Finalists of the inaugural Estancia Raicilla Cocktail Competition have been announced, with 12 bartenders set to compete for the trip of a lifetime to Mexico at live finals in Sydney and Melbourne.
From a total of 50 entrants between New South Wales and Victoria, six finalists have been selected from each state, with the team at Agave Lux increasing the total from 10 to 12 finalists due to the high quality of entries.
Two finals will be held, the first in Sydney on Monday 11 October and the second in Melbourne on Monday 18 November, where each of the finalists will present their winning cocktail before the panel of judges, along with a ‘Perfect Simple Serve’ using just three ingredients.
In Sydney, the judging panel will comprise Sam Bygrave (Boothby Media), Natalie Ng (Now & Then) and Annette Lacey (Solotel), while the Melbourne judging panel will include Rob Libecans (Caretaker’s Cottage), Kayla Saito (Mulberry Group) and Josh Hodges (Mr West & Bar Spontana).
The finalists for New South Wales are:
- Anna Postnikova, El Primo Sanchez
- Erik Sarmento, El Primo Sanchez
- Euan Ferderer, Tommy’s
- Nico Escobar, Chin Chin
- Ralph Libo-on, Takam
- Rory Vega, Jangling Jacks
The finalists for Victoria are:
- Alex Brownbridge, Daisy
- Chankan Khoonwhat, Society
- Gianne Gatchalian, Askal
- Oska Whitehart, Bar Bellamy
- Riccardo Bortolin, Society
- Tibo Menut, Eau de Vie
Justin Kosmina, Owner of Estancia Raicilla, says: “As the founder of Agave Lux and proud owner of Estancia Raicilla, I was humbled to see the passion and creativity from all 50 entrants in our inaugural cocktail competition.
“Events like this are so important for raising awareness and appreciation for Raicilla and the agave spirits category. Congratulations to the finalists in both states – we can’t wait to see your talents on full display.
“A special thanks to our judging panel for joining us in the finals, and to the team at Agave Lux – Kass, Reece, Howard, and James – for bringing this vision to life. Come join us at the finals, here’s to drinking better agave spirits and sharing the spirit of Raicilla!”
Supporters from the hospitality industry are invited to attend both finals, but you must register your attendance in advance with admin@agavelux.com.au. The Sydney final will be held at El Primo Sanchez on Monday 11 November, with doors opening at 5:30pm, while the Melbourne final will take place at Mesa Verde with doors open from 4pm. Winners of both finals will be announced on the night.
You can find all of the finalists cocktails below:
