Chris Moore, head bartender at Beaufort Bar at London’s Savoy, has been named the ultimate winner at the UK and Ireland final of Bacardi Legacy.
He had been one of three bartenders named as “most promising” at the Legacy final in London a year ago and has spent the past year promoting his cocktail, Encantador (pictured above). He will go on to represent the UK and Ireland at the global Bacardi Legacy competition in Puerto Rico in April.
Last night’s final also revealed the three most promising winners who will compete over the next 12 months to market their cocktails: Sam Kershaw of Babington House in Somerset, Nelson Bernardes of Good Godfrey’s at The Waldorf Hilton in London and Tom Walker of the American Bar at The Savoy.
They were chosen from an eight-strong line-up of finalists who had made it through from regional heats in London, Edinburgh, Bristol, Manchester and Dublin.
The other finalists vying for the “most promising” accolade last night were Iain McPherson of The Voodoo Rooms in Edinburgh, Michael Braun of Bibis Italianissimo in Leeds, Alistair Reynolds of Hawksmoor Spitalfields in London, Francesco Turro-Turrini of The Luggage Room at the Marriott Grosvenor Square in London and Darren Costello of Brasserie on the Corner in Galway.
Chris Moore’s cocktail, which is now available at a number of bars including The Savoy, was inspired by Bacardi’s history and is named for the Spanish word for delightful or charming as well as “snake charmer”.
Encantador
40ml Bacardi Superior
10ml Aperol
10ml Eau de Framboise
20ml Fresh lemon juice
10ml Vanilla syrup
5ml Miclo Framboise eau de vie
Shake hard with mostly cubed and a little crushed ice. Fine-strain into a chilled coupette. Garnish with a lime twist.
Over the next year, the three “most promising” winners will be marketing their cocktails in the UK and overseas, aiming to get them on bars’ cocktail lists and in the media.
Sam Kershaw created Favourite Frost, a crisp, clean and suitably glacial recipe honouring a favourite family pet as well as paying tribute to iconic cocktails including the Mary Pickford and the Daiquiri.
Favourite Frost by Sam Kershaw
50ml Bacardi Superior
25ml Pineapple-infused Kamm & Sons ginseng spirit
15ml Martini Bianco
15ml Fresh lime juice
2 Japanese barspoons of caster sugar
2 dashes of The Bitter Truth Grapefruit Bitters
Small egg white
Dry shake, shake with ice and strain into a “dainty” coupe. Add grapefruit zest and discard.
Nelson Bernardes came up with a drink called The Perfect Host as homage to legendary bartending hosts such as Peter Dorelli.
Perfect Host by Nelson Bernardes
50ml Bacardi Superior
25ml Fresh lime juice
20ml Apple juice
17.5ml Gomme syrup
15ml Egg white
Celery
Basil
Muddle the celery in the bottom of the shaker. Add the rest of ingredients and dry shake. Shake again with ice. Double-strain into a chilled coupette and garnish with grounded black pepper.
Tom Walker created a fresh, clean and easy-to-replicate drink called Maid in Cuba, inspired by the classic Maid serve.
Maid in Cuba by Tom Walker
2oz Bacardi Superior
1oz Lime juice
0.5oz Simple syrup
Small handful of mint
3 slices of cucumber
Absinthe
Add all ingredients to a cocktail shaker, but don’t muddle. Add ice, shake, and double-strain into a large coupette rinsed with absinthe. Top with a splash of soda and garnish with a slice of cucumber.
