Speed Rack: Jemima McDonald & Stephanie Haile

SPEED RACK OZ

TAKING OFF

Next year is Speed Rack’s tenth year, born in New York and raised around the world. The all-female speed bartending competition is gaining plenty of attention, not just because it provides a great platform for women in the bartending community (as if that’s not enough in itself), but it also raises money for breast cancer research at the same time. It’s fun, it’s vibrant, and it’s a damn good initiative to get behind. Drinks World caught up with Jemima McDonald and Stephanie Haile, who run Speed Rack Oz (SROz) to learn some more about them while getting the low-down on what Speed Rack is all about and why you should get involved.

Jemima McDonald and Stephanie Haile

DRINKS WORLD: What is Speed Rack and how did it come about?

JEMIMA MCDONALD: Speed Rack is an all-female, speed-round bartending competition. It was founded in NYC by Lynnette Marrero and Ivy Mix in 2011, as a means of shining a spotlight on women in the bar industry, which was (and is) a somewhat male-dominated industry. The pair felt as though

there needed to be a platform for women to showcase their skill in a supportive but competitive environment. Speed Rack creates opportunities for women, while also raising money for breast cancer research charities. It has since expanded globally to the UK, Central America, Canada, Asia, and here in Australia.

DW: Can you tell us a little more about Lynette and Ivy?

JM: They are both very established and successful women in the hospitality industry worldwide and business owner/operators in New York, as well as the founders of Speed Rack. Both women are Tales of The Cocktail Dame Hall of Fame inductees and have received countless accolades for their work within the bar and restaurant industry in the US.

Most recently, the work they have done with Speed Rack has led them to be named Best Bar Mentors as well as winning the Philanthropy award at Tales of The Cocktail this year. They have brought thousands of women together and helped jump-start careers of many up-and-coming bartenders the world over.

DW: How does Speed Rack Oz work?

JM: Speed Rack aims to find the fastest and most skilled bartenders in Australia and put them head to head in knock-out rounds. The women go through the initial application process, then onto qualifying regional heats. This year we held regional heats in Sydney, Melbourne, Adelaide, Perth, and Brisbane. There was a considerable competitor turn out, with about 75 bartenders entering. During these heats, they get three minutes to set up their well, then make four drinks as fast as they can while being judged on accuracy, balance, and presentation. The fastest times (with penalty adjustments included) go on to the national finals. The nationals are a huge deal, with high pressure knock out rounds that become increasingly demanding. The judges request their drinks from a list of around 50 possible cocktails; the girls get three minutes to set up their well, then they’re off!

DW: What do you want to see happen for Speed Rack Australia in the future?

STEPHANIE HAILE: This second season of SROz has already been so much bigger than the first, and we would love to see even more women from around the country entering and keep pushing to make more money for the breast cancer charities we support.

DW:Why do you think that Speed Rack has been so well received?

SH: Speed Rack is a positive experience on so many levels and was one of the first platforms created to show the world what amazing things women in our industry are capable of. The fact that it stands to raise the profile of well-deserving women while raising money for charity is something that everyone can get on board with.

DW: Share with us your industry experience and how you got to where you are today.

SH: I’ve been working in the industry for ten years in Australia and the UK, across various venue styles from 400 seat restaurants, high volume nightclubs, and small bars. Currently, I’m managing all things beverage at The Royal Hotel and Totti’s in beautiful Bondi. beer full-time (although I still bartend weekends because I will never let go), so now I’m a brewer! The world is my oyster.

JM: I’ve worked in bars for about nine years. I started in pubs and became serious about hospitality as a long-term thing when I worked for Swillhouse Group. The last five years of my bartending career have been spent at Earl’s Juke Joint, managing the bar for the last three. Recently I decided to make a move into brewing

DW: What made you want to get involved in Speed Rack?

SH: I’ve always admired Speed Rack and the work Ivy and Lynette have done to push it and its positive message over the years. I’m also a big advocate for anything that pushes talented women into the forefront.

If you’ve never entered a competition before, this is the perfect one.

JEMIMA MCDONALD

JM: I absolutely adore the competition and everything it stands for, so I felt so lucky to be asked to join the organising team along with Steph. Any event that is for women by women in our industry is wonderful, rare, and should be encouraged and rallied around hard! Especially when it’s all for such a good cause!

DW: The competition itself is intense, have you done it?

SH: I have not, but many of my friends have. I’m the one on the sidelines screaming for them like a crazy person!

JM: Yes, I competed in the top eight last year in Sydney. I was knocked out by Priscilla, who ended up winning, so I am bloody proud of that. The competition was intense, but it was also the most supportive and fun environment you can imagine. Every single girl that entered was fiercely talented, and I can confirm that this year is no different. I will say, I am so glad I entered last year, but I am happy to leave it to the professionals this year.

DW: What is your advice for bartenders wanting to get involved?

SH: Don’t overthink it. Just sign up! There is so much to get out of being involved; it’s more than just the moment you’re competing. You’ll meet so many fantastic new people, make some new friends, and have a damn good time all while helping raise money for a very important cause.

JM: DO IT. No one in this world has regretted entering Speed Rack, and that’s a fact. When else do you get behind a bar with that many` babes at once? As for advice, practice as much as possible, be prepared and know your classics. Don’t try anything weird for the first time while on stage. If you’ve never entered a competition before, this is the perfect one. It’s all skill, no wank.

If you’ve never entered a competition before, this is the perfect one.

DW: How does it feel to be running the Australian chapter?

SH: It is an absolute honour, and I feel very lucky! I’m loving working with Jemima and meeting all the badass women getting involved along the way. To continue to help provide a platform for women in hospitality in Australia to display their skill and talent makes me proud. JM: It feels brilliant. It’s an honour. One of the best things about this style of competition is that it brings so many people together for a fab reason (feminism!). Everyone that has gotten involved this year and last, whether they be competitors, judges, sponsors, etc., have been passionate about the cause and so unbelievably supportive. I feel great knowing I can help make a small difference to some women’s experience within this industry. Providing women a platform to gain traction, to put themselves out there competitively, and prove their undeniable worth is something very special.

Ivy Mix and Lynnette Marrero