Swizzle Masters Irish Whiskey Punch champion chosen
This month’s Wenneker Swizzle Masters competition called for a mouthwatering Punch with an Irish whiskey influence and Joshua Powell’s cocktail, All in Dew Time, accomplished this impeccably.
The brief called for an original Punch using Tullamore Dew 12 Year Old and at least a dash of Wenneker liqueurs, and despite an overwhelming trend for sweetness on occasion, overall the judges were pleased by the skill exhibited in each recipe.
Nick Bell, manager of Amathus Drinks Soho; Sophie Bratt, assistant bar manager of OXO Tower; Penny Wabbit, head pastry chef of OXO Tower; Kristiane Sherry, editor of The Spirits Business; and Daisy Jones, associate publisher and events director of The Spirits Business, met at London’s OXO Tower on South Bank to judge the round, and found Powell’s entry to be “a perfect summer Punch with a grapefruit twist”.
His drink combined Tullamore Dew with Wenneker Maraschino, Wenneker Ginger, grapefruit sherbet, and Bittermens Tiki Bitters.
Bratt said: “This drink is astounding, a real cut above the rest. He played with the flavour profile of the whiskey, rather than trying to ‘create’ a new flavour.”
Second place was awarded to Trinh Quan Huy-Philip’s entry, 24- Gay Punch, and third place was scooped by Northern Sun Punch by Kriss Kovy.
Powell’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 American Whiskey Dessert. From rich, chocolatey cocktails to refreshing, palate-cleansing drinks, make sure your cocktail is well-balanced using Hudson Baby Bourbon. Bartenders have until 18 August to submit their recipes online at www.swizzlemasters.com.
Click through to the following page to see the winning recipes of the Irish Whiskey Punch round.
1ST PLACE: ALL IN DEW TIME BY JOSHUA POWELL
Ingredients: 40ml Tullamore Dew, 5ml Wenneker Maraschino, 5ml Wenneker Ginger, 20ml grapefruit sherbet, 6 drops Bittermens Tiki Bitters, grapefruit twist and candied lemon to garnish
Method: Combine all ingredients, add ice and shake for 10 seconds. Decant into a frozen ice-filled highball glass. Garnish.
2ND PLACE: 24-GAY PUNCH BY TRINH QUAN HUY-PHILIP
Ingredients: 40ml Tullamore Dew, 20ml Wenneker 24 Carrot, 30ml fresh pineapple juice, 10ml lemon juice, 10ml lapsang souchong syrup, barspoon of tomato ketchup, half a passion fruit, garnish of cherry tomato, pineapple slice, baby carrot, half of passion fruit and a sprig of mint
Method: Combine all ingredients, stir to dissolve the ketchup and passionfruit. Add ice cubes and shake. Decant into cocktail jar, add ice cubes, and garnish.
3RD PLACE: NORTHERN SUN PUNCH BY KRISS KOVY
Ingredients: 40ml Tullamore Dew, 20ml Wenneker Orange Curacao, 20ml Wenneker 24 Carrot, 20ml Monin mango fruit puree, 20ml lime juice, 60ml orange juice, cherry garnish
Method: Add all ingredients with ice cubes in a mixing glass. Stir well and strain into tall slim highball glass on crushed ice. Garnish.
