36 Cocktails on a Sunday Night

One of the perks of being a food editor is that I get asked to participate in fun events, like judging cocktail competitions. Last Sunday I was asked to join in naming one of the winners of the 11th International Finlandia Vodka Cup regional contest. They had a great turn out of twelve mixologists from Ontario competing in three different categories. This meant that each judge was presented with 36 cocktails to drink and judge. Normally I would have been happy about this proposition, but being a Sunday night and having an early morning meeting on Monday, I was very careful in my libations and merely sipped my way through.

Here are the participants muddling and shaking their offerings. Each participant had to make an aperitif, a long drink and an after dinner drink.

Me trying to make a good decision without drinking too much!

Other judges included last year’s Canadian winner, Hugo Silva, and Kevin Brauch of Thirsty Traveller and Iron Chef fame.

Adrian Stein of Mistura took home the regional prize with his trio of cocktails. He will go on to compete against other regional Canadian winners for a chance to represent Canada at the international competition in Finland.

Here is one of Adrien’s winning recipes for a Grapefruit Basil Vojito;

1 ½ oz. Finlandia Grapefruit Fusion
1 oz. Campari
2 oz. Tonic water
2 tsp. White sugar
4 to 6 Purple basil leaves

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