By Annette Shailer
Chalk Hotel bartender Tim Sponberg was crowned this year’s 42 Below Vodka ‘Ready, Steady, Shake’ Champion on April 20.
Brisbane venue Byblos hosted the event, which saw 36 bartenders from Brisbane, the Gold Coast and Sunshine Coast shake compete for bartending glory.
Created in 2004, Ready Steady Shake is unique to Brisbane, designed to challenge bar professionals to think on their feet.
Each contender is given the same box of mystery ingredients, a fully stocked bar and five minutes to create a signature 42 Below cocktail.
After hours of mixing, the judging panel selected four finalists to go head to head – Ryan Norieks (The Lark), Justine Millsome (Glass Bar), Tim Sponberg (Chalk Hotel) and Nick Edwards (The Lark).
Sponberg’s creation of ‘The 42nd Degree Martini’ won him $750 and an exclusive 42 Below bar kit.