BarLifeUK has a weakness for Nordic girls in fur hats (faux fur, obviously), and so we have been watching the Finlandia Vodka Cup unfold with interest
The final of this, the longest-running vodka competition, takes place in Lapland early next year, and a visit to www.finlandia.com (click on the competition Info tab) will show you, via the medium of video, why we opened this piece with the Nordic girl reference.
Regional heats have been taking place all over the country, and the UK final, of which BarLifeUK is lucky enough to be a judge, takes place in London at the River Room at 7pm on November 22nd.
If you would like to attend the UK final as a spectator, please email: editorial@barlifeuk.com
The overall winner will be jetting out to the land of Northern Lights and Santa to compete in a very chilly global final.
Full results of the UK final will be posted here shortly after the event, and below is a full list of the regional winners and their drinks.
Regional Winners
Edinburgh Heat – held at Treacle
Winner
Andrew Kearns from The West Room (Edinburgh)
Cocktail Name: ‘Ruby Dawn’
- 25ml Finlandia Grapefruit
- 20ml Aperol
- 15ml Yellow Chartreuse
- 15ml Lemon juice
- Large dash of egg white
Runner Up
Chris Strong from Love & Death Inc. (Belfast)
Cocktail Name: ‘Lady Valhalla’
- 50ml Finlandia Grapefruit
- 20ml Lemon juice
- 25ml Grapefruit juice
- 25ml Maraschino & Pastis syrup
- Egg white
Runner Up
Ben McFarlane from Hamiltons (Edinburgh)
Cocktail Name: ‘Grand Design’
- 40ml Finlandia Grapefruit
- 10ml Green Chartreuse
- 30ml Pineapple juice
- 12.5ml Lemon juice
- 1 Barspoon caster sugar
Leeds Heat – held at Oracle
Winner
Gareth Evans from Brass Monkey (Nottingham)
Cocktail Name: ‘Purity Cocktail’
- 30ml Finlandia Classic
- 25ml Ice wine
- 7.5ml Pear schnapps
- 25ml Grape & pear juice
Runner Up
Lucy Parker from The Restaurant Bar & Grill (Leeds)
Cocktail Name: ‘The Kimi Räikkönen Martini’
- 37.5ml Finlandia Grapefruit
- 3 Barspoons Lillet Blanc
- 2.5 Barspoons hibiscus juice
- 3 Barspoons lemon sherbert & lavender gomme
- 2 Dashes orange bitters
Runner Up
Christian Tirel from Coco Tang (Nottingham)
Cocktail Name: ‘Finnish’d With Thyme To Spare’
- 30ml Finlandia Cranberry
- 10ml St Germaine
- 10ml Cacao Blanc
- 10ml Lemon juice
- 3 drops Tabasco
- Garnished with crushed ice & thyme
Liverpool Heat- held at Palm Sugar
Winner
Nick Thomas from Mojo (Leeds)
Cocktail Name: ‘Mai Mango Deer-Light’
- 50ml Finlandia mango
- 50ml Tropical juice
- 3 Dashes Absinthe
- 20ml Mango syrup
- 25ml Lime juice
Bristol Heat- held at Goldbrick House
Winner
Mark Scott from Hyde & CO
Cocktail Name: ‘Kuusi’ (Translation: “6” in Finnish)
- 35ml Finlandia Classic
- 10ml Strega
- 12.5ml Laphroaig
- 12.5ml Underberg Bitters
- Peychaud’s infused ice-ball
- Ground nutmeg
Runner Up
Justyn Bell from Hausbar (Bristol)
Cocktail Name: ‘Can’t Fight The Midnight’
- 40ml Finlandia Classic
- 10ml Cherry Heering
- 5ml Campari
- 100ml Pumpkin syrup
- 10ml Lemon juice
London Heat- held at Coquine
Winner
Walter Pintos- One Aldwych (London)
Cocktail Name- ‘Purity’
- 45ml Finlandia Grapefruit
- 25ml Ginger & orange peel-infused elderflower
- 2 Drops orange & mandarin bitters
Runner Up
James Drummond- 64th & Social (Clapham, London)
Cocktail Name– ‘Peko Minntu’
