A Jersey bartender is set to represent the UK on the global stage after winning a national cocktail competition in London.

Damian Murgatroyd, bar manager of The Blind Pig, was named UK winner of the Graham’s Blend Series Cocktail Competition.

The competition was held earlier this week at the two Michelin-starred restaurant Da Terra in London, where Mr Murgatroyd beat nine top bartenders from across the UK to secure the title.

Pictured: Damian Murgatroyd (second from right) with competition judges (from left to right) Douglas Blyde, Sandrae Lawrence and Tyler Zielinski.

He will now travel to Porto on 12 May to compete against winners from 10 other countries in the global final.

The overall winner will receive €2,000, a stock of Graham’s Port for their bar, and the opportunity to represent the brand at a guest shift.

Jersey-born Mr Murgatroyd won the national heat with a cocktail called ‘Graham’s Kitchen Flip’, which was described by judges as “the most impressive” of the competition.

A twist on a New York Sour, the drink is made using Graham’s Blend Nº12 Ruby Port and combines forest fruit notes and citrus aromas with kitchen-inspired flavours including chocolate bitters, caramelised apple cordial and chestnut butter.

Pictured: Damian Murgatroyd making his winning creation, the ‘Graham’s Kitchen Flip’.

“I found coming up with the concept using Graham’s Blend Nº12 Ruby Port actually very easy – the light, aromatic berry notes lend themselves to a dessert-style cocktail,” explained Mr Murgatroyd.

“I’ve never been to Porto and I’m super excited about the competition and also having the chance to visit the nearby Douro Valley with bartenders from around the world.”

Pictured: The Blind Pig bar manager Damian Murgatroyd was named UK winner of the Graham’s Blend Series Cocktail Competition.

The national competition was judged by The Cocktail Lovers co-founder Sandrae Lawrence, drinks consultant and journalist Douglas Blyde, and bartender, writer and consultant Tyler Zielinski.

Ms Lawrence, who has judged all five editions of the competition, said the standard “keeps getting better and better”.

Graham’s Port head of marketing Charlotte Symington, who is a fifth-generation family member, added: “The Graham’s Blend Series Cocktail Competition allows us to engage with a new generation of consumers while also enabling us to share our story.

“We have been incredibly impressed by what some of the world’s finest bartenders and mixologists have created for this year’s competition.”