The Luxardo Cocktail Challenge Final

Creating cocktails is something that most people have done. It is most likely to have been done at the dying embers of a party. All the good alcohol has gone and you’re looking at several nearly empty bottles of spirits. There might be a bit of vodka, some tequila, a little gin and possibly a thimble of rum. You suddenly become a maestro of mixing.

You’re throwing bottles into the air, dashing spirits off into a glass, adding a final splash of fruit juice before handing your creation over. A friend takes one sip, hands it back and says: ‘That is utterly disgusting’.

Fortunately, there are people who are much more qualified when it comes to putting together a fantastic cocktail. In all, 13 of the UK’s finest bartenders gathered together for the final of the Luxardo Challenge recently.

Luxardo is the brand of sambuca you will find in every single bar, but it does not restrict itself to the aniseed-flavoured spirit. There is a range of other spirits and the contestants were encouraged to try to incorporate them into their creations. As one of the judges, it was up to myself and three others to find out which of them had produced the most original, most flavoursome and best-presented cocktail.

Joining me was no less than a figure than Matteo Luxardo, part of the sixth generation which has held control of the Luxardo brand since 1821. Dressed as immaculately as you might expect from an Italian gentleman, he gave a short speech thanking everyone for coming and hoped for an enthralling contest.

The contestants ranged from the brash to the incredibly nervous, with some of those taking part unable to stop a jangling of the bottles, spoons and glasses. We judges were told that we had to take points off for infractions such as these, as well as awarding points for knowledge of the brand as well as presentation and taste.

Among some very excellent drinks, I would have to say that my particular favourite was Shiv Lal’s creation, which had its contents put into a toffee apple. He came in second with the overall winner being Tom Walker from Newcastle. His clever creation was called Coretto Sulla Roccia, which combined an excellent use of the sambuca with imaginative presentation as well as home-made biscotti to accompany the drink. He carried off the first prize of £1000.

The Luxardo Challenge took place in London in October , 2010.