Gin Mare Mediterranean Inspirations in pictures

A series of final heats around the world culminated this week in the grand finale of the 2014 Gin Mare Mediterranean Inspirations cocktail competition in Ibiza, Spain.

A view at sunset from Villa Mare at the end of the 2014 Gin Mare Mediterranean Inspirations cocktail competition

Now in its fourth year, nine finalists from the UK, Spain, Italy, Germany, Switzerland, Netherlands, Greece, Portugal and Mexico were hosted at Villa Mare, Ibiza, for the final leg of the competition.

Set atop the hillside of Na Xamena overlooking the stunning Mediterranean ocean and Spanish landscape, bartenders were tasked with creating three original drinks, including a Gin and Tonic with a Mediterranean Twist, a Bloody Mary over a Red Snapper and a Mare Nostrum inspired by the Gin Mare brand values.

After more than an hour-and-a-half of deliberation between the judges – comprising Jorge Balbontin, brand development manager for Vantguard, Italian mixologist Oscar Quadrarini, Spyros Patsialos, founder of Drinkable Videos and Cocktail Photography company Hunting Spirits and Marc Alvarez, cocktail manager of all Adrià brothers venues – it was Greek bartender Thanasis Kouziokas who rose triumphant to be crowned this year’s winner.

Described by Balbontin as “the most complicated” competition to date, Kouziokas impressed with his “simple and truly Mediterranean” drinks. 

Click through to the following pages for a glimpse into the 2014 Gin Mare Mediterranean Inspirations global final. 

After briefing the judges and competitors, the nine finalists joined judge Jorge Balbontin, brand development manager for Gin Mare, for a shot of Gin Mare to tame any last minute nerves and toast the start of the 2014 global final.

It was only after the UK final in Ibiza on Sunday that bartender Russell Downie of Tonic in Edinburgh, Scotland, found out he would be competing in the global final on Wednesday. A lottery selection resulted in him behind the bar first, which was no easy feat. Despite a technical hitch on his third Mare Nostrum creation – a result of the scorching Ibiza sun carbonating one of his home made ingredients – some quick thinking on his feet ensured that while the finished product was not what he had initially planned, it was still delicious and well-balanced.

Next up was Anna Martinez of Boca Chica in Barcelona, Spain, whose concoctions secured her third place, a €1,000 euro prize and the opportunity to hold an ambassadorial role with Gin Mare at an event in the coming year. Carrying the theme of a “healthy lifestyle” across all three of her cocktials, Martinez is pictured above with her Red Snapper/Bloody Mary interpretation called, Vera Gin, served alongside some dried cod.

Italian contestant Filippo Sisti made getting to his Bloody Mary cocktail a challenge for the Mediterranean Inspirations judging panel. Wrapped in a tortilla sheet and toasted with a blow torch, judge Marc Alvarez, was given the honour of cracking the top of the bread with a spoon before dipping and tasting. 

The sweltering 30^oC Mediterranean heat all got a bit much for Ciro Adriano de Georgio of the Netherlands, who dived into the infinity pool after his final creation to cool down, much to the envy of the judges, media and spectators gathered in front of the bar by the water’s edge.

Portuguese bartender Andre Filipe Do Reis proudly posed with his Bloody Mary cocktail, which was served in a tall glass wrapped in Japanese seaweed for a salty twist.

As the competition passed the halfway point, the level of innovation was really turned up a notch – as were the rays of the afternoon sun. German bartender, Cordula Langer of Monkey Bar in Berlin created three Spanish-inspired cocktails. Her gin and tonic concoction, Spanish Feeling, steered away from the more common bitter, citrus notes and incorporated the sweeter flavour of vanilla. Meanwhile, her Bloody Mary called Rojo Torrero, portrayed a Spanish feeling garnished with two red bulls and rosemary sprigs wrapped in salty candyfloss, which Langer can be seen making fresh above. Ice cubes were swapped for frozen pepper strips as “the warm Spanish weather would add too much water and dilution”. For her final drink, La Lavender, Langer used an iSis canister to create a lavender foam that bubbled away on top of the drink.

The last contestant to arrive at Vila Mare was Angel Ramón Tovar, but a strong performance from the Mexican bartender left no trace of jet lag. Taking a piece of home to the competition with him, Tovar’s take on a gin and tonic, made with vinegar and rosemary salt, was named after his mother, Patricia.

It would have taken more than a few cameras to throw bartender Nico Colic, of Hotel Rivingtend Vends in Zurich, Switzerland, who’s flamboyant performance innovation scooped him second place, a €2,000 euro cheque and the opportunity to take up a brand ambassadorial role for Gin Mare at two future events. Colic’s love for Champagne soon became apparent after the first day at Vila Mare, so it came as no surprise to witness the Dutch bartender incorporate the drink into one of his recipes. Not content with popping the cork in a conventional manner, Colic pulled out a knife (or mini sword) to slice the bottle open over the side of the pool. After several failed attempts, Colic was all but ready to give up before the cork unexpectedly exploded into the air raining Champagne into the air to the rapturous applause of the judges and spectators.  

The final of Gin Mare Mediterranean Inspirations got off to less than an easy start for 2014 champion Thanasis Kouziokas of Groove Cocktail Bar, Greece. After landing in Ibiza on Tuesday, the Greek bartender’s luggage – which contained his tools of the trade plus several home made syrups using uncommon ingredients from his native country –was nowhere to be found. Mid-morning on the day of the competition, the suitcase was recovered much to everyone’s relief. But it seems no amount of stress of worry could have deterred Kouziokas from producing a stellar performance and three bespoke cocktail worthy of the winning title. “This is 15 years of hard work paying off and proves you should never stop or give up on what you love,” Kouziokas told The Spirits Business: after learning he was the winner. “I was the last competitor on the day and now, I am the first – it’s the perfect ending.”

It was a long wait for the nine finalists to find out the top three, more than 30 members of the competition, joined by Gin Mare’s CEO Alfonso Morado (pictured left) headed to Ibiza Town to enjoy a seafood dinner of traditional Spanish paella. 

It was after dinner that the names of the three winners were announced. One by one, they made their way to the head of the table to be presented with their cheques before heading towards the harbour with the rest of the group to celebrate the competition and all the contestants’ achievements at revered Ibiza club, Lio. The following morning meant an early flight home for SB, but the finalists were gifted with an extra day in Ibiza to reflect on the competition and reconnect with each other. The bartenders were in for one final surprise though, with a secret boat trip to Formentera as a prize reward.