Following a tightly fought contest, Simone Rossi from Aqua, London has been crowned winner of this year’s Disaronno Mixing Star competition. His winning serve, The Innkeeper, was praised for its beautiful flavour combinations, along with the way in which the drink was presented.
The final, which was held at Nightjar in Shoreditch yesterday, witnessed ten of the on-trade’s most creative bartenders serve up some impressive Disaronno cocktails. Judging the contest were brand ambassador Rod Eslamieh, The Artesian’s Simone Caporale, Gary Sharpen of The Cocktail Lovers and 2014 Mixing Star finalist, Adrian Gomes. The judges based their scores on taste, technique, performance, presentation and knowledge of Disaronno.
The finalists were:
Simone Rossi – Aqua (London)
Giacomo Di Matteo – The Groucho Club (London)
Federico Pavan – Salvatore at Playboy (London)
Federico Gisbert Johnson – Hawksmoor Guildhall (London)
James Bowker – The Edgbaston Boutique Hotel and Cocktail Lounge (Birmingham)
William Wilson – Palm Sugar Lounge (Leeds)
Joe Macbeth – Rub Smokehouse & Bar (Nottingham)
Joe Nelson – Amicus Apple (Aberdeen)
Stephen Rutherford – Orchid (Aberdeen)
Ehren Khoo-Steel – The Blind Pig (Jersey)
Simone Rossi has won an all-expenses paid trip to the world’s premier drinks festival, Tales of the Cocktail. Runner up, James Bowker of The Edgbaston Boutique Hotel and Cocktail Lounge in Birmingham won an overnight stay at The Langham Hotel, including dinner and drinks at The Artesian for two.
This was the fifth year in which Disaronno has held its Mixing Star competition. This year witnessed the largest number of entries yet, with almost 200 applicants.
DRINKS ENTHUSIAST 