The inaugural Australian Gin Cocktail Cup launched on 8 October. In its opening year, this independent cocktail-making competition will showcase the best bartenders in the NSW liquor industry.
An adjunct to the Australian Gin Awards and consumer event Sydney’s Gin Palooza — both of which will be held in March 2019 — The Cocktail Cup will task invited bartenders with the mission to create an Australian gin-based cocktail, using a gin from the selection of the Sydney Gin Palooza’s distillers, along with six complimentary ingredients. Entrants are invited to submit their recipe to the Australian Gin Awards, with an accompanying short video by the closing date: 5 November 2018.
The Barber Shop owner Mikey Enright will be the chairman of this year’s competition.
“This competition will not only give some independence to the bartender but also potentially create more awareness of the Australian Gin market,” he says.
Three industry leaders will join Enright to form the judging panel; Harriet Leigh, head of Hospitality at Archie Rose Distilling Co., Jason Crawley, and Andy Penny, co-owner and operator of Stanley’s.
The winner of the Cocktail Cup will be awarded a three-day trip for two to Tasmania, where they will meet local distiller Bill Lark among other notable distillers. The Cup’s key sponsor, tonic producer Fever-Tree, will fund the award, which includes travel, car hire, accommodation and spending money.
The winning cocktail will be replicated and served to all guests at the Trophy Presentation Dinner for the Australian Gin Awards on 7 March 2019. It is here that the successful mixologist will be officially crowned as the ‘2018 Australian Gin Cocktail Cup Champion’.