WSWA 2015 Cocktail Competition Winners

Two competitions were featured in this year’s Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America conference. First Chris Chamberlain, Portfolio Manager and Mixologist for Philadelphia Distilling won the Call for Cocktails competition with his Barrel Hidden in the Tropics drink.

Barrel Hidden in the Tropics

• 1.5 oz Bluecoat barrel finished gin
• .25 oz Amaro Montenegro
• .75 oz honey syrup
• .25 oz lemon juice
• 1.25 oz smoked pineapple juice
• bar spoon Greek yogurt

Shake all ingredients and double strain into a glass with crushed ice. The garnish is two pineapple leaves and a pineapple that’s been covered with sugar and bruleed.

In second place, Troy Clarke, the Director of Mixology and Spirits Education for Martignetti Companies and Proximo Spirits, won for his drink, Beach Day.

Beach Day

• 2 oz Boodles gin
• .5 oz Licor 43
• 1.5 oz coconut water
• .5 lime juice
• 2 bar spoons of pineapple preserves

Shake all ingredients and strain into a chilled double rocks glass that’s been rimmed with coconut palm sugar. Troy also made the umbrella, beach towel and surfboard to match the drink’s beachy theme.

Cesar Diaz,, mixologist for Crillon Imports, won third place with his drink, Helen’s Spring.

Helen’s Spring

• 1.5 oz Rhum Barbancourt white
• .75 oz Absentrou herbal wine
• 1 oz pineapple juice
• .75 honeybee pollen syrup
• .5 oz lemon juice
• 4 dashes orange flower water

Shake all ingredients and strain into a coupe. Garnish with edible flower.

Sadly, I didn’t catch the Iron Mixologist competition as there’s so much to do and see at WSWA. However, I’m happy to report Nick Nistico won first place. This is a very interesting competition where bartenders have to come up with an apertif and long drinks.

Next year, WSWA returns to Las Vegas!

Related Posts:

2015 Coverage

• Understanding the Three-Tier System

2014 Coverage

• WSWA Mixology Competition Winners
• WSWA Coming to Las Vegas

2013 Coverage

• Judging Hoptails
• Spirited Dinner with Tasting Panel Magazine
• Highlights from 2013 WSWA in Orlando

Coming soon: What’s it like to judge spirits and highlights from 2015’s convention.

Wine and Spirits Wholesalers of America

© The Minty  2015