By Rebecca Harris
After five weeks of intense competition, a Merivale bartender has been announced the local winner of the global Maker’s Mark bourbon ‘Leave Your Mark’ campaign.
More than 50 bartenders were handpicked to compete in the competition, which saw Sébastien Derbomez from Hemmesphere, Sydney take out the top prize.
Each bartender was required to create their own signature Maker’s Mark drink to be presented in a unique handmade pewter tumbler. Derbomez impressed with his ‘The Star Hill Fizz’ cocktail, made from Maker’s Mark, Bols Cherry Brandy, Punt e Mes, a dash of French absinthe, lemon and lime, ginger ale and finished with grated nutmeg.
Local Maker’s Mark brand ambassador Jared Plummer said that choosing a winner was 'no easy task'.
Jared Plummer with Sébastien Derbomez
“All cocktails created for the campaign were unique, carefully-crafted and reflective of the care that we take to distill the finest bourbon,” he said.
“Ultimately, Sébastien’s creation was selected due to its creativity and unique combination of flavours that worked effortlessly to compliment the soft, yet full-bodied flavour of Maker’s Mark premium bourbon. The chosen flavours and ingredients were also cleverly enhanced by the Maker’s Mark Pewter Cup the drink was presented in.”
Derbomez will now fly to Kentucky to represent Australia in a global competition, to compete for the title of ‘Maker’s Mark International Bartender of 2010’.