Shaken not stirred: Trace wins SA’s best bartender comp

BEER connoisseurs and the average Joe alike will know that the beer brewing process is somewhat of an art form – requiring some skills, expertise and passion.

But what about pouring a glass of the liquid gold that others have spent hours painstakingly brewing to perfection? uMhlanga resident, Trace van der Merwe, who was recently crowned as Heineken’s Best South African Bartender, has proven that pouring the perfect glass of beer requires an equal amount of technical know-how and flair.

“Most people think that being a bartender is easy. You simply hold the glass and pour, but that is not true. You have to consider the temperature of the beverage, maintain the taps and ensure that the glasses are properly cleaned. All of these aspects affect the taste of the beverage. A draft beer should also ideally be poured at a 45-degree angle as it seals the draught and makes the foam creamy and thick. Then there is also the barman etiquette, the presentation, flare and body language that needs to be considered,” explained Van der Merwe.

Van der Merwe, who has been a bartender for four years, beat nine other hopefuls from across the country at Wembley Square in Cape Town on Monday last week when he showcased his bartending prowess in front of four judges, including television personality, Lunga Shabalala.

“I was nervous and excited. We were given ten days to prepare for the competition and I watched several videos on the competition to get a feel of what would be expected. I decided that I would focus on my attention on detail while keeping the presentation classy and elegant,” he said.

The 23-year-old admitted that while he was passionate about serving the prefect drink, he is not much of a party animal and would rather relax at a braai with a few friends.

“I became a bartender because I hope to open my own bar, restaurant or hotel one day, and I wanted to understand how such establishments are run from the bottom up,” he said. Van der Merwe has studied hotel and hospitality management and is also a skilled mixologist.

When asked about the wildest things he has come across as a bartender, Van der Merwe said he had once accidentally set a table on fire while serving a flaming cocktail, and had also been asked to strip when three ladies celebrated a 50th birthday a while back.

In April the talented and passionate bartender will be travelling to Amsterdam where he will be competing in the Global Bartender Finals against 19 other national winners for the international title.

Van der Merwe also swelled with pride as he told the Nortglen News that all three Durban contestants took the top three positions. Grant Edgar, from Durban North, scooped second place, while Denis Sean O’Tool, from Westville, took third place.