Poshmakers name Putting Pen to Shaker champion

Bartender Chelsie Bailey of Milk Thistle, Bristol, has been crowned the winner The Poshmakers’ Putting Pen to Shaker cocktail competition.

Chelsea Bailey is the winner of The Poshmakers 2014 Putting Pen to Shaker cocktail competition

Returning for its third year and expanding beyond the UK for the first time, entrants were tasked with creating a unique literary-inspired drink using at least two products from The Poshmakers portfolio, including Ish Gin, AKA Vodka and Virgin Gorda rum.

Nine finalists hailing from the UK, Spain, Portugal, Germany, the Netherlands and the Czech Republic went head-to-head in the grand final that took place yesterday at London’s Playboy Club.

But it was Bailey who impressed the judges the most with her creation, Treasure Ishland, inspired by Robert Louis Stevenson’s novel Treasure Island, which was a mix of Virgin Gorda rum, Ish Gin, lime sherbet, homemade port syrup and Brunel IPA.

“Chelsea linked everything together beautifully,” commented Ellie Baker, director of The Poshmakers. “All the characters were linked into the ingredients, she knew a huge amount about the brand from where the rums are distilled to how long they re aged for, their flavours – it was all tied into the story, which was exactly what we were looking for.

“She started her presentation with ‘ho, ho, ho and a bottle of rum’ – the whole thing from start to finish just blew us away.”

Bailey received a cheque for £1,000 and the chance to join The Poshmakers innovation team.

Second place was awarded to Martin Oravec of Uno Dos in Prague, who was commended for his drink called, Bruno Chef the Police made from Vigin Gorda rum, Ish Gin, caramel syrup, fresh lime juice, fresh grapes and medium blue cheese.

He walked away with a cheque for £500 and the opportunity to work at the Bar Convent Berlin with The Poshmakers next year.