Las Vegas Weekly

November 13, 2009 · 11:24 AM

Photo Gallery: Bartender wins $10,000 at 2009 U.S. Flair Open

By Robin Leach

2009 U.S. Flair Open winner Rodrigo Delpech at Harrah's.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

Five judges spent three days watching bartenders from all over the world show off their skills in the 2009 U.S. Flair Open here at Harrah’s Carnival Court.

It was an extraordinary demonstration of juggling bottles of Rums of Puerto Rico. The contestants flipped, spun, threw, balanced and caught them. On top of those feats of flair, they also had to prove their knowledge of mixed rum cocktails. The judges scored them on levels of difficulty, smoothness, variety, originality, showmanship and overall entertainment.

The bartenders competed for $30,000 in prizes, and Rodrigo Delpech was declared the world’s best flair bartender and earned the $10,000 grand prize check.

Our contributing photographer Scott Harrison was on hand for the moment of victory. Doubtless the team of ambassadors and mixologists from Rums of Puerto Rico will be at the MGM Grand Garden Arena tomorrow to root for their countryman welterweight boxer Miguel Cotto, the pride of Puerto Rico, when he battles Manny “Pac-Man” Pacquiao in the ring.

Photo: Scott Harrison/Retna/www.harrisonphotos.com

2009 U.S. Flair Open winner Rodrigo Delpech at Harrah's.

Robin Leach has been a journalist for more than 50 years and has spent the past decade giving readers the inside scoop on Las Vegas, the world’s premier platinum playground.

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