By Suzan Ryan, editor bars&clubs
Jason Soto, Dominic Xavier, Joshua Crawford and Andrew Bennett will fly to New York on November 18 to compete in the international final of the Bulldog Gin 'Defying Conformity' Cocktail Competition following their win in the Australian final of the competition last week.
Bulldog Gin, a super-premium London dry gin, challenged Australian bartenders to create a bold cocktail that demonstrated the defiant spirit of the brand. The promotion, which closed September 29, attracted more than 60 bartenders.
Individual judging of the cocktails, which attracted 70 per cent of the overall score, was based on gin presence, balance of flavour, overall taste, presentation and garnish, creativity, the name of cocktail and its representation of ‘defying conformity’.
All entries were posted on the Bulldog Gin Facebook page with the remaining 30 per cent of the overall score based on the number of Facebook Likes for each entry.
“As the gin category is currently experiencing growth, with premium gin leading the way, this promotion introduced some fantastic new gin-based cocktails for consumers to enjoy and highlighted the versatility of this iconic brand,” said Bulldog Gin’s Australia & NZ marketing director, Nicole Stanners.
The four winners receive return flights to New York, accommodation, $600 spending money and VIP entry to Bulldog Gin’s Winston Churchill 140th birthday celebration, where the winner’s cocktails will be showcased.
The winners are:
Jason Soto, Assembly Bar, NSW – winning cocktail ‘VOGUE’
Dominic Xavier, Cobbler Bar, Queensland – winning cocktail ‘Straight Talking’
Joshua Crawford, The Lui Bar, Victoria – winning cocktail ‘Savoury Salute Martini’
Andrew Bennett, The Classroom, Western Australia – winning cocktail ‘Churchill’s Calling’