Keio Plaza Hotel Tokyo Main Bar “Brillant” Bartender Yosuke Nakane Won
La Maison Cointreau Japan 2018, to Participate in Global Competition

The finalists were first asked to make a presentation introducing themselves based on one of the six values of Rémy Martin Fine Champagne cognac while pouring Rémy Martin XO. Yosuke Nakane chose the value of “time” and used his rich experiences serving a wide range of customers at the hotel to give a presentation about the long and complex process of making cognac Rémy Martin from the wine making to distillation, blending and aging.

The second challenge asked the bartenders to create their original version of the margarita, which is a classic Cointreau cocktail. They had to provide a six-minute performance making and describing their margarita. Yosuke’s original margarita using “Cointreau” was created in the image of the strong bond between him and his brother, therefore he named it “Cher Frère” (“Dear Brother”). The well balanced and harmonious cocktail blends the refreshing sweetness of the Cointreau orange liqueur with the complex flavour of tequila, the fruity acidity of pineapple shrub and bitterness of cordial with a touch of saltiness from a pineapple garnish.

Three of the nine finalists were then selected to advance to the final challenge, which had been kept secret until that time in the competition. They had to create a cocktail based on the value of “Terroir”, a key value to Rémy Cointreau, yet this time in the image of “Malaysia”, where the Asia Final will be hold. During this final round, Yosuke Nakane was chosen as the overall winner of the competition and his original cocktail “Cher Frère” will be available at the Main Bar “Brillant” located on the second floor of the South Tower of our Hotel from October 1, 2018.

Yosuke Nakane joined the Keio Plaza Hotel in 2006 and currently works primarily at the Main Bar “Brillant”. His winning as the Japan Champion in his first global cocktail competition reflects his strong skills as a bartender and the advice provided to him by his fellow Hotel bartenders. Yosuke comments that he “will now focus his efforts to prepare for the upcoming La Maison Cointreau Asia 2018 competition”. Previously in 2015, Yosuke also won the grand prize in the whiskey and spirits division of the “3rd Hotel Barmen’s Association (HBA) Cocktail Competition sponsored by Kokubu Group Corp.”