#auchentoshanswitch
AUCHENTOSHAN REVEALS EUROPEAN FINALISTS OF THE AUCHENTOSHAN SWITCH
The Transatlantic Mixology Competition Like No Other
Lucky mixologists from across Europe have made it through to the finals of the Auchentoshan Switch cocktail competition and will battle it out against each other in London Bridge on 1st October 2013.
Auchentoshan Switch is a bartender talent search – presented by Auchentoshan® Single Malt Scotch Whisky. Over the Summer, mixologists in the UK, Sweden, Germany and across the pond in North America uploaded entries of their Auchentoshan cocktails to the Auchentoshan website with the favourites chosen to battle it out at the regional heats held in European and North American cities.
One North American winner and one European winner, chosen at the finals, will literally “switch” continents for two weeks to work at the top bars in the world – one bar in London and one in New York City. The actual Switch for the winning bartenders will take place in 2014 when the winning North American bartender will spend two weeks at the highly acclaimed Nightjar in Old Street, London, while the winning European barkeep will get to spend his or her two weeks at The Dead Rabbit in New York City. The winners will undertake shiftwork, learning the bars’ signature drinks and house techniques and much more. And yes, there will also be some time for sightseeing as well.
The European final held at 47/49 Tanner Street, London Bridge, will put the finalists through a series of challenging mixology tasks and will be judged by an esteemed panel:
– Rachel Barrie, Auchentoshan Master Blender
– Edmund Weil, co-owner for host bar, Nightjar
– Ryan Chetiyawardana (AKA Mr Lyan), cocktail genius and consultant
The European finalists in alphabetical order by last name are:
Aidan Bowie – Blythswood Square Hotel, Glasgow, UK
Johnny Brissenden – EAUdeVIE, Bournemouth, UK
Tony Comas – Haktet, Stockholm, Sweden
Matteo Corsalini – China Tang, London, UK
Neil Donachie – Popolo, Newcastle, UK
Marina Forciniti – Bristol Bar, Frankfurt, Germany
Kevin Griffin – Tigerlily, Edinburgh, UK
Matthew Hastings – Platillos, Sheffield, UK
Damiano Madeddu – Rivoli Bar at The Ritz, London, UK
Orlando Marzo – The Player, London, UK
Carsten Moller – Catwalk, Berlin, Germany
Adrian Schulz – Ciba Mato, Stuttgart, Germany
Jennifer Meenan, Brand Manager for Auchentoshan said “We have seen such a high level of skill from the bartending world in both the online entries and at the regional heats of this year’s Auchentoshan Switch. We can’t wait to see the European finalists compete for the placement in New York next year and wish then the best of luck.”
Competition judge Ryan Chetiyawardana commented “The mixologists who won in the regional heats all demonstrated a great understanding and interpretation of taste and balance of flavours, we will see some tremendous talent at the finals next month and I look forward to seeing the outcome”.
Award winning Auchentoshan Three Wood is the chosen expression for all Auchentoshan Switch entries as its complex flavours add tremendous dimension to whisky cocktails. As with all Auchentoshan whisky, Three Wood is triple distilled, which produces an immensely smooth spirit. It is matured in three different types of casks – first in North American Bourbon casks, then in Spanish Oloroso Sherry casks and finally in Pedro Ximenez Sherry casks, a wood famed for drama and darkness. This triple cask maturation produces a rich whisky with deep toffee and sherry oak influences, a touch of hazelnut with hints of cinnamon and lemon and a butterscotch sweetness that adds to the overall complexity. It is produced at the Auchentoshan Distillery which was established in 1823 and has produced triple distilled whisky since this time. It is located in the Lowland region of Scotland, on the outskirts of Glasgow and is the city’s only distillery. Its name, pronounced “ock-un-tosh-un”, means “corner of the field” which is evident to visitors as the distillery sits near farmland on the banks of the River Clyde, in the shadow of the Old Kilpatrick hills between Glasgow and Loch Lomond.
For more information, and to enter Auchentoshan Switch, please visit www.auchentoshanswitch.com. May the cocktail making begin!
Notes:
The Nightjar is situated 129 City Rd, London, Greater London, EC1V 1JB. www.barnightjar.com
The Dead Rabbit is situated 30 Water Street, New York. http://www.deadrabbitnyc.com
Auchentoshan – The Modern Classic
– A traditional and authentic single malt, distilled three times and matured in the finest wood
– A whisky produced with passion and enriched with heritage
– Favours the classic but with a nod to the contemporary
– It’s a combination of two worlds; old and new
– It’s a throwback to the future
– It’s style not fashion
– The very best of the past with the very best of the present…
Auchentoshan Classic is available to buy from a wide range of retailers including Asda, Waitrose, and a range of on line retailers and whisky specialists with a RRP approx £27.00.
As Glasgow’s closest Distillery, Auchentoshan is truly unique as it is the only distillery to use a third still in the whisky making process. It means Auchentoshan is the only Single Malt Scotch whisky to triple distil every single drop. This third distillation takes the new spirit to 81.5% ABV (not 70% which is achieved through only distilling twice) making it the highest distillate of any Scottish distillery. The result is a light and delicate single malt of unmistakable smoothness.
Awards 2011
IWSC
– Gold Medal, 1975 Bourbon
– Best in Class Silver, 18YO
– Best in Class Silver, Classic
International Spirits Challenge
– Silver Media, 1975 Bourbon
– Silver Medal, Valinch
– Silver Medal, Three Wood
Scottish Design Awards
– Best Packaging – Auchentoshan Travel Retail Award
Awards 2012
San Francisco Spirits Competition
– Double Gold Medal, Three Wood
– Silver Medal, Classic
– Silver Medal, 12YO
World Whiskies Awards:
– Best Lowland – Auchentoshan 1999 Wine Matured
Ultimate Spirits Challenge:
– 94 points/Excellent-Highly Recommended – Auchentoshan Three Wood
Ultimate Cocktail Challenge:
– Chairman’s Trophy – Best Scotch Whisky in a classic Rusty Nail cocktail – Auchentoshan Three Wood
