July Swizzle Masters champion announced

The winner of the Wenneker Swizzle Masters Irish Whiskey Americana round is Robb Collins, general manager of LCC Goodge Street, in London.

Robb Collins’ Silk and Sand cocktail won him first place in the Irish Whiskey Americana round

Bartenders were challenged to create bespoke cocktails based on the theme Irish Whiskey Americana, using Jameson Irish whiskey and as always at least a dash of Wenneker Liqueurs.

Our judges were keen to see traditional-style recipes celebrating 1920s America, with a touch of Irish about them.

Collins was named a worthy winner for his drink Silk and Sand, which won over the judges with its clever use of beer.

Sitting on the panel this month in House Bar at Home House London was Toby Quirk, freelance brand ambassador, Jennie Rae, Barchick, and Daisy Jones, associate publisher of The Spirits Business.

“This is the first one that meets the brief and is by far the best whiskey-style drink we’ve seen today,” commented Jones.

Coming in a close second place was bartender Angelos Bafas for his drink Hell’s Kitchen, a “strong and rich” drink that was an “excellent brief match”, and left an impression with its “bitter and rounded” flavour.

Third place was given to new Swizzle Masters entrant Dawid Samulczyk, for his “nice, light and refreshing cocktail,” aptly named Luck of the Irish.

The next round of The Wenneker Swizzle Masters is Absinthe Decadence featuring Struder absinthe.

The judges will be looking for recipes that use the absinthe to create a well-balanced and innovative cocktail.

Bartenders have until Friday 15 August to enter online at www.swizzlemasters.com.

Click through to the next page to discover the recipes for Silk and Sand, Hell’s Kitchen and Luck of the Irish.

The winners of The Swizzle Masters Irish Whiskey Americana heat

1^st – Silk and Sand by Robb Collins

50ml Jameson Irish Whiskey, 40ml Brooklyn lager, 2.5ml Wenneker Crème de Cacao, 20ml simple syrup. 5ml Benedictine, 3 dashes Angostura bitters, 1 whole egg and nutmeg

Method: Add all ingredients to a mixing glass with cubed ice and shake vigorously. Double strain into a chilled coupette and garnish with some grated nutmeg.

2^nd – Hell’s Kitchen by Angelos Bafas

30ml Jameson Irish whiskey, 30ml Campari, 30ml Martini Rosato, 10ml Wenneker Limoncello, 2 dashes orange bitters

Method: Roll-throw the ingredients together three or four times then strain into an Old Fashioned glass over a transparent ice sphere. Aromatise with orange peel, then garnish with orange peel and a cherry.

3^rd – Luck of the Irish by Dawid Samulczyk

50ml Jameson Irish whiskey, 10ml Wenneker Crème de Menthe, 25ml fresh lemon juice, 20ml simple syrup, 5ml honey, 4/5 slices fresh cucumber, handful of fresh parsley

Method: Add parsley and cucumber to mixing glass and gently muddle, tring not to break the parsley. Add all other ingredients, cubed ice and shake. Single strain into rocks glass. Garnish with a sprig of parsley and slice of cucumber.