East London Liquor Company’s Maria Vieira wins 2018 Gabriel Boudier Wizard competition
Launched in 2015 by Emporia Brands, The Gabriel Boudier Wizard competition challenges bartenders to create an original liqueur or crème that is not already commercially available. The winning recipe is put into production by Gabriel Boudier and released internationally later in the year.
Regional heats throughout the UK in 2017 selected a final field of four competitors, who went head-to-head at Vertigo cocktail bar in Dijon, France in January 2018.
Gabriel Boudier, established in 1874, is the only independent producer of liqueurs in Dijon still in family ownership. The brand’s range is based on fresh ingredients without the use of artificial flavours, and this philosophy was an integral part of the brief given to competitors.
The finalists were judged on their liqueur and marketing plan to launch and support it, along with a demonstration of how the liqueur could be used both in simple serve and signature serves.
The four 2018 finalists were:
Jake Mellish – Boilermaker, Nottingham – Tonka bean liqueur
James Bowker – Wilderness, Birmingham – Meadowsweet liqueur
Caitlin Tulloch – Panda & Sons, Edinburgh – Chamomile liqueur
Maria Vieira – East London Liquor Company, London – Dijon Mustard liqueur
The final was judged by Samuel Boulton, winner of the 2016 Gabriel Boudier Wizard Award and Yves Battault, General Manager of Gabriel Boudier.
Maria Vieira impressed the judges with a polished presentation that demonstrated a good understanding of the techniques required to produce her liqueur, which employs black and brown mustard, and was perfectly balanced in both cocktail recipes.
Maria took home a £1,000 prize on the night, and will now work with Gabriel Boudier over the next six months to finalise the recipe for the Mustard Liqueur that will be launched in the UK at Imbibe Live on the 2nd and 3rd July, stand B110.
The next Gabriel Boudier Wizard competition will run in 2019, to find an original liqueur or crème to launch in 2020.
Maria’s recipes
Bloody Mustard:
– 20ml Mustard Liqueur
– 20ml Saffron Gin
– 15ml Lemon juice
– 80ml Tomato mix
– 10ml Bloody Mary mix
Eye of Newt
– 40ml Dry Marsala
– 10ml Mustard Liqueur
– Top with champagne
– 3 Dashes of smoked malic acid solution.
For more information on Gabriel Boudier and Emporia Brands, please visit www.emporiabrands.com, or follow them on social media: @Gabriel_Boudier or Facebook at www.facebook.com/GabrielBoudierUK
Photography by Simon Derbord