Competition entry deadline: Midnight, 7th October, 2022
BarLifeUK has done various bits of reader-research over the years, and whenever we ask bartenders what sort of cocktail competition prizes they prefer, the answer always comes back as ‘cash or international trips’. This bodes well for Signal Hill’s first UK competition, as the winner will receive both, in the form of £1000 and a trip to Toronto.
The liquid itself is made using Newfoundland water, which is some of the purest in the world thanks to the remote location of its glaciers, and a combination of column-distilled corn, and pot-distilled barley. The whisky is aged in Canadian whisky casks, new American White Oak casks, and first-run bourbon casks for three to five years, and this gives Signal Hill its distinctive, slightly sweeter, flavour profile:
- Aroma: A beautifully balanced and full-flavoured whisky, where no single character dominates. Dried fruit, like raisin and dried plums, are complemented by sweet cream sherry. English toffee, vanilla and soft oak appear later.
- Body: Full, round and smooth.
- Taste: Sweet on the tongue initially, followed by bittersweet cacao and subtle leather and pipe tobacco. Raisins and dried plums fill the middle. Cream sherry, heavily steeped tea tannins and mild oak at the finish.
- Finish: A pleasant, memorable lingering finish of bittersweet tea tannins, molasses and gentle oak.
The Competition
Signal Hill’s first cocktail competition is refreshingly open and free of rules. The only direction the brand has given is that you ensure the Whisky is the predominant spirit in the drink. There are no limits on ingredients or method, just create a tasty drink that showcases Signal Hill, and support the drink with a presentation that explores its history, location, category, or anything else connected the brand which leaps out at you as you start your research.
The competition prize is £1000 in cash, and a trip to Toronto. And by trip, we mean a cocktail safari of the city, hosted by Signal Hill folk who know the place like the backs of their hands. It will be an epic trip, to a place you might not necessarily make it to under your own steam. And you will be flying out it Spring, so it won’t be freezing cold when you arrive. Signal Hill are also keen to build a relationship with the competition winner, which means there is potential for freelance brand gigs after the comp, which is always nice.
Competition Entry
To enter the Signal Hill cocktail competition, send your cocktail recipe with a photo of the drink alongside a bottle of Signal Hill to entries@signalhillspirits.com. Don’t forget to include your name and the name of your bar.