EBS is delighted to welcome Global Ambassador for the rum category Ian Burrell onto its revered panel of bartending brainiacs and spirit specialists!
Ian has been voted one of the top 10 most influential people in the World Drinks industry and has travelled all seven continents to disseminate his top-tier spirit knowledge. Standing out among Ian’s lengthy list of awards are his titles of ‘International Brand Ambassador 2018’ (Spirited Awards – Tales of the Cocktail conference, New Orleans), ‘Rum’s Champion’ (Think Rum – Agile Media, London), and 2014 “Guinness World Record” holder for organising the largest-ever rum tasting. Events are clearly Ian’s forte, and, as the pioneer of the world’s first international rum festival in 2007, he has inspired the creation of similar celebrations in Miami, Berlin, Paris, Rome, Madrid, Prague, Hong Kong, California, New York, Chicago and Mauritius. Ian is devoted to sharing his wisdom and know-how, forging a role for himself as an “edu-trainer” through the delivery of keynote speeches, spirit presentations, and even appearing as a cocktail specialist on the well-known UK television show Sunday Brunch.
Although it seems like Ian was born to represent rum, his entry into the bartending industry was almost by chance. Ian was studying at drama school at the time, and took up a part-time job in a bar to support himself. He quickly became fascinated by the world of drinks and soon decided to pursue his newfound interest full-time. This meant travelling to plantations, distilleries, and meeting people in the know to develop his now expansive knowledge of the sugarcane spirit.
Jumping forward in time, today, EBS students have the privilege of learning from Ian’s years of experience. Following in the footsteps of our existing Board members, Ian will pour his valuable insights into the course syllabi and textbooks that students receive on arrival at the schools.
As the all-knowing ambassador that he is, Ian affirms that rum is the most diverse spirit category in the world. He explains, “Rum is made in many different ways, in many different countries. All I want to do is share that knowledge with fellow bartenders and people in the industry to empower them to become better rum experts, passing this on to their customers.”
Want to get to know Ian better? Check his socials listed below.
Facebook
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European Bartender School’s Board of Education is dedicated to maintaining the highest standards of theoretical instruction and practical training across EBS schools. All members of the Board of Education are award-winning, highly respected thought leaders in their field, working at the forefront of the spirits industry. They’re shaping trends and developing new practices that influence bartending on a global scale. These experts ensure European Bartender School’s curricula reflect those trends and practices as they evolve, encouraging innovation and creativity whilst staying true to the highest standards of professional bartending. As a result, EBS students graduate from our course with an in-depth knowledge of what it takes to become a top-class cocktail master, set to work in the world’s best bars.
As the world’s leading bartender school, EBS is committed to continually raising the bar by training innovative professionals who will drive the bartending industry forward.
