Speed Rack Asia 2019

The all-female competition, first founded in the US in 2011, challenges bartenders to bang out good quality drinks in the fastest time possible, with proceeds of the event channelled towards breast cancer research, education and prevention – in this case, the Hong Kong Breast Cancer Foundation.

Earlier on in the day, preliminary rounds at The Pontiac whittled the 16 finalists down to the top 8: Arlene Wong (The Pontiac, Hong Kong); Summer Lo (Blue Bar at Four Seasons, Hong Kong); Yvonne Chan (The Old Man, Hong Kong); LZ Zapanta (The Pontiac, Hong Kong); Heidi Hou (Honi Honi Tiki Lounge, Hong Kong); Jayden Ong (Nutmeg & Clove, Singapore); Polina Lee (Southside Parlor, Seoul) and Yao Ying “Jackwing” (Spin, Guangzhou).

Quarter finals saw the girls pair up into brackets: Jayden and Yvonne, Arlene and Jackwing, LZ and Summer, and Polina and Heidi went head to head, with Yvonne, Jackwing, Summer and Polina moving onto semi finals. Summer took out Yvonne and Polina beat Jackwing, meaning the finals saw Hong Kong and Seoul duke it out.

The final bout saw Summer earn praise from judges Jay Khan, Charlene Dawes, Micaela Piccolo and Martin Hudak for making top notch drinks in the final “Dealer’s Choice” round. The absolute weapon-like women were neck and neck, but Summer polished off the end of her round by administering herself a Jack Daniel’s layback in style. With penalty adjustments, host Beckaly Franks announced Summer as the winner to a raucous crowd, who were very happy to see a homegrown hero crowned Miss Speed Rack Asia 2019.

- Holly Graham, DRiNK Magazine Asia