Rematch!!! Beeyatch!!! Is an insane bartender speedcontest

When LAB, a highly-respected bar amongst career bartenders, organized a “It’s a Rematch!!! Beeyatch!!!”-event in London, It. Was. On. One night of total bartending carnage, to finally see who’s the fastest bartender of them all. As we are a bartender school, EBS London wanted in on the action, so three instructors stepped up, along with their temporary bartender hooligans, who we normally refer to as students.
What is this “Rematch!!!Beeyatch!!!” exactly?
Remember that scene in Zoolander, where Derek challenges Hansel “he’s-so-hot-right-now” McDonald to a walk-off and David Bowie carefully judges their performance? Well, “It’s a Rematch!!! Beeyatch!!!” is the career-bartender equivalent, where twenty bartenders pay £50 and do battle in an insane speed contest where the winner takes all. The contest’s been around for a while now, and since one of its main rules is no corporate sponsorship, it is as real as it gets.

Since its creation, this competition has been organized all around the world, with the same exact rules. Every competitor makes the nine required cocktails, and finished his set by opening op a beer (the tenth drink). The timer stops, the judges inspect the drinks and a time is awarded.
To get an idea of how civilized these competitions are, just have a look at this competitor’s set from an earlier Rematch!!! Beeyatch!!! Edition.
Even though some of the drinks are almost rammed and thrown into the glasses, they have to taste and look good enough as not to upset a customer, otherwise the judges will apply a 5-second penalty or even disqualify you. The official set of drinks is 2 daiquiris, 1 mojito, 1 caipirinha, 1 mai-tai, 1 zombie, 1 planter’s punch, 1 cuba libre, 1 piña colada and of course, a beer.

One month for EBS to get ready
Having the perfect setup of several bar stations at EBS London, Jumbles, Julien and Flavius experimented with the bar setup, efficient speed rail organization and pour counts. Additional seconds could be shaved off by improving grips, trying different moves and efficient icing on the glasses. And even though their perfect times swayed back and forth between 1.25 and 1.40, the guys knew the unfamiliar surrounding of a new bar, the incessant heckling of the crowd and being well outside your comfort zone was going to affect performance.

Jumbles “sets the bar”
When we were kindly invited inside, the bar was already half full. A mixed crowd of Sunday afternoon drinkers, EBS students showing their support and of course the toughest crowd of them all; fellow bartenders! As the first competitors arranged their setup, LAB was reaching its full capacity. The event had turned into a boiling cauldron of thirsty cocktail aficionados, and for the contestants there was no time to think anymore – you blink, you lose!

Right up after Jumbles was Flavius, who seemed in trance during his set:

Flavius ended his set with a time of one minute and 46 seconds, followed by a high-five to intimidate the competition:

Not only did Flavius and Jumbles pretty much set the benchmark with their times, the bottles were getting stickier and the crowd was getting louder and louder. So times were steadily increasing to 2.10, 2.55 and even a 3.55. That is, until our instructorJulien stepped up to his set.

How many cocktails can you make in two minutes?
At the European Bartender School we turn our students into regular cocktail animals over a 4-week period. And you’ll have the time of your life while doing it. Interested?
Learn more now
Maybe we got too cocky, we’ll never know, but the total domination of the European Bartender School came to an end when last year’s winner Stuart Hudson stepped behind the bar.

After Stuart’s impressive performance, the rest of the contest was just another day at the circus, with bartenders mostly just enjoying themselves, wearing whatever they felt like during their set. I’d feel weird accepting a drink from a bartender wearing nipple tassels, but tonight was a special night…
A big thank you to all the competitors who took part, LAB bar and its amazing staff for their help and always greeting us when we visit with EBS, Oana our fantastic photographer and finally congratulations to Stuart Hudson for cashing the £1000. EBS London will be back…
BARTENDERS MAKE VERY GOOD MONEY
Winning a speed contest is just one of the perks. Cocktail bartenders walk around with cash after every shift, and that’s on top of their regular wage.Have you considered learning bartending from the best?
