A Yorkshire gin company have named their winner of a nationwide cocktail competition after challenging bartenders to create a new cocktail with their product.
Bedale based Masons Yorkshire Gin created the competition to search for their 2016/17 Cocktail Champion, challenging the best bartenders from across the UK to create a new and unique gin cocktail recipe using Masons Gin.
After much sampling and deliberation the team at Masons named Matt Marriott, from Birmingham’s The Church Inn, as their selected gin alchemist. Matt will now work with the brand, who recently announced a turnover in excess of £1.2m for 2016 in only their third year of trading, to create a limited edition product which will launch in the UK later this year.
Four original heats were held in 2016 across Leeds, Manchester, Newcastle and Birmingham challenging 60 applicants to create a cocktail that truly reflected the style of Masons Gin and celebrated the businesses heritage, branding, location and flavour profiles.
The four heat winning bartenders then headed to the Bedale distillery to present their winning cocktails in the grand final to head judge Karl Mason, chief distiller Gerard Macluskey, cocktail guru Tommy Matthews from Edgbaston Boutique Hotel and Cocktail Lounge and winebitch blogger Angela Metcalf.
As part of the prize, Matt’s winning cocktail creations have been included in Mason’s extensive cocktail list as well as working to assist Karl Mason in the creation of a new, limited edition batch of the Gin.
Karl Mason co-founder of Masons Yorkshire Gin said: “We were very impressed by the level of ability shown in our first cocktail competition. The innovation and creative expertise blew us away, and we think Matt’s creations are going to make great additions to our cocktail list. We also really looking forward to seeing what limited edition will be created over the next few months.”
Although lips are firmly sealed with regards to what the taste profile of the new product will be, Matt has shared his top secrets on the best way to serve his winning cocktail creations. The Boycotts Gran and Masons Cup which are floral, fruity treats designed to reflect the taste of spring and summer.
The Boycotts Gran;
Stir lemon zest, ice and thyme and add 40ml of Masons Lavender, 15ml of Domaine de Canton Giner Liqueur and 15ml of Mr Fitzpatrick’s Rhubarb and Rosehip Cordial. Strain The Boycotts Gran liquid into a martini glass, garnish with three white rose petals and serve.
Masons Cup:
Stir 35ml of Masons Original, Ice, 15ml Sweet Vermouth, 25ml of Pink Grapefruit Juice and 5ml of Rose’s Lime Cordial together. Add citrus fruit chunks to 125ml of Ginger Ale and stir again. Add a couple of mint sprigs and serve to create the perfect summer tipple.