Gin Mare Mediterranean Inspirations 2016 in pictures

International press, bartenders and the Gin Mare team descended on the idyllic Villa Mare earlier this week for the global final of the sixth Gin Mare Mediterranean Inspirations cocktail competition, where eight mixologists competed in three gruelling heats for the title.

After winning their national heats throughout the year, the final eight contestants travelled to Gin Mare’s brand home, where they presented three cocktails to a panel of judges in two heats.

The finalists, who hailed from the US, the UK, Portugal, Germany, Austria, Spain and Italy, steadied their nerves with a shot of Gin Mare before the competition.

This year a double panel of judges were on hand to score each section of the competition. The gastronomic jury comprised Jonathan Armengol, food critic; Quim Márquez, of Boquería Market Barcelona; Aitor Olabegoya, of GastroJoy in China and Johan Langenbick, founder of Foodpairing.com. Jorge Balbontin, Vantguard brand development manager; Gegham Kazarian, of Kazaris Project; Ted Kilpatrick, US bartender and Erick Lorinks, of American Bar at The Savoy in London represented the mixology panel.

The first heat required bartenders to present their personal twist on a Mediterranean gin and tonic – for which joint winner Fabio Brusco, of San Rocco restaurant, in Alicante presented ‘Blood and Tonic’. His cocktail consisted of Gin Mare, fresh lemon juice, black salt and pepper mix, white tomato foam, and 1724 Tonic Water.

The Mare Nostrum – Latin for “Mediterranean” – round followed, with Brusco’s ‘Evergreen’ cocktail of Gin Mare, rosemary, celery juice, lemon juice, sugar, Ibiza salt and cava impressing the panel.

For the remaining heat, the finalists each crafted a Gastro Bartender drink with an egg theme, paired with a dish created in collaboration with a chef from foodpairing.com. Here Brusco served up ‘Horizon’, which contained Gin Mare, egg yolk, sugar, lemon juice, herb liqueur and red wine, paired with a bread dish featuring tomato, anchovies, almond crisp with mayonnaise and curry.

Brusco shared the winning title with Robyn Wilkie, from 7 Tales by The Social Company in London, who presented The Olive Branch’ for her Mediterranean gin and tonic – Gin Mare, Cocchi Americano, Nori seaweed tincture and 1724 Tonic Water.

For the Mare Nostrum hear, Wilkie wowed the panel with ‘Locomotive’ comprising Gin Mare, sage and rosemary cordial, Tio Pepe Sherry and pepper gratin.

For her final cocktail, Wilkie served up ‘The Masquerade’, combining Gin Mare with saffron and carrot shrub, lemon juice, almond and honey foam and a rice cracker to represent the ‘shell’ of an egg, along with a serve of grilled squid with aubergine puree, mint, orange and sunflower.

Second place was awarded to Carlos Ruiz of Crystal Springs, US, who bagged a €2,000 prize. 

Daniel Zamith, from Bistro 100 Maneiras in Portugal, secured third place along with a €1,000 prize.

The winners were announced after a delicious three course dinner at Nassau Beach Club. Brusco and Wilkie each won a prize of €4,500 along with the opportunity to travel internationally with Gin Mare and participate in bar shows such as Tales of the Cocktail, Bar Convent Berlin and Imbibe London.

To celebrate their success, and round off the trip, guests hit Pachá Ibiza to dance the night away before they parted ways.