Heineken Crowns Star Serve U.S. Bartender Champion

Heineken USA, in partnership with the U.S. Bartenders’ Guild, has named Kelly Pigula of Hudson Grille in White Plains, N.Y., winner of the U.S. Heineken Bartender Star Serve Championship, held in New York City on Nov. 4.

The Championship brought the top 16 bartenders from across the greater New York City-area to compete in a bracket-style tournament for the coveted title. As the U.S. champion, Pigula will travel to Amsterdam to compete in Heineken’s Global Star Serve Championship on Nov. 25.

"I've never been to Europe and I'm excited to go and represent the U.S.,” Pigula said. “My experience was amazing and I couldn't be more thankful!"

The Heineken Star Serve program emphasizes the importance of offering the perfect draught beer through the Heineken Star Serve Ritual – a five-step process at the heart of a quality Heineken drinking experience.

According to Heineken’s Director of On-Premise & Draught Strategy Patrick Libonate, the program instills “the brand’s clear focus on quality, and ultimately help[s] our on-premise account partners increase customer loyalty, sales and profits.”

Beginning in September, Heineken draught accounts were identified and trained on the Star Serve ritual. Throughout September and October, accounts were visited by mystery shoppers who judged the Star Serve based on the five-step process: rinse, pour, skim, check and serve. Accounts that demonstrated a mastery of the process were awarded a Heineken Star Serve Certification, and the top New York City accounts were invited to compete in the Championship finals.

Heineken USA, a subsidiary of Heineken International BV, imports a variety of European brands into the U.S., including Heineken Lager, Heineken Light and Amstel Light.