Are you a bartender dreaming of becoming a Brand Ambassador? Winning this competition puts you on the fast track. Finalists from the past few years of the Gin Connoisseur Program have been snapped up by liquor companies to represent brands, become educators, and travel the world. Interested? It all begins by submitting your letter of intention here: www.leGCP.fr Want to see videos from past competitions? Watch here.I've recently taken the position of West Coast Ambassador for G'Vine, and am organizing the Los Angeles event on April 22. West Coast bartenders... you still have time to enter. And - to all bartenders who follow The Liquid Muse... I hope to see at least one of YOU in Cognac, in June...---Press Release with more info:

G’Vine Gin de France Seeks World’s Best Gin Bartender

February 14, 2013, New York, NY – EWG Spirits & Wine (EuroWineGate), parent company of the distinctive G’Vine Gin de France, proudly announces the launch of the G’Vine Gin Connoisseur Program (GCP) 2013. Unveiled on January 28^th, GCP 2013, L’Edition Ambassadeur, is the international quest for the world’s best gin bartender.Since its inauguration in 2010, GCP has redefined global bartender contests and is considered among the bar world’s most challenging competitions. “The GCP tested my technical skills, my knowledge, my creativity, and my stamina,” says Ms. Franky Marshall, Bartender and Vice-President USBG New York. “I learned a lot—it was a fantastic experience!”Invitational preliminary contests will be held in major cities around the world, and a Final will be held over a week in Cognac, France. Each prelim features an industry-leading seminar, a cocktail challenge, and the G’Vine Bartenders’ Ball.During April, there will be three contest sites in the USA: New York, Atlanta and Los Angeles. EWG Spirits and Wine Portfolio Director, Audrey Fort, is enthusiastic about the opportunity for American’s gin bartenders. “Now that I’m based in the USA, I’ll ensure that the most talented representatives of the cocktail craft and most gin-loving bartenders from America will be selected and flown to France. With three preliminaries this year, we have increased our prospects for bringing back the crown again this year.”This is GCP’s fourth iteration, and it has adopted two changes this year: Entry is now by invitation of the most qualified registrants, and GCP has made its theme L’Edition Ambassadeur - The Ambassador Edition.The competition will test bartenders’ skills at bartending, their knowledge of gin, and their etiquette and public persona. GCP consultant Philip Duff explains this decision, “Ever since the first GCP in 2010, we noticed that the best competitors and finalists were being snapped up by drinks firms to be brand ambassadors—some just weeks after the Finals! At the same time, there is tremendous interest in the job of brand ambassador, and it’s a logical career progression for any ambitious bartender.” The challenges of the Ambassador Edition are reflected by the grand prize: $3,000, a personal and tailor-made training program from Philip Duff, an elite presenting & media-training course, and the chance to present seminars at both Tales of the Cocktail 2013 and Bar Convent Berlin 2013.The twelve national winners from the USA, UK, Germany, Spain, Singapore, Australia, and Japan, plus three “wildcards” from countries without a national preliminary round, will compete in a Finals week of challenges with Gaz Regan and Philip Duff. He or she whose talents are judged the most outstanding will be crowned G’Vine Gin Connoisseur 2013 at the end of G’Vine Summer Ball. Follow the G’Vine Gin Connoisseur Program 2013, L’Edition Ambassadeur:

Web: LeGCP.fr
Facebook: LeGCPonFacebook
Twitter : LeGCPonTwitter

About G’Vine Gin: Launched in 2006 and available internationally, G’Vine [Gin de France] is the unique hand-crafted grape based gin born in Cognac, the land of winemaking and distilling expertise, a creative environment where tradition rhymes with innovation. Redefining the codes of the gin category, G’Vine Gin pays homage to the grapes from which it is made, in contrast to traditional gins made from grain spirit. G’Vine Gin captures the ephemeral vine flower’s unique notes and is available in two expressions: G’Vine Floraison [smooth, round and vibrantly floral] and G’Vine Nouaison [Silky, dry and subtly floral].More information on www.g-vine.com

About EWG Spirits & Wine EWG Spirits & Wine, based in Cognac, France is the proud parent of G'Vine Gin, the multi-award-winning Excellia Tequila and the delicate Esprit de June vine flower liqueur.More information :www.excelliatequila.com www.juneliqueur.com