Hernö Gin Cocktail Awards Entry Deadline: 7th June, 2019
Prior to writing this story I hadn’t heard of Sweden’s High Coast, so I did a little research and within a few clicks became convinced this might be the most beautiful location I’ve ever seen for a cocktail competition. If you like unspoiled forests, red granite cliffs, and dramatic seascapes, the Hernö Gin trip is probably for you.
Hernö Gin was founded in 2011, and is made in two copper stills (named Kierstin and Marit) on an 18th Century farm in the village of Dala, situated in the UNESCO World Heritage region known as the High Coast. Hernö has won a host of awards since its launch, and the Cocktail Awards competition is now in its seventh year.
The theme for this year’s challenge is ‘Show Your Backyard’, which refers to the places and things that have made you, you (as opposed to your actual back garden). Think of it as exploring your personal terroir, as it were.
Entering the Hernö Gin Cocktail Awards
The UK leg of Cocktail Awards takes the form of two regional heats, one in London and one in Liverpool. The winner of each heat will then progress to the grand final in Sweden, which takes place outdoors, and involves creating a cocktail with foraged ingredients. Competitors will be guided through an ingredient-collection session in the local forest, and later take to the stage under (hopefully) aurora-filled night skies to present their drinks.
Hernö are keen to point out that the two days competitors spend with them in the High Coast are all about making friends and sharing a unique experience in a beautiful place. It all sounds rather magical.
To enter the competition, you need to create a signature cocktail that expresses your ‘DNA’. Think about personally significant places, experiences, and flavours as you devise your spec, and be prepared to explain why the ingredients you have chosen are important to you.
The competition brief states that “simplicity is key”, so bear this in mind too. Submissions will be judged on drink name, taste and balance of ingredients, explanation, and link to the ‘Show Your Backyard’ brief.
- Your drink should include a minimum 35ml of Hernö London Dry or Old Tom gin
- Have a maximum of 5 ingredients
You should be available on the date of your closest heat, and the grand final:
- 24th June (Liverpool heat)
- 26th June (London heat)
- 23-24th August (for the final in Sweden)
Once you have created your cocktail spec, submit it via the form below before Midnight on June 7th, 2019. And be sure to share your drink and connect with other competitors by posting on Instagram with the hashtag: #hernobackyard. The UK finalists will be contacted by 14th June.
For more information on Hernö Gin, including interviews with previous competition winners, visit their website.