WINNING COCKTAILS

WINNING COCKTAILS

text MICHAELA MOBLEY

photography DEC AUDIOVISUAL

At the Four Seasons, the desire to improve and develop all offerings rings through every aspect of hotel service. At the Vista Bar, this approach is demonstrated in the highly anticipated, always exciting Cocktail Competition.

Left: AMARGOSips of citrus-lime tang, followed bya tongue-tingling herbal aftertaste Right: MEDITERRANEAN MEMORIESPure in Cypriot flavour, rose hip, juniperand citrus emanate alongside honeyand thyme

The Vista Bar Cocktail Competition is held twice a year and is regarded by Four Seasons bartenders as a personal challenge; a chance to shine, be true to their art and earn a place for their own cocktail on the Vista Bar menu. During the last competition held on 1 December 2017, eight judges from management and guests, were called upon to assess each cocktail entry on the merits of aroma, taste and intensity. Their guidelines were to use only gin-based recipes with a maximum of five ingredients. The three top positions were filled by unique recipes that reflect the Vista team’s collective talent.

BAR NONE

On announcing the winners, Executive Director Nick Aristou explained, “We took immense pleasure in judging all 13 entries, and this specific line-up has really raised the bar in terms of quality and creativity. We have seen new flavours combined, and each and every bartender should be congratulated. We were looking for a taste that inspired our palates straight away, and although three came out as winners, the others only need fine-tuning to be equally complimented.” Nick commented further, “It is evident that our staff takes this competition very seriously. They have an ethos of continual improvement and development of their skills; an ethos which is celebrated at the Four Seasons and encouraged so that our guests can always look forward to new and original creations to enjoy.”

PRESENTING THE WINNERS

Royalty blends Hendricks Gin with the sweetness of honey, balanced with fresh grapefruit juice and dashes of Angostura Bitters, and finished with a splash of prosecco. Bartender Jamie Adam Lennox explains that only the bubbles of wine are necessary to add sparkle – rather than allowing the grapefruit to fizz – while honey as a main ingredient is new to cocktails on the Vista menu. After six years as a bartender, Jamie achieved first place with a cocktail that he feels expresses the luxurious and regal nature of the Four Seasons Hotel.

Amargo, meaning ‘bitter’ in Spanish, coincides with the origins of the Vista Bar’s name. Amargo features Tanqueray Gin as the base, with the herb infused flavours of Amaro Montenegro arriving later in an aftertaste of tongue-tingling delight. Andriani Vladimirou has mixed these elements with homemade tangy citrus syrup and fresh lime juice to perfect a defined aroma with hints of bitterness to come.

ROYALTY, the first-prize winner of the in-house cocktail competition, was created by bartender Jamie Adam Lennox, as a taste reflection of Four Seasons luxury.

Mediterranean Memories has flavours of rose hip and juniper that leap forth from the base of Koval Gin but are combined with the sweet essence of Cointreau and a mix of fresh juices from mandarin, grapefruit and lime for balance. Doros Theodorou then adds a homemade syrup of honey, thyme and lime with mandarin and grapefruit peel to reach the desired purity of Cyprus flavours and create beautiful Mediterranean Memories.