Cirencester’s annual Summer Cocktail Competition took place on World Cocktail Day. May 13th’s World Cocktail Day is a global celebration of cocktails; it marks the publication date of the first definition of a cocktail on May 13th in 1806. The New York tabloid The Balance and Columbian Repository defined a cocktail as “a stimulating liquor, composed of spirits of any kind, sugar, water and bitters”.
Téatro Bar and restaurant’s, Ryan Walters was once again crowned King of the shakers and mixers with his Pineapple Blanco. He also won the Mocktail round, non-alcoholic cocktails, with a Pomegranate Pineapple.
The event that took place on his home territory, Téatro, and he fought off competition from Harrison Vine of Asha, at The Crown, Cerney Wick, 17 Black’s senior mixologist – James Stone. As well as Cirencester Park Polo Club Bar and Brasserie’s – Bogdan Martin. Ryan last won this competition on 2022.
Ryan said: “It was a bit of fun but I cannot take all of the credit, our head barman and manager, Arran (Fowler), designs most of the drinks here, and they are exceptional. All of the cocktails were great and it was cool to try what the others are doing at the moment.”
The judges, Jono Rooke of Straight-PR and Omer Rahim of the new Dosa Park Southern Indian restaurant in Cirencester. He was judging the mocktails, something he and his staff had trained in pre-opening. “The competition was tough, and I enjoyed meeting some of the other businesses in the town. Ryan was a worthy winner,” Omer commented.
Foyez Rahman is the owner of Asha India Kitchen at The Crown Cerney Wick and added: “Harrison makes a mean cocktail and we tried something a little different with ginger and coconut but it was just not meant to be. Better luck next year.”
(Main image: Bogdan Martin, James Stone, Jono Rooke, Ryan Walters, Omer Rahim and Harrison Vine).
