Pollen Street and LAB bartenders win Tabasco Bloody Mary Challenge

The Tabasco British Bloody Mary Challenge has crowned this year’s winners as bartenders from London’s Pollen Street Social and LAB bar.

Marco Piroli of LAB bar in London, serves up his Alternative Tabasco Bloody Mary

Gareth Evans, bar manager of Michelin-starred chef Jason Atherton’s Pollen Street Social won the award for Best Classic Bloody Mary with his drink (recipe below).

Meanwhile Marco Piroli of Soho’s LAB bar won the award for the Best Alternative Bloody Mary, named Mary & The Soldiers (recipe also below) although Ali Reynolds from steak restaurant chain Hawksmoor came a close second.

The competition, held at Bar Americain at Brasserie Zedel in London, was judged by journalists Charles Campion, Kate Spicer and Tristan O’Hana, and Spuntino and Polpo owner Russell Norman.

“These are some of the best mixologists in the UK, their professionalism and ability is outstanding, it really was a difficult judging process,” said Campion.

Both bartenders win a trip to New Orleans for Tales of the Cocktail 2013.

Gareth Evans’ Classic Bloody Mary Recipe
Ingredients:
35ml Absolut vodka
125ml sundance tomato juice
2 dash Tabasco
15ml Worcestershire sauce
10ml lemon juice
Pinch celery salt
Pinch black pepper

Method:
Throw three times, serve on a board garnished with a candy striped straw, small piece of celery, nocelara olive and cherry tomato, with a side of heritage tomato salad and horseradish snow.

Marco Piroli’s Alternative Bloody Mary Recipe
Ingredients:
30ml garlic infused vodka
15ml punt e mes
15ml lemon juice
125ml tomato juice
Pinch of black pepper, celery salt and sugar
7 drop of Tabasco original
1sp balsamic vinegar

Method:
Combine all the ingredients in a tin roll it with ice and strain in a highball glass. Garnish with bovril celery salt and chili flakes rim, boiled quails egg and soldiers.