By Rebecca Harris
The Victorian bartending community is awash with excitement after entries to the 2009 Victorian Woodford Reserve Cocktail Competition officially opened last week.
Open to bartenders based in Victoria, entrants must submit a cocktail recipe using a minimum of 30ml of Woodford Reserve.
The recipes will then be judged at the entrant’s venues by Woodford Reserve representatives, with the top six selected to compete in the final, which will be held at Match Bar & Grill on April 27.
“Woodford Reserve seems to really bring out the creativity and passion in cocktail bartenders and we’re really excited to see what they come up with this year,” said Brown-Forman brand ambassador Linus Schaxmann.
Last year’s winner was Sean Baxter from Manchuria, who impressed the judges with not only an impressive drink, but “probably one of the most original and entertaining presentations seen in a cocktail competition,” Schaxmann said.
Baxter’s presentation involved calling a mock-up horserace using the name of his ingredients and notable Woodford Reserve characteristics as his horses.
Prizes up-for-grabs include a bottle of Woodford Reserve Master’s Collection 1838 Sweet Mash, bottles of Woodford Reserve signed by Master Distiller Chris Morris and cash prizes.
All cocktail entries must be emailed to ben_kissane@b-f.com by 9am on April 13.