Maestro Amaro – Averna Cocktail Competition

Maestro Amaro – Averna Cocktail Competition

Maestro Amaro – Averna Cocktail Competition

On Wednesday July 3rd, 2013 in the spectacular MUV Bar at the Marché Restaurant in Brookfield Place, 12 of Toronto’s finest mixologists gathered to compete in the first annual Maestro Amaro – Averna Cocktail Competition. The competition was open to any mixologist in Ontario and the only stipulation was that the main ingredient be the well established Italian liqueur Amaro Averna. Applicants were asked to submit their recipes online with a photo and the judging would be presided over by:

Maestro Amaro Judges

Dana Pancer-Cinque – Ontario Brand Manager, Averna
Marijke McLean – Brown Spirits, Liqueurs & Duty Free Category Manager, LCBO
Margaret Swaine – Travel, Wine and Spirits Columnist, Author and Educator
Zoltan Szabo – Sommelier, Writer & Educator

The lucky 12 were carefully selected and asked to bring their stunning cocktails to the Marché to compete in a head to head cocktail competition. The competitor order was chosen at random and the competitors had ten minutes to set up, create and present their cocktails to the judges. The competitors were:

Maestro Amaro Competitors

Japhet Bower – Soho House
Robin Goodfellow – URSA
Jonny Gray – Brassaii Restaurant & Lounge
Alex Herring – The Guild Restaurant
Charlie Lamont – The Whippoorwill & Rock Lobster
Christopher MacMillan – Libation Consultancy
Reed Pettit – Miller Tavern on Bay
Jan Ollner – Reposado Bar
Jeff Puddy – Thompson Rooftop
Rob Renda – College Street Bar
Adrian Stein – Rock Lobster & Mistura
Michael Webster – Bar Isabel

In addition to sumptuous cocktails made by the competitors, the competition offered welcome cocktails with signature Amaro Averna recipes and appetizers all made with Amaro Averna as an ingredient.

Amaro Averna Inspired Appetizers

After a fantastic evening of tasting cocktail, the winners were announced and the prizing was quite impressive. The first place winner received an all expenses paid trip to Tales of the Cocktails in New Orleans later this month. And the winners were:

1- Charlie Lamont – Rock Lobster
2- Adrian Stein – Rock Lobster & Mistura
3- Reed Pettit – Miller Tavern on Bay

And for those of you who want to try some award winning cocktails at home, Charlie Lamont’s cocktail recipes:

Bumblebee Recipe
1.25 oz Amaro Averna
0.25 oz Maraschino liqueur
0.5 oz Creme de coconut
1 bar spoon of orange blossom water
5 drops Cohiba tincture
Stirred and served straight up in a coup glass
Garnish with a lemon twist

For more information on Amaro Averna, please visit http://www.avernausa.com/

Alexis Green is a Toronto native living in Montreal and has been in the food, beverage and entertainment industry for over ten years. She is also the owner of AG Design and the National Event Planner for the international cocktail competition MadeWithLove.