First of all a big welcome to Martin Miller’s and Westbourne Strength Gins who are the latest top gins to become Gintime gins. Hot news from Martin Miller’s is that their Gin Tour is currently storming its way around the UK and Ireland inviting bartenders to test their skills in the most challenging Gin Cocktail Competition yet. It is judged in three areas – making a classic cocktail with a twist, bringing something new to the G and T and last, but not least, speed mixing G and Ts.
The Tour got off to a flying start in Edinburgh at the end of February when the Voodoo Rooms saw five ‘Usual Suspects’ and five ‘New Faces’ battle it out with their classic cocktails and the challenging re-invention of the gin and tonic. The quality of the entrants was so high that, not one, but two Usual Suspects and two New Faces won this regional heat. The winning Usual Suspects were Ben Carlotto (Voodoo Rooms) and Joey Medrington (Tigerlily) whilst the New Faces were represented by Shervene Shahbazkhani (Voodoo Rooms) and Nuno Pires (Lulu). The London leg of the tour proved just as popular with Fifth Floor Bar at Harvey Nichols rammed for the cocktail making evening. The London finalists are Rebecca Almqvist (Lonsdale), Paul Mant (unattached) and Lino (Pinchitos). Upcoming dates for the Tour are:
- Leeds: 2, 3, 4 April
- Bristol: 29 April, 1, 2 May
- Brighton: 3, 4, 5 June
- Dublin: 1, 2, 3 July
