Scapegrace Distilling Co. has launched a national competition to find New Zealand’s best cocktail maker with four all expenses paid trips to Central Otago and a cash prize up for grabs.
The Scapegrace: Uncharted Spirits cocktail competition is a contest with a twist - challenging bartenders to make a cocktail showcasing New Zealand terrior's unique characteristic.
The competition opened on May 1st, with the cocktail to contain at least 40ml of a Scapegrace product (Scapegrace Classic, Black, Blood Moon, Gold, Vodka or any Scapegrace Single Malt Whisky) and at least one championed ingredient, which represents an allocated region.
Participants in Auckland must use a component highlighting the South Island's West Coast or Fiordland. Wellington entrants have been allocated Nelson Tasman, while Christchurch competitors will work with flavours from the Central Plateau. Queenstown entrants are looking to the Far North for inspiration for their drink.
Scapegrace product development and advocacy manager Mikey Ball said they were inspired to create the competition as they explored the local flavours of Central Otago, where the brand is building New Zealand’s largest ever distillery.
“The idea of supplying a specific area is to guide people into learning and researching an area of New Zealand they may not have a huge amount of knowledge about,” said Ball.
“This will hopefully be uncharted territory for each entrant, and they’ll find some new ingredients and cultures to play with. We’re really looking forward to seeing the distinctly New Zealand drinks that are made as we search for New Zealand’s best cocktail maker.”
Regional heats will be held during August to determine the four national finalists who will receive an all expenses paid trip to Central Otago for the final in October. The overall winner will receive $1000 and a trip to Central Otago to judge the competition in 2025.
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