Swizzle Masters Cognac cocktail champion named

Vietnam’s Trinh Quan Huy-Philip has stolen the Wenneker Swizzle Master’s show for the second round in a row, this time winning the Cognac Old Fashioned heat with his cocktail L’Ancienne de Saigon.

Huy Trinh Quan’s L’Ancienne de Saigon featured Lapsang Souchong syrup, Wenneker Coffee liqueur, and two different bitters

Gathering in The Anthologist in central London, our judges – Jess Cheeseman, operations manager for Fluid Movement, and, Thomas Aske, director of Fluid Movement, Elliot Ball, co-owner of The Cocktail Trading Company and Daisy Jones, associate publisher for The Spirits Business – taste-tested every entry, and found a champion in the “sophisticated” and “inventive” cocktail created by Huy Philip from Vietnam.

This round required entrants to take on the timeless tipple using Louis Royer Cognac as a base spirit, and adding bitters, a sweetening ingredient, a touch of Wenneker liqueurs and a garnish.

Despite being expertly recreated to the letter by the venue’s resident mixologist Romeo Manasturean, judges were left a little disappointed when some of the recipes strayed too far from the brief.

Ball explained: “We were a little surprised by some contestants’ interpretation of the brief – some drinks were present which were, shall we say, ‘unconventional’ renditions of the classic Old Fashioned formula!

“Nonetheless, some of these came out very well, and the general standard was, as ever, very high.”

Second place was awarded to The Beekeeper by Joshua Powell, and third place scooped by Rodolfo Casalá’s Fashioned Cherry Cognac.

Huy Philip’s recipe will now go through to the semi-final in October, when the winning drinks from throughout the year will be recreated once more and judged against each other.

Five drinks will then be chosen to go through to the grand final in November, and the bartender behind the winning recipe will be crowned Swizzle Master 2015 and win £1,000.

The next Wenneker Swizzle Masters round is Vodka/Gin Martini Twist. Recipes must stay true to the classic Martini style of vodka or gin and vermouth – a clever twist is all it needs. Bartenders have until 17 May to submit their recipes online at www.swizzlemasters.com.

Click through to the following page to see the winning recipes.

1st: L’Ancienne de Saigon by Trinh Quan Huy-Philip

Ingredients: 45ml Louis Royer Cognac, 15ml Wenneker Coffee, barspoon of Lapsang Souchong syrup, dash of Bittersmen Boston Bittahs, dash of Regan’s Orange Bitters
Method: Add Wenneker Coffee, Lapsang Souchong and both bitters into glass. Stir with 4 cubes ice for 5-7 seconds. Add Cognac and stir for further 3-4 seconds. Top with ice cubes and garnish with orange peel.

2nd: The Beekeeper by Joshua Powell

Ingredients: 40ml Louis Royer Cognac, 15ml Wenneker Ginger, 5ml Benedictine, 12.5ml honey syrup, 1 dash orange bitters, 1 dash angostura bitters, rosemary spray; 40ml Cognac, pinch of sea salt, sprig of rosemary
Method: Stir ingredients with ice for 10 seconds. Pour over 1 large ice cub. Garnish with orange twist, add a spray of salted rosemary Cognac.

 

3rd: Fashioned Cherry Cognac by Rodolfo Casalá

Ingredients: 30ml Louis Royer Cognac, 8ml Wenneker Cherry Brandy, 8ml Aperitif Cynar, few dashes plain sparkling water

Method: Put the glass in the freezer for 15 minutes. Add Cognac, Brandy, and Cynar to glass, Add 4 ice cubes, add sparkling water, stir with a bar spoon and garnish with an orange and lemon twist.