Are you one of those creative bartenders who fall into the ‘I-come-up-with-my-best-ideas-at-the-last-minute-camp?’ Then have we got a comp for you. Hapusa Gin are recruiting for their inaugural cocktail competition and you have just two, count them, two days to get your entries in. The pressure is worth it though: the winner of the UK final will to India for a four-night/five day experience foraging in the Himalayas as well as a guest shift in one of India’s coolest bars.
WHAT’S THE LOWDOWN?
It’s called The Forager’s Championships and it’s your chance to showcase the botanicals in Hapusa Himalayan Dry Gin. But the way they want you to do it is by championing at least one locally foraged ingredient in your cocktail. It could be fennel, nettle, lime leaves and blossom – the choice is yours but whatever you use, the end result should be a unique and delicious drink. Naturally.
ENTRY DETAILS
Submit your entry via a 60-second video, sent from your bar’s Insta handle. Here’s your chance to get all shopping tv presenter to sell the concept of your cocktail – i.e. name, ingredients, concept, what makes it different – that kind of thing. The important thing is to tag @hapusagin in your post. Multiple entries from your bar are allowed, but only one entry per person is permitted.
NEXT STEPS
Those who make the cut will be invited to take part in The Forager’s Championships UK finals where they’ll have the opportunity to create their vision of a foraged Hapusa cocktail – either the recipe you submitted on IG, or something completely different – that’s up to you.
What’s different is that there won’t be a judging panel present. Or at least not a judging panel in the usual sense. You’ll be assessed by your fellow cohorts: the ten bartenders who you’ll be competing against.
HOW DOES THE JUDGING PROCESS WORK?
The key word is community. The idea behind competitors judging each other is to build a sense of camaraderie and ownership – they’ll choose the bartender they believe has the best story, a winning drink and will best represent the UK against the winners from India, Thailand and Italy taking part in the Forager’s Journey in The Forager’s Championships global final in the Himalayas.
Cocktail lovers and gin lovers in particular also get a chance to put their palates to the test by judging the Hapusa cocktails in the participating London bars featured below:
- Henson’s Bar and Social @hensonsbar
- The Malt at The Prince Akatoki Hotel @themaltlondon
- Dover Yard @doveryard.london
- Darjeeling Express @darjeelingldn
- Coya Mayfair @coyamayfair
- Velvet at Corinthia @velvetbysalvatorecalabrese
- Swans Bar at Maison Assouline @maisonassouline
DATES FOR YOUR DIARY
Entries close: 31st May
UK Finals: 10th June
Global finals: September tbc
