The standard at each of the Diplomatico World Tournament (DWT) heats has been pretty stellar…
…which probably has something to do with the ultimate prize of $5000 and a trip to Venezuela.
Bristol was no different, and continues to produce some of the best cocktail competition drinks we see with a regularity South West Trains would do well to emulate.
Held at The Milk Thistle, which is a supremely comfortable venue for a comp, local bartenders and some interlopers from Oxford took a turn behind the bar.
It would have seemed a safe bet to put £5 on one of the 2 winners being a Bristolian, but on this occasion, Oxford came, saw and conquered.
Alex Proudfoot of Raoul’s continued his winning rum ways, with Scott Harrison, also from Raoul’s joining him in next week’s UK final.
The winning Bristol drinks:
Alex Proudfoot – Diplomatico Immunitea
- 50ml Diplomatico Blanco
- 15ml Cocchi Americano
- 10ml Res Ex
- 10ml Strong Earl Grey tea
- 7.5ml Briottett apricot
- Garnish with a lemon zest
Scott Harrison
- 40ml Diplomatico Reserva
- 1 Whole quail egg
- Dash angostura
- 5ml Fig liqueur
- 5ml PX sherry
- 15ml Banana jam
London Hotel and Restaurant Heat
It’s not every day you get to spend time at the Savoy’s Beaufort Bar, and to do so while judging a cocktail comp is doubly rare.
It was the perfect setting for the Diplomatico hotel and restaurant bartender heat – the sort of comp that inevitably sees some elaborate, foody garnishes served up to the judges.
This proved to be the case, with several of the competitors providing accompaniments to their drinks that could have served as fully fledged courses in a top notch meal.
However, as tasty as these garnishes were, the two winning competitors took a much simpler approach, placing all of their emphasis on their drinks.
Perhaps there is a lesson to be learned here: check the judging sheets – if garnish and appearance account for a small number of marks, don’t spend all your presentation time explaining yours, put your time and effort into your cocktail.
Congratulations to Christian Maspes of the Savoy’s American Bar, and Gareth Evans of Pollen Street Social who both go through to next weeks Diplomatico World Tournament UK final.
London hotel and restaurant heat winning drinks
Christian Maspes – Alborada
- 50ml Diplomatico Reserva
- 10ml Noilly dry
- 20ml Pineapple marinade syrup
- 15ml Kamm & Sons
- 3 Drops Pechaud’s bitters
- Garnish with a small pineapple
Gareth Evans – The Ambassador’s Secret
- 40ml Diplomatico Blanco
- 10ml Aperol
- 12.5ml Rhubarb syrup
- 25ml Lemon juice
- 1/2 Egg white
- 1 tsp Yoghurt