Against stiff competition, Maxime Creusot of the 64th and Social Bar in Clapham, beat 13 other contestants to win the £500 top prize in the UKBG Coco Re’al cocktail competition on October 29.
Unusually, Maxime blended salted caramel vodka with coconut cream, as well as limoncello and lemon juice, to create a tiki-style cocktail entitled ‘Allo Treacle.
Held in the Quarter Bar & Lounge of the London Bridge Hotel, the 14 contestants were judged by stringent UKBG rules. Ian Burrell, one of the four judges said, “The three finalists were outstanding. But the runners up all set a very high standard too. This made the final decision very difficult.”
Three finalists fought the final shake-out. The other two prize winners were: Alessandro Pizzoli of the Kensington Hotel who took the £300 second prize and Mattia Conti, head bartender at the Arch bar at the Intercontinental Hotel, who won £100.
Maxime’s winning recipe: 40ml Stolychnaya salted caramel vodka, 60 ml watermelon juice, 25ml Coco Re’al, 20ml limoncello, 15 ml lemon juice, 3 dashes Angostura, shaken and served over crushed ice in a tiki glass garnished with watermelon slices.
About Coco Re’al
Coco Re’al, produced by American Beverage Marketers, is the first and only squeezable cream of coconut. Coco Reál contains real coconut from the Dominican Republic, providing superb flavor for cocktails. The unique Simply Squeeze bottle means bartenders can conveniently pour and store Coco Reál, with no refrigeration required! The upside down bottle design guarantees no waste and smooth product flow from beginning to end.
About Quarter Bar & Lounge
Quarter Bar & Lounge is located in the vibrant newly-formed area of London Bridge Square, just steps from London Bridge Hotel, London Bridge Station, The Shard and the Thames, in the historic Borough of Southwark. Relaxed and comfortable with a chic, contemporary atmosphere, Quarter Bar & Lounge seats up to 70 people and offers a wide ranging menu ideal for social eating. There is also an expansive cocktail list.