We Have A Winner

by Brad Morris

BRISTOL, LIVERPOOL, BRIGHTON, LEEDS, CORNWALL, NOTTINGHAM, LONDON: IT’S BEEN A WHIRLWIND OF A NATIONAL INDUSTRY

COCKTAIL COMPETITION OVER THE LAST TWO MONTHS. AFTER A FIERCE BATTLE, SEVEN TALENTED REGIONAL WINNERS WERE CHOSEN TO COME DOWN AND COMPETE IN THE LONDON FINAL ON 6TH AUGUST.

TAKING PLACE BETWEEN 2PM-7PM AT TT LIQUOR IN HACKNEY, THERE WAS AN INCREDIBLE BACKYARD BBQ FROM SMOKESTAK INCLUDING CUT RUM INFUSED SAUCES, BBQ PORK, BRISKET AND AUBERGINE. OF COURSE, THERE WAS ALSO PLENTY OF RUM PUNCH!

AFTER EVERYONE WAS SUITABLY FULL, FROM THE AMAZING FOOD, IT WAS TIME FOR THE MAIN PART OF THE DAY: THE COCKTAIL MAKING.

THE RULES STAYED THE SAME AS ALWAYS:

  • 2 COCKTAILS
  • 4 MINUTES
  • 8 INGREDIENTS

WE BROUGHT THE RUM; BARTENDERS BROUGHT THE INGREDIENTS AND CREATED 2 TOP NOTCH COCKTAILS IN 4 MINUTES.

THE COMPETITION WAS SERIOUSLY OUTSTANDING, AND THERE WERE SEVERAL SHOUT-OUTS AT THE END FOR ORIGINALITY, INCLUDING KORMA COLADA FROM KRIS, LIVERPOOL: AN INTRIGUING MIX OF CURRY FLAVOURS AND PINA COLADA. NO ONE BELIEVED IT WOULD WORK, BUT IT WAS ABSOLUTELY DELICIOUS.
AFTER A HEATED DISCUSSION AMONGST THE JUDGES (AND PLENTY OF DISAGREEMENTS) THE FINAL THREE WERE DECIDED ON.
IN THIRD PLACE, WAS BRIAN CONNOR FROM MOTEL BAR, LIVERPOOL. HIS FIRST COCKTAIL, ‘UP IN THE CLOUDS’ WAS A SMOOTH DRINK FLAVOURED WITH BANANA. ‘GOOD MORNING REVIVAL’, HIS SECOND, WAS AN INTRICATE COMBINATION OF RUM, MARMALADE AND ALMOND FLAVOURS.

IN SECOND PLACE, WAS BEN ZIEHM-STEPHEN FROM BRIGHTON. HIS FIRST DRINK, ‘CUT MY LIFE INTO PIECES’, WAS A BOLD TURBO SHANDY USING CUT SPICED RUM AND BREWDOG PINK GRAPEFRUIT IPA. HIS SECOND, ‘LAST RESORT’, WAS A VIBRANT MIX OF CUT SMOKED RUM, BLACKBERRY LIQUEUR, GUAVA AND A TOUCH OF ABSINTHE.

AND THE OVERALL WINNER WAS… LIAM BODDE, BRISTOL! HE CREATED HIS TWO IMPRESSIVE TIPPLES USING OVERPROOF AND SMOKED.
HERE ARE THE WINNING SPECS:

LIFT HOME

  • 50ML OVERPROOF
  • 20MML COINTREAU
  • 15ML SWEET VERMOUTH
  • 15ML MARASCHINO
  • 3 DASH CHOCOLATE BITTERS

THICKER THAN WATER

      • 50ML SMOKED
      • 2 DASH ANGOSTURA
      • 5ML PORT
      • 15ML SHIRAZ
      • PASTIS GLASS RINSE

CONGRATULATIONS LIAM, ENJOY THE £1,000 PRIZE AND WE LOOK FORWARD TO THE NEXT CUT RUM COCKTAIL YOU COME UP WITH!

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