Vanzi’s Valentine Victory

Matteo Vanzi of The Hide Bar in London was named the winner of The Hilton cocktail competition with Martin Miller’s gin.

The competition, held on Valentine’s Day at the Green Park Mayfair Hilton, challenged contenders to create a cocktail that incorporated the driving forces of Martin Miller’s gin – namely love, obsession and madness.

Vanzi, who had never previously entered a cocktail competition, beat nine other finalists for first place.

“My love of bartending began when working in a bar to pay my way through university in Rome, but in the end my passion for the job overtook everything else,” he explained.

“I learned my trade at fantastic establishments in the city, but after working with some great mixologists from London, I was inspired to move to England to hone my skills.

“The Martin Miller’s gin competition was the first I’d ever entered so I was delighted when my hard work was recognised at the final. “The reputation of the spirit is second to none, and not only did I get to meet the inspirational Martin Miller himself, but I got to indulge in my passion for creating new and exciting drinks with the highest quality ingredients.”

The prize included a stay for two in one of the Martin Miller luxury hotels, as well as a Martin Miller 10-year anniversary bottle of gin.