It took Tom Cruise three months to perfect the art of juggling bottles behind a bar for the movie Cocktail.
New Zealand's novice bartenders showed similar flair at the Suntory Cocktail Championships at Float bar at Auckland's Viaduct Harbour last night.
Thirteen of the country's best wowed an enthusiastic crowdwith fruity concoctions.
The winner of the Classic and Freestyle categories scored trips to Europe to "visit the cocktail capitals of the world".
Etienne de Salins, chief of the Maxxium liquor distribution firm and one of three tasting judges, was impressed with the mix of ingredients.
"The contestants are showing innovation," and the cocktails were on par with those in his native France, he said.
Kerry Tyack, another of the tasting judges, said contestants made good use of fruit such as tamarillo to create distinctive New Zealand cocktails.
"We need to stamp our mark on them and they are doing that.
But technical judge and four-time national champion Jimmy Summerfield said New Zealand bartenders still had a long way to go.
"We're five to 10 years behind the rest of the world," he said.
He predicted the next big vodka flavour to arrive would be lemongrass.
Category winners were: Sheila Gidley, Ciao Bella bar, Christchurch (Solar Flare cocktail); Tessa Allen, All Bar One, Christchurch (Spectacular Spectacular); Jeremy Wilson, Jam Bar, Wellington (Jam Session) and Corey Dobson, All Bar One, Christchurch, (What's the Midori Story Glory).
