Danish National Champs reaches milestone

This year the Danish National Cocktail Championships attracted a record crowd. Daniel Abildgaard Rasmussen, Danish Bartender Association president, looks back at the day.

On 1 March, the build-up of tension ahead of the annual Danish National Championships was finally released. In the months leading up to the biggest single event of its kind in Denmark’s history, an unprecedented number of Danish bartenders prepared themselves, perfecting their routines and their cocktail recipes. Although some didn’t make it to the special day, 55 of the finest bartenders of Denmark gathered in the modern, elegant halls of Langelinje Pavillionen to battle for the title of Denmark’s best bartender.

The Danish Bartender Association (DBA), which hosted the National Championships, had successfully promoted the event in the national media, so the whole nation was involved, with everybody looking forward to the competition. As a result, a historic number of guests witnessed the event and sampled new spirits and cocktails via the event sponsors.

While they imbibed, the competitors were already sweating over the day’s first challenge: the knowledge test presented by the former DBA president, Freddy Tofte Hansen. The test comprised 10 questions covering product knowledge, cocktail history and modern-day alcohol legislation. The winner of this year’s test was Maté Csatlos from FUGU cocktail bar who scored 80% and walked away with a DKK1,000 (€134) prize.

Bartenders then moved on to the main event of the day: the classic mixing and flairing competition, with the winner of each category going on to represent Denmark at the 65^th IBA World Cocktail Championships in Tokyo, Japan, this autumn. Suddenly all the bartenders were busy shaking, mixing, diluting, flairing bottles and creating their new cocktails, eager to secure a place in the top rankings.

Backstage was hectic, but also filled with excitement and positivity. In the judging room, the assessors – all chefs, sommeliers, waiters, spirit producers or food journalists – were busy evaluating the cocktails carried in on tray after tray. The panel took their role very seriously: all cocktails were taken into careful consideration, each serve heavily debated across the judging table.

With the sun setting, following the creation of more than 300 cocktails, the judges were ready to announce their two winners.

The champion of the flair competition was Christophe Daudingy from Castenskiold Food and Nightclub in Jutland, who triumphed over the second placed, former national champion Mathias Daa Løfquist by just half a point out of possible 400 – a very close call.

It was a similar situation in the Classic Mixing category, where the four finalists were separated by less than 30 points. But it was Ted Filip Dako from Bar25 who scooped first prize, and the ticket to Tokyo. During the announcement Ted jumped into the air with his silver cup, marking the completion of a very exciting but long day full of great cocktails and much exertion.

Thanks to all the sponsors of the Danish Bartender Association for making this event possible, namely: Pernod Ricard Denmark, Marie Brizard Wines & Spirits, INCO Kødbyen, Hans Just, Strandgaarden Wines & Spirits, Interbrands Wines & Spirits, Aalborg Akvavit, Red Bull, Mac Y, Langeline Pavillionen, Let’s Make, and Tend.

Winning Classic Cocktail

From Russia with Love by Ted Filip Dako
Shake all ingredients together and serve in a chilled and Fleur de Provence Tea covered coupe glass. Spray afterwards the cocktail with Fleur de Provence Tea spray and garnish with a lemon peal star:

4 cl Fleur de Provence infused Russian Standard Imperia Vodka

2 cl Aperol

2 cl Monin Pure Cane

2 cl Lemon juice

2 cl Grapefruit juice

2.5 cl Fleur de Provence syrup

Winning Flair Cocktail

Smoking Irish, by Christophe Daudingy

Made in a coffee siphon, cooled, then shamed. Served in a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon peal and tea powder.

5.5 cl Jameson

1.5 cl Green Chartreuse

10 cl still water

10 g. Roiboos Souchang Tea

2 cl Lemon juice

3 cl Whipped Cream

1.5 cl Monin Toffee