Fighting to regain their pride in a fierce and competitive final, the sommelier team were crowned this year's Bartenders v Sommeliers champions.
After three nail-biting rounds at Imbibe Live yesterday, the team, captained by Charles Pashby-Taylor of Chez Bruce, won by just a mere two points.
On a mission to reclaim their pride, the sommeliers were off to a winning start in round one, the Mega Pour, which included the dreaded magnum pour and Auturian cider throwing.
However, bartenders advanced in the Champagne Cascade, where Swift's Sam Ameye battled against Oxo Tower's Giordano Ghiraldotti, finishing his cascade perfectly in record speedy time.
In between rounds, teams were quizzed on topics covered in their training rounds, earning them extra points.
Finishing off with the Punch Round, teams were given two minutes to select ingredients for a punch from a mystery pantry, they then had five minutes to complete their punch.
When the dust had settled and the punch had been drunk, the sommelier team were crowned this year's champions, earning them ultimate bragging rights and glittering BvS trophy. The scores now stand at four wins to the bartenders and five to the somms.
Until next year...
Thanks to to Christina Schneider, Chris Dennis, Willie Lebus, Jess Cheeseman, Tom Forrest and JJ Goodman for their time and expertise. Finally, thanks to Bibendum for supplying all of the wine and Berry Bros & Rudd for contributing all of the spirits.
