Cocktail Competition: UK Bartenders’ Guild National Competition

I’ve been lucky enough to spend the last 7 days in 7 different bars (one of them 3 times) for a multitude of reasons. The best being cocktail competitions.

Last week saw me attend the Manchester heat of the UK Bartenders’ Guild national competitions, in association with Benedictine, which took place at Epernay.

 

 

For a bartender it’s the ultimate challenge,  Take away their day to day environment, the music and customer banter (and demands) and put them somewhere slightly alien.

Using Benedictine, create a cocktail, then using your talent and insight as both a bartender and of the liqueur itself and meet the technical requirements set out by the Guild. These can be anything from ensuring glassware is chilled, to avoiding spillages.

In Manchester we had a small but select few. Joey Butcher of Epernay, Alex Jones of Almost Famous, Edoardo Acesi, also from Epernay and a sneaky Londoner who travelled north, Alessandro Pizzoli of the Kensington Hotel.

 

 

Joey, winner of the G&J Greenall cocktail competition 2012, kicked off proceedings in style with Nothing But Blue Skies a nod to both our lack of blue sky up here in Manchester, but also to to the fact that when we get them, we love them wholeheartedly.

Ingredients: Benedictine Liqueur, Bitter Truth Lemon Bitters, Haymans Old Tom Gin, Blue Curacao, Lemon juice, soda water.

This pretty cocktail, garnished with a candyfloss cloud (it’s Manchester, even a blue sky needs a little cloud), played on the herbal qualities of the Benedictine. Fresh, clean and crisp, this was light and beautifully refreshing.

 

 

The second of our entrants, was Alessandro Pizzola. Alessandro is also no stranger to competitions (he’s entered enough for this inexperienced competition attendee to recognise his face) and won the Galvin Cup in 2011.

 

 

His cocktail was the Inspiring Potion – playing with the herbal qualities of Benedictine, the liquorice, fruit notes and caramel elements.

 

 

Ingredients: Benedictine, Green Chartreuse, liquorice and egg white. 

This cocktail was creamy and full of flavour, with a slight caramel touch to it, it was more savoury than it’s predecessor and slightly dry. The garnish of liquorice stick and dried apple, only added to the experienced, drawing out more caramel and fruitiness on the nose.

 

 

The third entry was from Alex Jones. Alex recently won the ‘Inspired by Sloanes’ competition, held at Gorilla. His fascination with bitters is well known and he often brings his own creations to bear at these events.

Today was no exception, with his creation, Monks’ Ale – inspiration taken from the monks who created the liqueur and one of our own local breweries, Marble Arch. Often Benedictine was taken as a pick-me-up or reviver, and many view a pint as the same.

Ingredients: Benedictine Liqueur, Millers Dry Gin, Marble IPA ginger syrup (homemade), lemon juice, homemade orange bitters and ginger infused eggwhite. 

 

 

Another gin filled cocktail, this was a take on a gin fizz and was garnished with a touch of orange zest. Initially creamy on the palate, the ginger and orange cuts through the cream and brings out some of the spice in the Benedictine and pulled through a slightly bitter marmalade quality.

 

 

Finally, by no means least, was Edoardo. A last minute entry (he was persuaded to do it), he nevertheless did beautifully, bringing us the Monk’s Blush.

Ingredients: Benedictine, lime juice, mint leaves, Pimento ginger beer, Pinot Noir.

 

 

This was made using a the swizzle method, garnished with a chilli and the Pinot Noir floated on top this was probably my favourite of the day. It managed to be refreshing and clean, but also warm and spicy at the same time. The scent of the chilli brought out a savoury note and the wine added a fruity, more earthy touch.

But, my preference wasn’t the one that mattered. That came down to the gentlemen from the UK Bartender’s Guild. They deliberated, cogitated and digested and came through to crown a heat winner…..

 

…… Alessandro!

However, for our other entrants all was not lost. Impressed by all the bartenders who took part, everyone was invited to the final in London on 10 July at the Skylounge.

An afternoon of cocktail fun complete, it was time for this blogger to head out into the city – but not before I say a huge thank you to the gents from the UKBGA, the representatives from Benedictine for the invitation.

And last, but by no means least, thanks to Tom Elms for the stunning photographs.

Thanks everyone!