Pluck of the Irish
The Bartenders Association of Ireland (BAI) held its National Cocktail Competition at the Food & Bev Live 2012 event in Ireland in February.
The event, which has been held almost every year since the creation of the BAI 40 years ago, brings together bartenders from across Ireland to pit their wits and mixology skills against each other. This year there were 36 candidates from all over the country.
The event was sponsored by Edward Dillon & Co, distributor in Ireland for a variety of spirits products from companies including Bacardi-Martini, Brown-Forman and Moët Hennessy. Competing bartenders used base spirits from the brands’ portfolios.
The competition was judged by UK Bartenders Guild (UKBG) president Daniel Crebesse, IBA vice-president Ron Busman, and Oliver Murtagh, who represented the Irish Guild of Sommeliers.
BAI president Declan Byrne was master of ceremonies for the event, as well as judging the final round. The sponsor was represented by Alan Kavanagh, portfolio brands ambassador for Edward Dillon.
The event was spilt into four categories: pre-dinner cocktails, post-dinner cocktails, fancy cocktails and long drinks. From the winners of each category one overall winner is chosen.
And the winner this year was one of the youngest on record: 21-year-old Chris Crowley, with his Monk’s Martini.
BAI NATIONAL COCKTAIL COMPETITION WINNERS
Pre-Dinner Cocktail Champion & Overall Winner
Chris Crowley, from East Village Bar, Restaurant & Hotel, Douglas, Co Cork
Monk’s Martini #2
4cl Bombay Sapphire Gin
0.5cl Green Chartreuse
1.5cl Giffard honey syrup
1.5cl fresh fine strained lime juice
3 dashes Angostura Orange Bitters
Garnish: Apple fan with orange and cherry.
After-Dinner Cocktail Champion
Deirdre Byrne, Mint Bar, Weston Hotel, Dublin
Spiced Creole Martini
3cl Hennessy VS
1.5cl Southern Comfort
1.5cl Vanilla Schnapps Liqueur
4 cardamom pods
3 dashes Creole Bitters
Garnish: sliced apple and kumquat
Fancy Cocktail Champion
Ariel Sanecki, Cliff House Hotel, Ardmore, Waterford
Sunrise in San Tropez
4cl Bombay Sapphire Gin
3cl elderflower liqueur
6cl cranberry juice
6cl orange juice
0.5cl Giffard grenadine syrup
2cl sparkling bitter lemon
Garnish: A parrot-shaped pineapple.
Long Drink Cocktail Winner
Lukasz Wojcik, FxB Bar & Restaurant, Monkstown, Co. Dublin.
My Dream
4cl Hennessy Cognac VS
2cl Elderflower liqueur
Sprig of fresh rosemary
2 dashes of Tabasco
1cl fresh lime juice
10cl apple juice
Garnish: Pineapple leaves, radish, orange skin, edible flower.
