Cinnamon Wild Yala wins Gold

Chamara Kasun, the barman at ‘Cinnamon Wild Yala’ recently emerged the winner of the Classic Cocktail Competition which took place at the 27th National Bartenders’ Competition held this month. Organised by the Ceylon Hotel School Graduates Association in collaboration with SLITHM and held with the support of Rockland Distilleries, the highly anticipated event featured the participation of 177 hoteliers from across the island and recognised top talent across a broad section of categories in the sphere of bartending.

To secure the Gold award in his category, Chamara created Sri Lanka’s first-ever Hibiscus based cocktail, a vibrant beverage that showcases the benefits and creative use of the Hibiscus flower, which can be found in Tissamaharama, which is Chamara’s hometown. Following his success at the competition, Chamara will now go on to represent team Cinnamon and Sri Lanka at the World Bartenders’ Championship which is set to take place in Singapore, as part of a training programme by the Monin Academy in France. Chamara will make history as the first Sri Lankan to attend a training programme that is conducted by Monin - a world-famous food and beverage brand.

The competition is one of many initiatives that Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts participates in as part of an effort to provide valuable exposure to its team members. Cinnamon Hotels and Resorts is a chain comprising 14 distinct hotels and resorts located in key areas across Sri Lanka and the Maldives. The Cinnamon brand embodies a passion for inspired living and promises holistic and enhanced experiences that are tailor-made to suit the specific interests of travellers. Driven by innovation and excellence, the Cinnamon brand focuses on delivering memorable holidays and getaways that deliver exceptional standards of service whilst showcasing the warmth and vibrancy of authentic and contemporary hospitality.