Some serious creativity was on show in the recent The Bitter Truth Cocktail Challenge as the bar teams from the widely acclaimed Dishoom Group stepped up to the plate and battled it out.
Set up and judged by co-founder of The Bitter Truth Alex Hauck, bartenders from the Dishoom sites were all tasked with creating and presenting two new cocktail recipes, one Visionary and one Vintage, that represented the Soul of Bombay.
The cocktails, the name and the story behind the drink had to be presented to Alex and were judged on originality, appearance, nose and taste. Each drink had to:
- Contain and showcase bitters or liqueurs from The Bitter Truth as a prominent ingredient
- Contain no more than six ingredients total (not including garnishes)
- Be made and cleaned up in no longer than 20 mins
Following some incredible entries, Panos Ntalianis and Thomas Authier were victorious with their creations Dhotre Fusion and Minette Swizzle respectively.
The winners received a personalised photo created by The Bitter Truth to be framed in eternal glory in their site and a bottle of Bogart’s bitters and Tiki Lovers Pineapple Rum.
Dishoom’s Panos Ntalianis, said: “Bitters have definitely been growing in popularity as consumer awareness around what they offer to the drinking experience increases. The right bitters and the right amounts can add depth, balance and can lift a drink to magnificence so it was great to hone our skills and test ourselves with Alex and The Bitter Truth Challenge.”
The Bitter Truth
The Bitter Truth was established by former bartenders Stephan Berg and Alexander Hauck. There are 13 bitters in the range which can be used for recreating classic drinks or for experimenting with modern cocktails. The bitters are made traditionally using only the best quality natural ingredients. The Bitter Truth range has also been expanded to include a six-strong collection of liqueurs, a classic navy style Pink Gin and Tiki Lovers Pineapple Rum. More Here
The Judge
Alexander Hauck studied graphic design in Germany when he started working behind the bar as a hobby. After his diploma he made his hobby his profession. In Luna Bar in Frankfurt he found a proper platform to grow as a bartender. During the finale of a cocktail competition he met his later business partner, Stephan Berg, who shared the same passion – long forgotten cocktail ingredients. In 2006, they combined their skills and established The Bitter Truth.
