In February 2017, Lauren Flintham of Limassol, Cyprus was named 26th Fridays World Bartender Champion. After a masterful winning performance at the House of Blues in Dallas, TX, she became the second female in a row to take home the historic title.
Although only one bartender could come out on top, bartenders from all around the world poured, mixed and flipped their way through multiple local and regional qualifiers in order to make it to the final stage. It was an energetic and emotional night that won't soon be forgotten!
The finalists in this year's World Bartender Championship hailed from four different countries:
Santiago Emeric (Orlando, Fla.)
Lauren Flintham (Limassol, Cyprus)
Alex Barrenechea Gagurevich (Lima, Peru)
Amanda George (Chambersburg, Pa.)
Vincent Haung (Taipei, Taiwan)
Jessica Myers (Vestal, N.Y.)
Chris Oswiany (Beaver Creek, Ohio)
Alejandro Silva (Rancho Cucamonga, Calif.)
Andres Zamorano (Dallas, Texas)
Leading up to the World Bartender Championship, Fridays' U.S. restaurants raised $30,000 for Feeding America, the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, through local events and raffles.
It was an energetic and emotional night that won't soon be forgotten, and certainly filled the entire #FridaysFam with anticipation for the performances next year!
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