On Monday evening, members of Australia’s hospitality industry came together at Centro 86 in Sydney for the final of the #JustAddRhubi x Mix Haus cocktail competition, with Savile Row’s Charlie Hunter crowned the winner of the all-female competition.
All four finalists competed in a female bar takeover, taking centre stage to recreate their Rhubi creations for a packed-out room of industry peers to try. Joining Charlie in the final was Isobel Friel from the Caterpillar Club, Alexandra Percy from Sante Cocktail Bar and Jac Landmark from Bar Love.
The judging panel comprised Mix Haus Co-founder Shirley Yeung, Rhubi Brand Director Linn Philips-Johansson and drinks culture expert Emily Wheldon, and it was Charlie’s cocktail With The Times that impressed the judges.
With The Times
By Charlie Hunter
Ingredients:
- 30ml Rhubi
- 7.5ml citrus cordial
- 30ml cranberry juice
- Two dashes of orange bitters
- Top with 60ml soda
Blank
Speaking to Bars and Clubs after taking out top honours, Charlie said: “I feel very grateful at the moment. Grateful to have been given the opportunity to explore a little creativity on the drink side and also to have made new friends and have a great time with some old ones.
“I wanted to partake in the competition to begin with because I feel really strongly about brands providing women and non-binary-identifying people with opportunities in this industry to form connection and better themselves professionally and personally, and this competition put on by Rhubi and Mix Haus really exemplified that. It’s also always really nice to work with a product that’s delicious which you enjoy, so it was a win win really.”
Attracting 70 entries from female and non-binary bartenders across the country, Philips-Johansson says the latest iteration of the annual cocktail competition was a huge success.
“We were so impressed by the quality of all the entrants this year – and the sheer volume – but the four finalists really stood out for their distinctive takes on using Rhubi.
“We wanted to create a competition that did something more than just get product in hand and at Rhubi we really believe this is the future of competitions in the industry – creating more than a brand moment and supporting a movement, directing funds into something bigger, even if you’re a small brand like us.”
The competition not only provided a platform to support women in hospitality and bring female and non-binary bartenders into the spotlight, but guests also made donations on the door as they packed into the Sydney venue for the final.
All fund raised on the evening will go to Mix Haus, funding training, workshops and events that further raise the profile of Australia’s female bartending talent and drive positive cultural change in the industry.
Yeung commented: “We loved working with Rhubi to create this evening of support and focus on the female talent we have in this industry, it really is amazing getting to shine a spotlight on not just the four finalists but all the entrants. Raising funds is so important to continue this work, so a massive thank you to everyone who came, donated, tried the drinks and supported the evening.”
