They juggle bottles, pour exotic drinks and sometimes dance on the bar. Meet Asia’s top bartenders who are competing at the Asia “flairtending” championships at the Venetian hotel in Macau.

The winner was 18 Hsu Po-sheng from Taiwan, who practiced up to 8 hours a day. For the competition he dressed up in a Spiderman outfit.

According to The China Post:

Flairtending is big business in Asia, where several countries have professional associations. Talented bartenders are also in demand by the hospitality industry, and in places such as gambling haven Macau.

You Gotta Have Flair

Bartending Academy says:

Flairtending is a style of bartending that dates back over 150 years, when Jerry “The Professor” Thomas created a flaming cocktail that he poured in long fiery streams from mug to mug. Most people associate Tom Cruise in the movie “Cocktail” with flairtending, but any bartender who pours either two or more bottles in one hand uses flair.

Flair is the efficient movement and showmanship applied to bartending. It is not limited to flipping, spinning and catching bottles, glassware and bartools. The combination of multi-bottle pours, efficiency, accuracy and dexterity are the essence of Flairtending. Flairtending is not just for veteran bartenders, but anyone who loves to make drinks and entertain.

That’s great! Next time, though, Spidey, can you just pour the drink? Oh, and please don’t water it down. If we’re paying $8 for a vodka-tonic, we’d like to have more than 1/4 vodka in it. Thanks.