Bartenders are being challenged to create innovative drinks with American whiskey in a competition to win a trip to the Buffalo Trace Distillery in Kentucky.
The Buffalo Trace 8 Steps Competition, launched by UK distributor Hi-Spirits, will see bartenders in London and Scotland invited to create a new long or short cocktail using Buffalo Trace Kentucky bourbon.
The competition’s name highlights the eight steps required to make every bottle of Buffalo Trace, from milling the grain through to bottling the spirit after at least eight years of barrel ageing.
Entrants are asked to create a unique drink that must contain at least 30ml of Buffalo Trace and reflect one of the eight steps. Following a paper judging of entries, the best entrants will compete across two heats, followed by a final in London on July 29.
The judges will award marks based on a range of six criteria including product knowledge, technique and taste. The creator of the cocktail judged to be the best will win an all-inclusive trip to the Buffalo Trace distillery in Franklin County, Kentucky in October. Second and third prizes of £100 and £50 are available along with a Buffalo Trace Gift Pack.
Dan Bolton, managing director of Hi-Spirits, said: “Bourbon is a fantastic spirit to create mixed drinks with and is the basis of some of the world’s greatest cocktails.
“We continually see ingenuity from our customers in developing new drinks with Buffalo Trace and run regional competitions around the UK to celebrate that innovation and flair. For the Buffalo Trace 8 Steps Competition, we’re focusing on two of the brand’s busiest regions, London and Scotland.”
Entries to the competition will be invited from bars serving Buffalo Trace in London and Scotland. Initial entries must be submitted online by midday on July 13 at www.BuffaloTrace.co.uk/LondonKentucky2014 where full terms and conditions can also be found.
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