‘Illumination’ mixed by Jim Wrigley scooped the best white spirits aperitif and overall Cocktail Challenge champion drink. The cocktail contains Santa Teresa Claro rum (recipe below). Jim fought off stiff competition from 20 finalists at this year's Distil exhibition. The live final was judged by key industry figures from ipbartenders, the Training School, consultancy the Gorgeous Group and spirits experts.
Best in category – liqueurs: Noilly Prat - Noilly Cassis, mixed by Ludovic Miazga.
Best in category – brown spirits: anCnoc - Blackhill Breakfast, created and mixed by Scott Gemmell.
Commended in the brown spirits category was Auchentoshan - Floc d’Ecosse presented by Nick Ravenhall.
There were also several commendations in the white spirits category:
Wyborowa - Polish Fling, mixed by Matt Pomeroy; Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion - Finlandia Grapefruit Passion by Pekka Pellinen; Hendricks -Aperitivo Singolare mixed by Esther Medina; Wyborowa - Thyme Vesper by Matt Pomeroy; and Tanqueray – Basilicum, mixed by Angus Winchester
Illumination
50ml Claro
12.5ml Rhum Orange
12.5 Francoli pinot nero grappa
2 do. Grapefruit Bitters
Method
Add all ingredients to a hoshizaki ice-filled mixing glass. Stir briskly for 30 seconds. Fine strain into a frozen 5.5oz martini Glass.
