Last week El Jimador Tequila took over London’s Cable club for the final of its Bartender Cup, the main prize for which was a trip to Mexico.
The competition was blind-judged, and as such BarLifeUK didn’t see any of the action (we were closeted away in a dark corner, surrounded by hundreds of cocktails to taste), and so on this occasion we bring you the official match report from El Jomador:
“The el Jimador Bartender Cup challenged fifteen of Europe’s best bartenders from twelve different countries to draw on the freshest ideas in urban mixology with the aim of creating three specific el Jimador drinks: a long drink, a cocktail and a shot.
The event was brought to life with a spectacular performance from explosive junk percussionistas, The Clatteratti along with DJ sets going into the night, while food was provided from top Mexican restaurant, Mestizo.
And after much deliberation from the judges, the winners of this year’s el Jimador Bartender Cup competition were revealed as:
Overall winner: Joshua Fontaine, La Candelaria, France
- Long drink: Un Été en Provence
- Cocktail: Postcard from Italy
- Shot: El Avispon
Winning long drink: Pasion por Mexico
- Created by Krzysztof Jadach, Diva Bar, Poland
Winning cocktail: Jalisco Hazelnut
- Created by Giorgios Megalokonomos, Think + Bar, Greece
Winning shot: Gulp Of Happiness
- Created by Denis Babarayka, Graf-In Bar, Russia
The bartenders’ creations were judged by a panel of industry experts – Tom Sandham, Editor and Founder of Dwink.com, Andy Ives from BarLifeUK, Mark Ludmon, from Bar Magazine and Soul Shakers’ Michael Butt
The overall winner, Joshua Fontaine, along with being crowned the el Jimador Bartender Cup 2011 Champion, will be taken on a once-in-a-lifetime trip to the spirit’s Mexican homeland and the legendary Casa Herradura, hosted by el Jimador Brand Ambassador, Rubens Aceves.
Jose Garcia, el Jimador Brand Manager said: “It was fantastic to be able to bring the cream of the European bartender scene to the streets of London for the el Jimador Bartender Cup. The event was a great success, from the quality of the drinks being made, to the refreshing el Jimador Palomas being served and the authentic Mexican food from Mestizo.
We had some amazing drinks created at the Cup – congratulations to all those bartenders involved for making the decision making process such a hard one. Having seen the phenomenal bartenders in action, it’s safe to say that tequila has an exciting future!”
el Jimador Bartender Cup 2011 recipes in detail:
Overall Winner – Joshua Fontaine, La Candelaria, France
Long Drink: Un Été en Provence
- 35 ml el Jimador Blanco
- 10 ml Aperol
- 5 ml Saint Germain
- Top up with tonic water
- Long lemon zest
- 2 dashes of grapefruit bitters
Cocktail Drink: Postcard from Italy
- 25 ml el Jimador Reposado
- 25 ml Amaro Averna
- 1 dash D’orange bitters
- 17.5 ml lemon juice
- 5 ml agave syrup
- 15 ml egg white
- Orange flame zest
- Spray of sherry Amontillado
Shot: El Avispon
- 30 ml el Jimador Blanco
- 2 slices of cucumber
- 8 leaves of coriander
- 15 ml lime juice
- 15 ml agave syrup infused with chile
Winning drinks
Winning long drink: Pasion por Mexico
- 40 ml el Jimador Blanco
- 10 ml Passoa
- 20 ml Mus Passion Fruit
- 20 ml passion fruit syrup
- 30 ml pineapple juice
- 3 parts lime
- Glass: Hurricane
Method: Pour all ingredients into a glass (hurricane) filled with crushed ice, then mix with the bartender tablespoons.
Created by Krzysztof Jadach, Diva Bar, Poland
Winning cocktail: Jalisco Hazelnuts
- 35 ml el Jimador Reposado
- 15 ml Frangelico Hazelnut liqueur
- 20 ml fresh lemon juice
- 20 ml vanilla syrup
- Egg white from one egg (20ml)
- Glass: Martini
Method: dry shake first, then shake with ice and strain. Add a lemon spiral and grated nutmeg for garnish
Created by Giorgios Megalokonomos, Think + Bar, Greece
Winning shot: Gulp of Happiness
- 3.5cl el Jimador Blanco
- 1.5cl honey
- 0.5cl Casa Rinaldi Balsamic Sauce
- 3 leaves fresh arugula
- 2 pieces of fresh raspberry
Method: Muddle, shake, double strain. Decorate with raspberry skewer in balsamic sauce, raspberry and honey spray
Created by Denis Babarayka, Graf-In Bar, Russia