant from Quo Vadis, while Paramount’s Amanda Humphrey came in second. Matthew Dakers, from Trailer Happiness, changed outfits between each drink and still took third place.

Other highlights included two contestants from Lab donning an oversized t-shirt and making their drinks using only one hand each. Andy Mil also made his drinks with one hand owing to an altercation with a knife the night before, in a time of 3:14.

News item from Imbibe.com, 26-08-2010