Delicious ingredients and exciting experiments with flavours will be in focus, when the Danish National Cup for bartenders takes place at the  largest food trade fair in the Nordic region, Foodexpo, which takes place in MCH Messecenter Herning 27.-29. March.

At The Danish Bartender Association (Dansk Bartender Laug), there is full focus and anticipation ahead of the mocktail and cocktail championships, which both represent a significant redemption for the entire industry.

- This year's National Cup for bartenders will be the first major activaty in the industry after two years of closure, and Foodexpo is the perfect framework for this restart. I expect a different competition this year, where traditions and new energies will meet. The field is made up of both old acquaintances and new forces, who come with a different and new approach to making cocktails. It is very exciting, and I expect a really good event in Herning, says the Chairman of  Danish Bartender Association, Zander Lauritzen Hansen and continues:

- There is great prestige in winning the Danish Championships for bartenders, and the competition means a lot to many. It is both a popular and recognized competition and the turnout is really massive this year where the whole country is richly represented. It is very impressive and supports our thesis, that people are extremely motivated to get started again.

Among the many hopeful and talented participants are - amongst others - Riccardo Astiri from Mash Penthouse and former World Champion Damiano Pezzi from Nimb, who can put both World Cocktail Champion 2017 and Winner of the Danish National Cup in Cocktail 2019 on his resumé.

Highly represented wine industry
The closely related wine industry is also strongly represented in this year's edition of Foodexpo and treats the visitors with an extensive sommelier program, which includes the world's second best sommelier, Danish Nina Højgaard Jensen, on the poster.

- First and foremost, you can gain new knowledge about what it really means to be a sommelier. Skilled sommerliers will demonstrate, how to best decant wine. Sommeliers have an extraordinarily large knowledge of food and wine and the composition of the two, and the art is to convey this knowledge, explains Kim Thygesen, board member of the Danish Sommelier Association, and continues:

- At Foodexpo, we are so lucky to have the company of Nina Højgaard Jensen, who as the first Dane to ever manage to become the world's second best sommelier. Nina is in a constant search for knowledge, she always keeps up to date on new trends, rules and laws, and then she's just a really nice person. I'm hugely happy that she's a part of our activities at Foodexpo  - it's really a big thing. Usually you only find her at regular wine fairs around the world, so it is completely unique that you can meet her at Foodexpo.

On the Bar stage, Nina Højgaard Jensen gives the visitors an insight into the sommelier competition Best Sommelier of the World, and will also host a masterclass in wine tasting.

For the wine-enthusiasts, the joy does not stop here, as the popular and traditional area WineExpo, where visitors can taste the very best wines, cognac and whiskey and get to know the many different types of wine, will be a part of the fair again this year. To gain access to the area, an invitation code is required, which can be obtained from one of the exhibitors in the area.

MCH: Natural Partners
The collaboration with the spirits and wine industry pleases the Project Team at Foodexpo.

- We are very pleased that we with The Danish Bartender Association and The Danish Sommelier Association have two strong and good partners, who in our view naturally belong at Foodexpo, says Carina Høgsted Kirkegaard, Project Leader at MCH Messecenter Herning.

The Danish Natuinal Cup in Mocktail and Cocktail are both arranged by The Danish Bartender Association and will take place on Sunday 27 March and Monday 28 March on the Bar stage in Hal K. The Danish Sommelier Association's program can be experienced on Tuesday 29 March - also at the Bar stage.

See the list of Mocktail participants here and the Cocktail participants here.