The Making of A Legacy

Mixologist George Hunter was selected as South Africa’s Barcadi Legacy representative so we took some time to talk cocktails, growth and Bacardi.

George Hunter has been a mixologist for years and has local and international (European Bartending School in Barcelona) bartending qualifications so it comes as no surprise that he is the 2021 Bacardi Legacy representative for South Africa. His winning cocktail, the Cazador, which means hunter is Spanish, is made up of Bacardi Reserva, lime juice, maple syrup, crème de cassis and an absinthe rinse. The cocktail has been created to represent triumph and lessons learnt. Hunter’s dedication to his craft is fairly obvious but his path to the Bacardi Legacy was not as straightforward as you would assume. The first time he entered Bacardi Legacy, he didn’t even make it out the first round. 6 years later he entered again, won the national event in South Africa and got to represent his country on the global stage. We caught up with the star bartender to find out more about his work and Bacardi.

Why did you choose the Bacardi Reserva Ocho?

Bacardi Reserva Ocho has complex flavours, boasting burnt vanilla, dark chocolate and apricot. It is also a beautiful balance of aguardiente and redistillado spirits. All the elements combined make for a delicious cocktail.

Was it hard deciding what to work with, what to leave out for the cocktail?

It generally is when designing new drinks. The best thing to do is to weigh your options up against each other and get feedback from others. I made the Cazador with a variety of measures and a variety of rinses until I found the perfect combo.

You’ve also been training bartenders on how to make the cocktail. Is it a satisfying activity and how is the experience like educating people as opposed to being on the receiving end?

Being able to give back is possibly the most rewarding position to be in. Being someone that can inspire bartenders and change the way people view our industry has always been a goal for me. I am still learning every day but being the trainer is an exciting dynamic.

Have you seen mixologists try to recreate Cazador on their own with different reserves of Bacardi or different amounts of the specified ingredients? What’s your take on that?

Yes, to be honest, I LOVE IT! I love that people can take the recipe and alter it slightly because, for me, that is exactly what makes a classic. The fact that a drink is looked at as formula and can be adaptable!

What’s the difference between the cocktail you made 6 years ago and now in terms of flavour, technique etc? Has there been a change in the way you make you cocktails?

The basic recipe is very similar to my first entry, I have changed the base to Bacardi Reserva Ocho now (It was Bacardi Carta Oro before). I have also adjusted the ratio of ingredients. It is not only about the drink though; my technique, presentation, understanding and knowledge have all grown and changed. That is what Cazador is about… Growth and learning but most importantly, not giving up on yourself.

What do you enjoy most about participating in Bacardi Legacy?

Bacardi Legacy is one of the most community and family orientated brands/event that I have been involved in. It is great to be a part of like-minded people who want to see the industry flourish. It is amazing to see a family-owned brand be so successful and still care about “the little guy”. Bacardi Legacy and Bacardi as a brand are truly inspiring!

What’s your advice for someone who wants to create their own homemade Barcadi cocktail?

Go crazy and don’t limit your ideas. Everything is possible. Have a basic idea or flavour you want to achieve and give it a bash. It probably won’t be great the first time but its something to work from. Was the drink too sweet? Too sour? Maybe it needs more Rum? (It always needs more rum!) Most importantly is to have fun with it.

Find the recipe for the winning Cazador cocktail on www.yummy. co.ke.