Mixed Consciously is the UK leg of the global Diplomático competition Artisans of Taste, which is in turn tied into their sustainability campaign Distilled Consciously.
Yes, you did read that headline correctly, the winner of the UK leg of the competition will be jetting (remember those sky buses?) off to Venezuela in 2022 for the global final, when it is all safe to do so of course. Which, let’s be honest, is a lovely thing to be able to look forward to, or indeed even daydream about whilst your creating your cocktail.
‘Sustainability’ would probably have been the buzz word of the UK cocktail industry in 2020 if it hadn’t instead been ‘Fuck’. So it is good to see Diplomático and Speciality Brands picking up on it again in 2021 for this competition.
To enter the competition, and give yourself a reason to buy suntan lotion again, you are being asked to come up with a creative serve using either Diplomático Planas or Mantuano and applying sustainable practices. The cocktail needs to ensure each element is used to its full potential to minimise waste and the impact on the environment and include either homemade ingredients or local produce. The serve displaying the most creativity, sustainable mind-set and compelling story will be crowned Artisans of Taste, Mixed Consciously winner.
To help you with the sometimes confusing world of sustainability, the UK Diplomático Brand Ambassador Dean MacGregor will be hitting the round from June to hold a series of training sessions and workshops around the UK. These sessions will also be available online for anyone unable to make the physical events. Important to note if you do not attend one of the sessions (either in person or online) you will not be able to enter the competition.
There will also be help from James Fowler whose restaurant Terroir Tapas (which will be hosting the final) has been celebrated for its sustainable practices and zero-waste mission. He will also be joined on the judging panel by The Sustainable Restaurant Association who help over 10,000 on-trade venues across the UK with sustainable practices.
To register your interest in the competition and get information about when the MacGregor Road Show is coming to a city near you simply email howidiplo@specialitybrands.com For more information on the competition rules and handy info such as the scoring breakdown, you can head to the Artisans of Taste website.