France’s Romain de Saussure from Prescription Cocktail Club named champion.
NOILLY PRAT® has announced France’s Romain de Saussure as the global winner of the first ever Noilly Prat classic dry Martini cocktail challenge. With competition from 17 bartenders across 5 countries, the final heat took place in April 2015 as some of France’s best bartenders executed their recipes at La Maison Noilly Prat in Marseillan.
Romain’s innovative ‘Noilly Prat Dry Méditerranée’ cocktail earned him the title of ‘World’s Best Tasting Noilly Prat classic dry martini cocktail’ as well as an all-expenses paid trip to New York to visit the birthplace of the classic dry martini cocktail: The Knickerbocker Hotel.
Noilly Prat’s inaugural cocktail challenge has seen some of Europe’s best bartenders showcase their own recipes, recreating the iconic Noilly Prat classic dry martini cocktail. Since thecompetition began in September 2014, leading drinks experts from around the world have judgedeach bartender’s unique expression.
Leading the charge from their respective markets were Gekkos’Gabriel Daun (Germany) and MASH’s Steve Lawson (UK), however it was French market champion Romain de Saussure’s ‘Noilly Prat Dry Méditerranée’ cocktail that impressed judges, including Noilly Prat Global Ambassador, Ludovic Miazga.
“Romain’s clear passion for the industry and adept understanding of flavours triumphed in this winning cocktail, it was delicious,”said Ludovic. “His creativity, technical ability and precision,combined with an original taste proved that less really is more when it comes to the world’s best tasting Noilly Prat classic dry martini cocktail.
“Romain’s passion, innovative spirit and L’Art de vivre was clearly reflected in this perfectly balanced cocktail that is a truly remarkable expression of the iconic serve.”
Throughout the challenge, Romain was up against an exceptional standard of competition. However, it was his Dry Méditerranéethat seduced the judges and truly demonstrated the unparalleled excellence of Noilly Prat.
Drinks trends such as foams and foraging were evident throughout the challenge, as participants experimented with unusual flavours and adventurous processes such as homemade tinctures and infusions, smoking guns and regional ingredients from Marseillan.
Whilst respecting the challenge rules, Romain’s twist on the classic dry martini cocktail is an outstanding reflection of the perfectly balanced flavours and excellent quality of Noilly Prat Original Dry.
Noilly Prat Dry Méditerranée Recipe:
Ingredients:
20ml Noilly Prat Original Dry
40ml homemade tincture (Bombay Sapphire infused with Noilly Prat, green olives and rosemary)
Grapefruit peel
Method:
1. Prepare and clean martini glasses and chill in the freezer
2. Fill a mixing glass with ice
3. Add Noilly Prat Original Dry and Bombay Sapphire
4. Add the grapefruit peel and stir until perfectly diluted and cold5. Strain into chilled glasses and garnish with rosemary and cheese (optional)
BIRTHPLACE OF A LEGEND
Romain’s innovative take on the iconic serve has won him an all expenses paid trip to the effervescent city of New York. As a guest of Noilly Prat he will stay at the birthplace of the classic dry martini cocktail, New York’s Knickerbocker Hotel.
THE CHALLENGE
Having been immersed into the long-standing craftsmanship of Louis Noilly’s original recipe, and over 200 years of history and heritage, participating bartenders were charged with the seemingly simple but notoriously challenging task of creating the world’s best tasting classic dry martini cocktail at Le Bar Noilly Prat in Marseillan. 17 participants from 5 countries were judged on the complete experience, from the serving ritual and storytelling through to the temperature, glassware and taste of the serve, executing their serves in 7 minutes using only 3 ingredients.
The world’s bartending community watched with anticipation whilst the Dach Nordic, UK and French markets participated in their respective heats of the challenge at La Maison Noilly Prat in Marseillan.
DRINKS ENTHUSIAST 