The Suntory Cocktail Connoisseur Final for 2014 was held last night at Hugo’s Lounge with Kenny Soetomo of WA winning the tile.
Photography © by Kevin Burke for Gourmantic – Copyright: All rights reserved.
Five contestants from all round Australia battled it out for the title and a prize package which includes return airfares to Japan to visit the best bars and distilleries $1,000 spending money.
Kenny Soetomo won the first prize with his cocktail St Bruno Biscotti, a refreshing mix of Yellow Chartreuse, Disaronno, vanilla syrup, fresh lemon juice, dandelion and burdock bitters shaken with egg white. Michael Barendregt from South Australia came in second place with The Kazan (Fire Mount), made with Suntory Magnum Dry beer and Yamazaki Distiller’s Reserve with Aperol, sugar, lemon juice and egg white. Yoshi Onishi from NSW came in third with Repeat After Me, a complex and well-balanced cocktail using zesty pink grapefruit with Russian Standard Gold Vodka, gin, cognac, Amaro Montenegro, Antica Formula and an absinthe rinse. They won $500 and $250 respectively.
Other contestants were Kari Chambers (VIC) with her Charleston Times cocktail, made with Bowmore 12YO whisky, Lillet Rose, Aperol, sugar syrup and Peychauds bitters with a sugar-crusted rim. Alissa Gabriel‘s (QLD) cocktail, Lowland’s Marsh was made with Auchentoshan 12 YO, Pavan Liqueur, Peychauds Bitters served in a Chartreuse rinsed glass.
The Suntory Cocktail Connoisseur Final is a consumer-driven event where the winners are determined by consumer vote. Each guest was given cocktail vouchers to sample all of the drinks before voting on their favourite.
Guests were also treated to tasty canapes and signature drinks including the popular Kakubin High Ball.
The Suntory Cocktail Connoisseur Final was held at Hugo’s Lounge on Wednesday 12 November 2014.
