northwest negroni knockout 2015
Held on 10th November 2015 as part of our Winter Tasting Event, the inaugural Northwest Negroni Knockout saw 10 of the regions best bar tenders battle it out for the accolade of 'Best Negroni in the Northwest'.
The thinking behind the competition was to hold a contest which was not brand specific (i.e the contestants could use whatever products they want within the guidelines). We felt this gave the competition a truly open and none biased theme. As a wholesaler we represent a wide an varied portfolio of brands therefore not aligning the competition with one brand over another fits perfectly with our ethos.
To qualify the drink each bartender produced had to fit the following brief: -
“Classic Negroni or a twist on a Negroni”
Each drink needed to contain: -
Spirit (must be a white spirit from either Gin, Vodka, White Rum, Tequila, Mezcal, or Pisco)
Amaro (for the purposes of this competition Campari is classed as an Amaro)
Fortified Wine (Vermouth, Port, Sherry or similar)
Any one of these ingredients may be infused, but not more than one infused ingredient permitted per drink.
There is then a permitted fourth ingredient of their choice should they wish but this was not mandatory. The 1 additional item should be restricted in volume to be no more than any of the other 3 so as is a partner or modifying flavour, not dominant.
Garnish of their choice.
The event was compared by Scott Hawkins with the three judges being Massimo Zitti (Cane and Grain Manchester), David Ray (Drinks Guru at Living Ventures) and Jamie Jones (International Bar Consultant and Global Gin Connoisseur Winner 2013).
The format of the competition was similar to an event like the Football World Cup with a group stage before quarter finals, semi-finals and then the final.
The eventual winner was Elliot Chapman of Blind Tiger in Liverpool with his drink 'Reversal of Fortune' made as follows: -
Beefeater 24 Gin
Campari
Akashi-Tai Shiraume Umeshu (Plum Sake)
Homemade Plum and Green Tea Bitters
This was stirred down in the traditional method before being served and garnished with Fortune Cookie and Charred Fruit
Alongside Eliott, the other three in the final stage were all from Manchester bars: Joe White from Gorilla, Peter Stocker from Common and Alex Montrose from Cloud 23.
Elliot has won the overall prize of a week in Florence in Italy – the home of the Negroni.
Keep checking this page as we will be running the competiton again in 2016 where hopefully Elliot will return to defend his title.
Click here to view the article Bar Magazine published about the event: -
http://barmagazine.co.uk/liverpool-bartender-wins-first-north-west-negroni-knockout
and also an article in Imbibe Magazine
http://imbibe.com/news-articles/spirits-cocktails/elliot-chapman-wins-inaugural-north-west-negroni-knockout/
The thinking behind the competition was to hold a contest which was not brand specific (i.e the contestants could use whatever products they want within the guidelines). We felt this gave the competition a truly open and none biased theme. As a wholesaler we represent a wide an varied portfolio of brands therefore not aligning the competition with one brand over another fits perfectly with our ethos.
To qualify the drink each bartender produced had to fit the following brief: -
“Classic Negroni or a twist on a Negroni”
Each drink needed to contain: -
Spirit (must be a white spirit from either Gin, Vodka, White Rum, Tequila, Mezcal, or Pisco)
Amaro (for the purposes of this competition Campari is classed as an Amaro)
Fortified Wine (Vermouth, Port, Sherry or similar)
Any one of these ingredients may be infused, but not more than one infused ingredient permitted per drink.
There is then a permitted fourth ingredient of their choice should they wish but this was not mandatory. The 1 additional item should be restricted in volume to be no more than any of the other 3 so as is a partner or modifying flavour, not dominant.
Garnish of their choice.
The event was compared by Scott Hawkins with the three judges being Massimo Zitti (Cane and Grain Manchester), David Ray (Drinks Guru at Living Ventures) and Jamie Jones (International Bar Consultant and Global Gin Connoisseur Winner 2013).
The format of the competition was similar to an event like the Football World Cup with a group stage before quarter finals, semi-finals and then the final.
The eventual winner was Elliot Chapman of Blind Tiger in Liverpool with his drink 'Reversal of Fortune' made as follows: -
Beefeater 24 Gin
Campari
Akashi-Tai Shiraume Umeshu (Plum Sake)
Homemade Plum and Green Tea Bitters
This was stirred down in the traditional method before being served and garnished with Fortune Cookie and Charred Fruit
Alongside Eliott, the other three in the final stage were all from Manchester bars: Joe White from Gorilla, Peter Stocker from Common and Alex Montrose from Cloud 23.
Elliot has won the overall prize of a week in Florence in Italy – the home of the Negroni.
Keep checking this page as we will be running the competiton again in 2016 where hopefully Elliot will return to defend his title.
Click here to view the article Bar Magazine published about the event: -
http://barmagazine.co.uk/liverpool-bartender-wins-first-north-west-negroni-knockout
and also an article in Imbibe Magazine
http://imbibe.com/news-articles/spirits-cocktails/elliot-chapman-wins-inaugural-north-west-negroni-knockout/
