By Sacha Delfosse
The national finals of Appleton Estate’s cocktail competition were held in Sydney on July 10 at Luxe Studios where six bartenders from across the country battled it out for a trip to Jamaica.
Competing on the night was Darren Leaney from Grace the Establishment (SA), Sam Egerton from Felix (NSW), Kenny Soetomo from The Brisbane Hotel (WA), Andy Garwood from Manhattan Wine Bar (TAS), Daniele Pirotta from The Envy Hotel (QLD) and Jamie Chesher from EDV Melbourne (VIC).
Chesher took out the top prize on the night with his cocktail, the Neck-Breaker, a mix of Appleton Estate Extra 12 Year Old, Appleton Estate Reserve 8 Year Old, walnut, ruby grapefruit, Demerara and chocolate. He will now head to Jamaica to represent Australia in the international finals.
The venue was decked out in Tiki fashion for the event and apart from great rum cocktails, guests were also treated to beef brisket sliders with Caribbean spices and gourmet tofu burgers with chilli sauce, cooked up by Chef Stuart McGill and mobile food station, Eat Art Truck.