Canadian mixed his way to the top for chance to be named World's Most Imaginative Bartender

~ Franz Swinton of Calgary won chance to compete on global stage with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE cocktail, Cube-eb and Flow ~

TORONTO, June 3, 2013 /CNW/ - After beating out the rest of the country, Calgary-resident Franz Swinton recently competed in the second ever BOMBAY SAPPHIRE® World's Most Imaginative Bartender competition. The contest brought together the top mixologists worldwide to not only challenge them, but also support them on their journey to becoming the most imaginative bartenders in the world.

The competition took Swinton and his fellow finalists representing Austria, Denmark, Germany, Italy, Japan, South Africa, Spain, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and the United States on a four-day adventure, visiting the Italian home of one of the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE botanicals - juniper berries - and exploring the world of the historic gin.  The competition was centred in the historical city of Florence where the eleven competitors experienced the energy of local markets, the enticing smells of Tuscany's famous foods and the cultural sights and sounds of the region.

The competition itself took place on the final evening of the trip at Il Salviatino, a 15th-century villa high in the hills over Florence.  Each bartender was tasked with creating their most imaginative cocktail - combining their individual influences with the cultural experiences they had encountered throughout the trip. Swinton was a worthy competitor, adding his own unique flair and style to his cocktail, Paradiso (recipe below). In the end, Matteo Vanzi of Italy took home the title with his cocktail, The Pastorini (Perfect Lady), a twist on the classic white lady, using a recipe of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin, a homemade shrub of a light jasmine green tea and pink grapefruit peel infusion.

Swinton notes that his cocktail, Paradiso, was directly influenced by various elements of the trip, including the simplicity of the local cuisine that focused on fresh, quality ingredients; the meadow of wild yellow flowers that led to the juniper berry fields; and the precision and care that was taken in selecting each juniper berry that goes into making BOMBAY SAPPHIRE.

"Being a finalist in this competition showed me that Canadian mixologists have a place among the best bartenders in the world," said Swinton, currently bartending at Anejo Restaurant and bar manager at Cube Tasting Lounge, which is scheduled to open in Calgary this July. "My experiences in Italy, including meeting the competitors, receiving advice from the judges and gaining a better understanding of the care and craftsmanship that goes into every botanical used in BOMBAY SAPPHIRE, not only inspired my cocktail, Paradiso, but also inspired me to continue to learn and develop as a bartender."

The cocktails created by the finalists were judged by a panel of industry experts, including the head of training and education for Bacardi, Jacob Briars; local Florentine Negroni expert, Luca Picchi; Hamish Smith, Deputy Editor of Drinks International; and the winner of the inaugural BOMBAY SAPPHIRE World's Most Imaginative Bartender Competition (2012), Canada's David Wolowidnyk.

"The best part of returning to this year's competition as a judge was meeting the highly talented competitors and joining them on their Italian adventure, including visiting the home of one of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE's 10 botanticals - juniper berries," said Wolowidnyk. "A major component of judging was evaluating how the cocktails each competitor developed evoked the experiences of the week, so accompanying the mixologists allowed me to see firsthand where their cocktail inspiration came from."

In addition to being crowned the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE World's Most Imaginative Bartender 2013, Vanzi received the competition's coveted trophy; has been invited to be judge at next year's competition and will also become the latest addition to the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Cocktail Hall of Fame - partaking in various duties, including attending the opening of the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Distillery at Laverstoke Mill in Hampshire, England, later this year. Furthermore Matteo Vanzi will have the unique opportunity to work with Virgin Atlantic to create their new signature cocktail, which will feature as part of the airline's Clubhouse2 imagination.

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is at the heart of imaginative cocktail-making and by hosting the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE World's Most Imaginative Bartender competition, it is providing a platform to encourage and inspire bartenders from all over the world. Since its creation, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE has taken an imaginative approach to gin making, driving the re-invigoration of the gin category and continuing to capture the consumer's imagination through its distinctive and smooth taste resulting from the combination of 10 hand selected exotic botanicals and unique distillation process. Just as the unique taste of BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is inspired by the unique vapour infusion distillation process and its 10 exotic botanicals, it is looking to inspire bartenders all around the world.

"As a brand, we believe imagination makes the world a better place and are especially proud to champion the important role it plays in the creation of truly imaginative cocktails," said Brendan McDonough, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Brand Manager, Bacardi Canada.  "As each of the finalists has learned over the course of the event, imagination is core to the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin brand, from the care taken in sourcing each of our exotic botanicals to the unique vapour infusion distillation process and our iconic blue bottle. Our aim is to spark the imaginations of not just these finalists, but bartenders and gin-lovers worldwide."

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is the world's fastest-growing gin brand by volume and value¹.

Images of Franz Swinton and his cocktail are available here.

Paradiso - Franz Swinton's Recipe
1.5oz  BOMBAY SAPPHIRE
0.4oz  Campari
1/3oz  Roasted Fennel syrup
1oz  Lemon juice
3 drops BOMBAY SAPPHIRE "Firenze Tincture"(Salami, Dried red chili, Fennel Seed) 

Method:

1. Build ingredients
2. Shake vigorously and double strain into chilled coupe glass
3. Garnish with fennel fronds 

Accompaniments:
Yellow field flowers, Ricotta and Salami stuffed zucchini blossom in Juniper batter

The Pastorini (Perfect Lady) - Matteo Vanzi's Winning Cocktail Recipe
Ingredients:
50mL BOMBAY SAPPHIRE
10mL St Germain infused jasmine green tea and pink grapefruit peel
15mL Martini Bianco
20mL White Balsamic Vinegar with verbena and camomile
Homemade shrub
1 Tsp  Juniper Berry meringue

Method:

1. Combine all ingredients in a cocktail shaker
2. Shake, fine strain and serve in metal picnic mugs

Homemade shrub
1 cup caster sugar
1 cup white balsamic vinegar
Method: Heat vinegar and allow sugar to dissolve and then filter

Infusion
375ml St Germain
3 tbs Jasmine green tea
Peel of one Pink grapefruit
Method: In a Vienna coffee machine lightly infuse the green tea and pink grapefruit peel with the St. Germain

Juniper Berry meringue
125g egg white
125g caster sugar
5 whole fine ground juniper berries
Method: Whisk to meringue

¹ Data sourced from International Wine and Spirit Research (IWSR), for the 12 months to the end of December 2011. Major brands are those that feature in the top 5 by volume and value globally.

About BOMBAY SAPPHIRE - bombaysapphire.com
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE is the world's fastest growing premium gin and number one premium gin in Canada by value and volume. Based on a secret 1761 recipe, BOMBAY SAPPHIRE Gin is created by perfectly balancing a unique combination of 10 hand-selected exotic botanicals from around the world. The natural flavours of the botanicals are captured through a delicate distillation process called Vapour Infusion which results in the tantalising, smooth and complex taste that is BOMBAY SAPPHIRE.

Enjoy BOMBAY SAPPHIRE responsibly. BOMBAY SAPPHIRE, the BOMBAY SAPPHIRE bottle design and device are trademarks and/or registered trademarks.

BOMBAY SAPPHIRE - Infused with imagination™
BOMBAY SAPPHIRE aims to inspire people into expanding their minds, thinking differently to reveal more about themselves and their Imaginations. The team at BOMBAY SAPPHIRE believes everyone has imagination and therefore aims to give everyone the opportunity to be inspired, and to infuse their imagination with BOMBAY SAPPHIRE.

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SOURCE: Bombay Sapphire