Bartender in Luxembourg: Marius dreams of becoming a world cocktail champion
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LUXEMBOURG – Freshly crowned with a new national title, Marius Bîrzan will represent the Grand Duchy at the world cocktail championship in Cuba in November.
“Representing Luxembourg at the world cocktail championship is a huge source of pride!”. Freshly crowned with a new title of champion of the Grand Duchy, Marius Bîrzan now dreams of supreme consecration, during the 69th edition of the world championship which will take place in the seaside resort of Varadero (Cuba), from November 4 to 9. next. Bar manager at the Hotel Cravat, in Luxembourg-City, for about six years, Marius is a regular on the podiums.
Several times Luxembourg champion in non-alcoholic cocktails, he also won a bronze medal at the world championships in Prague (2015) and finished second in a major international competition in Taiwan. Born in Romania, married with two children, Marius settled in Luxembourg in 2011, with the help of his brother who was already living there. This sports teacher and fitness instructor accidentally discovered a passion for the profession of bartender.
Several events, each more tricky than the other
“I had no knowledge in the field, maybe that’s what made me quite quickly, he explains to The essential. I was eager to learn and progress. In this field, we learn every day, we must not set limits and give free rein to our imagination. I am a workaholic, I watch trends, I read a lot, I multiply the tests… If I succeeded, everyone can do it, you just have to believe in your lucky star and work”.
Marius Bîrzan already knows that he will have to surpass himself to surprise the jury of the International Bartenders Association (IBA), which will have to start with more than 60 competitors from 50 countries around the world. Several tests, each more tricky than the other, await him in Cuba, such as “a taste test, a personal creation and the making of three different cocktails, drawn by lot, in just seven minutes…” Hence the need to memorize a host of recipes and show real dexterity on D-Day.